Burundi

This nation of 8.7 million people
is one of the most economically
impoverished countries in the world.  

We are in great need of families
willing to open their hearts and homes
to orphaned children and those who
have been abandoned due to extreme
poverty, conflict or urban migration.

Children in need

More than 68% of the Burundi population struggles to exists on less than $1 per day. Nearly 1 in 5 children are orphaned, mosty due to the widespread effects of the AIDS epidemic, but also due to the tragic war and genocide experienced in recent years.

There are more than 30 private children’s home working to assist the nation’s most vulnerable children, yet 1 in 5 children die from preventable illnesses such as diarrhea and malaria before reaching the age of 5.

Children available for adoption may be as young as one year of age and up to 15 years of age at the time of referral, though most of the children are over the age of 4.

As a signatory of the Hague Convention, all children referred to LSS Adoption have been declared legal orphans by the Ministry of Social Action in Burundi and are approved for placement with an adoptive family. Shortened wait times and tighter ethical restrictions make this program an attractive option to families interested in adopting a child from Africa.

Parent Requirements

Parent Age
Applicants must be at least 25 years of age.

Length of Marriage
Couples must be married a minimum of 5 years.

Children in Family
No restrictions.

Single Applicants
Single females age 30-55 accepted.

Income
Families must meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service income requirements and demonstrate financial stability.

Timeline
Because this is a pilot program, timelines may vary. Wait times for a referral are expected to be 2-6 months after dossier submission. We anticipate most families will welcome their children home in less than one year.

Travel Requirements
Both parents must travel to Burundi for 2-3 weeks to complete the legal adoption process and then 5-7 days in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for U.S. visa processing. One parent may return to the U.S. after the second week. Travel generally occurs 3-5 months after referral.

More Information
Please download the most recent program brochure including parent requirements, current fees, anticipated timelines and travel information:

Burundi – MN Residents (PDF)
Burundi – Non-MN Residents (PDF)