Category - Samoa

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19

Dec

Adopting from Samoa – A 2016 Program Update!

by Caitlin Snyder

Adopting from Samoa has many benefits, as families in our program saw this past year! Even though the country has a small population, and the sheer number of children in need of families is smaller compared to other countries, families who choose to adopt from Samoa are meeting a critical need. We had four families ...

14

Nov

My Trip to Samoa

As a program director working in international adoption, most of my daily routine keeps me anchored to my computer, assisting adoptive parents with their adoption process and working with foreign attorneys. So it is a real pleasure when I have the opportunity to travel to the countries we serve. Recently my travels took me to ...

26

Oct

What Happens Once We’re Matched with a Child from Samoa?

Receiving a referral is no doubt one of the most anticipated milestones during the adoption process. But what comes next? For families adopting from Samoa, we’ve provided a snapshot of what happens once you are matched with a child. Identifying and referring the Children: In Samoa, the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) is responsible for identifying ...

16

Aug

MLJ Celebrates Five Years Working in Samoa!

MLJ Adoptions opened the Samoa international adoption program in 2011, and we are happily celebrating our five year anniversary! While Samoa is a relatively small program, it has seen many successes. Since opening the program, we have welcomed 28 children home to their forever families! MLJ recently expanded the program to include families from Canada ...

11

Jul

Adopting From Samoa Fulfills a Great Need

by Caitlin Snyder

The need for international adoption from each country can vary. Most sending countries, or countries where families adopt from, permit international adoption because of poverty. With high unemployment rates, lack of infrastructure and even cultural practices, caring for the country’s most vulnerable people – its children – can be very difficult. Therefore, international adoption allows ...

24

Jun

Who Can Adopt from Samoa?

Samoa is an island nation located in the South Pacific, with the closest neighbor being New Zealand. Due to its remoteness, many people have not heard of it and locating it on a map may be difficult. Despite it’s small population, approximately 200,000, there continues to be a need for adoptive families to open their homes ...

17

Jun

Samoa Victim Support Group Celebrates 10th Anniversary

MLJ Adoptions has had the pleasure of working with Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) since opening MLJ’s Samoa international adoption program in 2011. SVSG was established in 2005 by Lina Chang and provides shelter, safety, counseling and legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and other crimes. SVSG comes to the rescue of ...

3

Jun

Top Ten Reasons to Adopt from Samoa

MLJ Adoptions’ Samoa program opened in 2011 and I am happy to report that 22 children to date have come home to their forever families. Our Samoa program was recently opened to prospective adoptive parents who reside in Canada. Choosing a country for international adoption can be difficult. It is important to consider many factors carefully. ...

1

Jun

Adoption Story: Hampton Family

by MLJ Adoptions

in Adoption Stories, Samoa

Adoption not only changes of the lives of children, but also the lives of the rest of the family. We are delighted to introduce one of our courageous MLJ Adoptions’ Families who adopted from Samoa. They continue to be richly blessed by the children who joined their family through adoption!

2

Jan

Gluten Free Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Roll) Recipe

by MLJ Adoptions

I started preparing Samoan dishes several months before I went gluten free. I immediately fell in love with the Pani Popo recipe at The Polynesian Kitchen. It was comforting, easy, and you cannot go wrong with coconut milk and sugar. It has taken over a year for me to find a gluten free version that ...

4

Oct

More Samoans in the NFL

by Jordan Kelly

With NFL season underway, we are taking a look at a few great Samoan football players! American football is extremely popular on this tropical island, and the NFL sees numerous players from Samoa. Lofa Tatupu Lofa Tatupu has Samoan blood running through his veins and football talent inscribed in his genes. His father Mosi Tatupu ...

8

Aug

Samoans Flood the National Football League

by Jordan Kelly

With the NFL pre-season right around the corner we’ve once again noticed just how many Samoans have made it into the National Football League. Below, we’ve highlighted just three of the numerous players from Samoa. This is a great way to celebrate Samoan culture with your child. Kaluka Maiava At 26 years old, jersey #50 ...

21

May

Join Us For A Samoan Luau!

by MLJ Adoptions

in Events, Samoa

We are excited to announce that on Sunday, June 23rd we will be hosting a Samoan Luau! This is a fun and easy opportunity for families to connect with other families who have adopted or will be adopting from Samoa, to stay active in the adoption network, and to learn more about the Samoan culture. ...

17

Apr

The Island of Savaii

During my most recent trip to Samoa, I decided to travel to the other island of Savaii. On all previous trips I spent my entire stay on the island of Upolu, where the capitol of Apia is located. Savaii is the second island and located just north of Upolu. While it is the larger of ...

5

Mar

First Children Home From Samoa

We are happy to announce our first three children have arrived home from Samoa with their adoptive families to the U.S.! Samoa is considered a pilot program and children arriving home in a pilot program is the last important milestone that makes a program successful. We at MLJ Adoptions, are thrilled for these families that ...

17

Jan

Cyclone Evan and the Samoa Victim Support Group

On December 17, 2012 Cyclone Evan slammed into Samoa causing widespread damage and leaving thousands of residents displaced, some without even the basic necessities. What made this even more traumatic was the fact that it slammed into Samoa one week before the Christmas holiday. The hardest hit was the capitol of Apia. Normally a tranquil ...

26

Dec

The Top 10 Reasons To Adopt From Samoa

Families come into the international adoption process for varying reasons. Those same varying reasons tend to also determine which country they want to adopt from. Some families only know they want to adopt and provide a forever family to a child in need, but just cannot decide which country they feel is the best fit ...

19

Dec

Cyclone Evan And Christmas In Samoa

I am heartbroken to report this year’s Christmas in Samoa will inevitably be dampened by the recent destruction from Cyclone Evan’s onslaught and our prayers for the Samoan people will continue for this normally festive time of year. High winds and flooding have reportedly resulted in homes being flattened, trees uprooted, three reported dead and ...

15

Nov

Children with Special Needs Waiting for Adoption in Samoa

in Samoa, Special Needs

Merriam – Webster defines Special Needs as “…a disadvantaged background or a mental, emotional, or physical disability or a high risk of developing one.” For the purposes of adoption, the term special needs can also include children of specific ages or gender that make it more difficult to find families interested in adopting them. As ...

27

Sep

Samoan Hip-Hop Artist Chucc 1

by MLJ Adoptions

Sometimes large talent comes from tiny places. This is the case for Chucc 1, aka Paul Vaifanua Jr., Samoan Hip-Hop artist. Chucc 1 was raised in Sacramento, California, but both of his parents are from the Islands of Samoa. His father is from Upolu and his mother is from Vailoa, Samoa. His parents came to ...

19

Feb

Learning More About the Visa Process for Samoa

An integral part of an international adoption is obtaining the orphan visa that allows a child to enter the United States. Whether you are adopting internationally from Samoa, Congo, Bulgaria, one of MLJ’s other programs, each child must have an orphan visa to enter the US. Processing and approving the orphan visa is the responsibility ...