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Advance quality care for orphans by advocating, educating, and developing resources for Kafala families
Yalla Kafala is a non-profit charity founded in 2020 with the aim of creating a better life for orphans in Egypt by raising awareness about Kafala, facilitating Kafala procedures, guiding Kafala families and preparing them by providing them with the necessary tools to raise children who are mentally and behaviorally healthy.
How to tell children the truth about kafala?
Telling your child the truth about their kafala is crucial for their psychological well-being and identity formation. There are several key points to consider when approaching this conversation with your children:
1- The younger the child is when they are informed, the better the results tend to be.
2- Informing the child of the truth is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process throughout the child's life, adjusted according to their age.
3- Telling the child the truth should be done in simple and age-appropriate ways. Initially, it's best to avoid sharing too many details. Children seek more information as they grow. Always maintain clarity and honesty and avoid lying or distorting Kafala events.
4- You can start with children at the age of 3 by reading stories about Kafala, available on the Yalla Kafala YouTube channel. Afterwards, you can tell the child their own kafala story using personal photos, making them the hero of their tale.
5- Recognize that your perception of kafala will impact your child's perception. If you tell your child their kafala story with sadness and despair, they might absorb these feelings and feel the same way about their kafala. Conversely, if you tell their story with pride, emphasizing the joyful moments and explaining why you feel fortunate about their kafala, your child will most likely feel proud of their kafala journey and happy to be part of their kafala family.
6- If your child is seeking answers that you do not have information about, be honest and tell them that you do not have this information, but are willing to help them find it if they want.
7- Acknowledge that the kafala child has an unknown past that they are not responsible for. So, it's normal for the child to have feelings of longing for their biological family, even if they've never met them. This longing does not diminish their love for their kafala family. Therefore, it's essential to respect and acknowledge their feelings and help them express them in healthy ways.
8- Follow Yalla Kafala's page to learn about the schedules of positive parenting workshops and how to tell your child the truth.
If I’m a single woman, what name does my adopted child get?
For a single mother the child can take the mother’s family name (Fatwa issued in Sept 2019). The mother can also change the first given random name of the child. If the biological parents are known (which is extremely rare for an abandoned baby in Egypt) the biological father’s and grandfather’s names must remain the same as they are in the child’s birth certificate.