IN THE BUSINESS of Belonging

With over 300 000 children in the foster-care system and less than 1 000 adoptions per year, adoption in South Africa is facing a quiet crisis – and you could be part of the solution. Whether through social work, law, psychology or facilitation, every role plays a part in securing a child's future

- Words by TAMIA RETIEF

While you may have never considered the adoption industry as a career path before, you may find that it is the field you need to be in if you want to do work that protects children's rights and sets them up for a lifetime of love and opportunity.

Finding your ‘why’

Before stepping into this field, it’s important to know your ‘why’. Much like teaching or nursing, adoption is more than just a job — it’s a calling that you answer. Adoption is one of the few ways to create stable, loving families for children in need, and for those who make it possible, love is at the heart of their work.

“I’ve always had a passion and a heart for family, and I grew up very close to mine,” says Renata Milan, social work supervisor at Wandisa Child Protection and Adoption Agency NPC in Somerset West. “Making sure children are supported, loved and that they have permanency and a safe haven to go back to, no matter their age, is what drives me.”