Adoption organizations that have mediated for Indonesian children (before 1983)

License holders

Since 1989 in the Netherlands an organization that mediates in adoption has

been obliged to apply for a permit. Although there has been talk of a licensing

system since 1980, this was only introduced in 1989 with the “Wet Adoption of

Foreign Children for Adoption” (WOBKA). Only after 1989, therefore, there are

“permit holders”. So for adoption from Indonesia (which stopped in 1983),

organizations were not required to have a permit. Adoption was private

initiative. There were no expertise requirements, no one checked the money

flows. Anyone could mediate. Adoption was not registered centrally.

This makes it difficult to determine which organizations were all involved in

adoption. The organizations also sometimes changed names, entered into

partnerships and some individuals worked for different organizations over

time. This makes it obscure.

Parents who had received a declaration of consent in principle could request

a list of mediation organizations from the Ministry of Justice. These

organizations were not checked by the Ministry. Organizations that were not

so strict with the rules were also on this list.

In 1983, 7 organizations from Indonesia mediated for adoption (one of which

could not continue because adoptions from East Java had been stopped). It

was

also possible to adopt a child through private individuals. These were called

the "self-doers" . Do-it-yourselfers sought contacts in Indonesia themselves

and went through the adoption procedure in Indonesia themselves or with

some help.

Adoptions from Indonesia were halted for several periods because abuses

had been detected. The Indonesian government tried to combat child

trafficking. Many adoptees have been told that they were among the last to be

adopted. The Dutch mediators tried to be at the forefront of their contacts

(called “channels” at the time) in Indonesia in order to provide “their” adoptive

parents with a child as quickly as possible. You also often read that people

were afraid that problems would arise at the border. Parents were advised to

behave as inconspicuously as possible.

We meet the following organizations:

BIA International Adoption Office

Its full name is BIA: Dutch Foundation for Intercountry Adoption and Youth

Welfare. The BIA was an umbrella organization with several members that

was founded on the advice of the Dutch Ministry of Justice. In October 1975, a

number of adoption organizations merged and the BIA was created from this.

The BIA originated from:

International Adoption Foundation (SIA),

Dutch Association for Foster Families (NVP) ( the international section)

Wereldkinderen (the association for the promotion of intercountry

adoption)

BANND

The intention was that the BIA would become the central organization that

would regulate all international adoptions. This was not successful, other

organizations also remained active. The BIA received a subsidy from the Dutch

government for a number of years (first 300,000 guilders, later 500,000

guilders per year). This subsidy was later discontinued.

The board of the BIA included:

Child Protection Directorate Ministry of Justice (advisory vote)

Councils for Child Protection

Foundation for International Adoption

World children

Dutch Association for Foster Families (NVP)

ISS (International Social Services Foundation)

BANND Association Foreign Adoption Northern Netherlands (in 1980

BANND leaves the BIA again)

The organisation

Jan van Deth was the first director of the BIA. Before the BIA was founded, he

worked (since 1973) for the International Adoption Foundation. Mrs M. Th. M.

Huijgen was deputy director. In 1980 he was succeeded as director of the BIA

by Zef Hendriks. The BIA was a large organization and employed about 50

people (mainly social workers and secretariat).

In 1987 the BIA merged again and the name was changed back to

Wereldkinderen.

Contacts in Indonesia

Els Tuytjens-Wunnink was one of the contact persons of the BIA in Indonesia.

Her work for the BIA (previously Wereldkinderen) started when she lived in

India. In 1970 she left for India because of her husband's work. After half a

year she resumed her own work as a kindergarten teacher and started

teaching in a home with 900 children. Because a friend asked her if she could

find an adopted child for her, her adoption mediation started. In 1972 she

started working for Wereldkinderen. The contact with Wereldkinderen came

about because she was friends with Henk de Wild, who was then a board

member of Wereldkinderen.Until about 1977 she worked in India. In India she

has mediated for about 300 children. She herself often took care of 8 or 9

children in her own home. After that she started working for the BIA in

Jakarta. In 1977 she states in an interview:

“However, in the long run, things have to change: adoption in our own country,

not by abroad. “This is an interim solution. We should be able to dissolve

international adoption associations in the future. Because nowhere is a child as

satisfied as in its own environment. That's why we don't promote adoption very

well. We would much rather see a sponsorship, remote adoption.”

the journalist continues:

“A disturbing statement for many. Isn't our prosperous country a paradise for

those wretches? Aren't they doing great with us? Don't we offer them a warm

bed, clothing, education, holidays? Yes, they all get that, but there are things that

are even more important: their own country, their own traditions, their own

friends. Adoption is only a good solution if the child has no chance in its own

country. And only then will Wereldkinderen stand behind it and get to work.”

Policy

The BIA argued for more government control over adoption organizations in

the Netherlands. They warned time and time again about abuses because the

demand for children was high and there was no supervision. Many parents

who were on the waiting list at the BIA eventually opted for other mediation

organizations where a child could become available more quickly. The BIA

warns parents that these organizations did not take the rules very seriously.

These organizations told the parents that the BIA wanted to put them in a bad

light because the BIA wanted to take over their “channels”.

The BIA indicates that adoption is only a last resort once all other options

have been explored. Unfortunately, this starting point of the BIA is not always

reflected in the adoption files.

In addition to all formal documents, parents also had to send photos of

themselves and their home to the orphanage and the court, as well as a letter

explaining why they wanted to adopt a child.

Parents were asked to sign a petition. It was stated that the BIA would later (ie

after signing) fill in the missing data.

Costs

In 1978, adoption at the BIA cost between 4500 and 5000 guilders. In 1980

this had risen to 6,000 guilders (between 4,500 and 6,000 guilders according

to the BIA itself) , and in 1983 to 11,200 guilders (excluding travel and

accommodation costs). The costs were tax deductible.

World children

Wereldkinderen was an organization that also mediated in the adoption of

children from Indonesia.

They started working in 1975 under the responsibility of the BIA. In 1987 the

BIA continued under the name Wereldkinderen. Although Wereldkinderen

officially worked under the responsibility of the BIA between 1975 and 1987,

the name “Wereldkinderen” is also used in this period.

Policy

A board member of Wereldkinderen already stated in the newspaper in 1981:

“Everything is for sale in Indonesia, you may also suspect judges. How reliable is

such a court ruling? He sees the waiver, but does not check whether the waiver

was justified. For example, a neighbor may have signed the statement. In

Indonesia, homes are being raided for children. There are intermediaries who

bribes and do not account for large amounts per child in the books. There are

contacts that mediate 200 children per year. That can never happen properly.”

In 1984, Wereldkinderen issued advice on the reliability of the adoption

organizations in the Netherlands.

Wereldkinderen gave positive advice about: BIA (Buro Intercountry Adoption),

Eype (Adoption Mediation Foundation), Hogar Foundation, BANND (Sri Lanka

Channel), and the welcome group Foundation.

Wereldkinderen had doubts about the Child and Future Foundation and

issued a negative advice for:

Bina Sejaterah Foundation (Kasih Bunda), Mulia Foundation, Melati

Foundation, Immanuel Foundation, and Flash Foundation.

BANND (Stichting Foreign Adoption Northern Netherlands)

BANND was founded in 1971 or 1973. BANND mediated for about 30 children

from Indonesia every year.

BANND's parents spent a lot of time together, even after the adoption. There

was a meeting every six weeks. Most members of BANND lived in the north of

the Netherlands. BANND was a voluntary organization of adoptive parents.

Koos Wuijster was the first chairman of BANND.

In 1983 Mr Ad Baken was chairman.

BANND also believes that international adoption is a last resort. International

adoption is only an option if there are no other solutions in the country of

origin. BANND has also started project aid for this reason. They point out that

non-bona fide organizations can arrange everything for a lot of money.

In 1995 the foundation was merged into Wereldkinderen.

In 1983 a child from Indonesia cost about 14,000/15,000 guilders via BANND.

NVP

The Dutch Association for Foster Families also had a department that dealt

with adoption. In 1983, this part of the NVP was transferred to

Wereldkinderen. From 1976, the brokerage activities in Indonesia were

already taken over by the BIA. At the beginning of 1977, the BIA decided that

they no longer wished to cooperate with the contact person of the NVP in

Indonesia because she could not provide any clarity about the origin of the

children and the amounts of money she wanted. The BIA warns Child

Protection in October 1977 that this contact person still works for other

adoption organizations.

Reformed Adoption Association

In 1983, this association indicates that half of all adopted children have been

adopted by Reformed couples in the past 2 to 3 years.

SOC (Foundation Overseas Contacts)

From 1978, the SOC was involved in adoption from Indonesia. The foundation

was originally established as a travel agency. During visits to Jakarta, they

came into contact with starving newborn babies through their contact person.

They bought a house in Jakarta and took care of 20/30 babies there. This

house was called “Ooievaarsnest”. SOC worked together with Nedindo.

In 1978, the spokeswoman for SOC indicated that they had been mediating

adoptions for 1 year and that they had brought 100 Indonesian children to the

Netherlands for adoption in one year. Adoption cost 5000 guilders at the SOC,

but this was taken into account if people had little income.

In 1979, the spokeswoman indicated that she had mediated for 40 babies in

1979.

At the SOC, before the adoption hearing at the court, the parents first had to

do volunteer work in the orphanage for a few days.

SOC did understand the fact that the papers were forged, the SOC says in an

interview in the newspaper. They think it is logical that the mother gives a

false name. She believes that this cannot be blamed on the mother or

midwife.

SOC stopped in 1980.

Flash

From 1979 to 2009, the foundation “Foundation Life Adoption Service and

Happiness” existed, in short “Flash”

Flash was founded by the Versteege family from Groesbeek. Mr. Versteege

was first consul of the Dutch Association for Foster Families, but was later

expelled because his views contradicted the views of the association.

The files of Flash can be requested from the FIOM.

Because of their way of working, official agencies involved in adoption in the

Netherlands no longer wanted to have anything to do with them, according to

various newspapers at the time.

Melati Foundation

On August 22, 1979, the Melati Foundation was established. Until 1983, the

foundation's original purpose was to guide and mediate for Dutch couples

who wanted to adopt an Indonesian child at the time.

In the period from 1979 to 1983, a total of 130 children from Indonesia were

adopted. The Foundation worked together with Yayasan Pa van der Steur

from Jakarta.

In 1983 Mrs. J Bekker stated in the newspaper that attention should also be

paid to the mother who gave up the child. She needs money to be able to buy

food and vitamins in the first weeks after giving birth to regain her strength.

Bina Sejahtera Foundation

Child and Future Foundation

This foundation has existed since 1980 and was founded by Bertie Treur who

first worked for SOC.

Mulia Foundation

This foundation was located in Haarlem and worked together with Stichting

Mulia (Stichting Bahagia Utama) from Jakarta

Foundation Mediation Adoptions

The files of this Foundation are placed with FIOM

Immanuel (or Emanuel) Foundation

This foundation was located in Rotterdam and worked together with the

Immanuel Foundation in Jakarta

Heerbout Foundation

Foundation Teman Anak Anak

This Foundation was located in Amsterdam.

ISS

The International Social Services department of the Netherlands also

mediated in adoptions. It is not clear whether ISS also mediated in adoptions

from Indonesia. In 1990, this ISS department merged with Fiom.

The ISS has done searches for adoptees.

Around 1998 ISS decides to stop working with Kasih Bunda, Immanuel, Mulia

and Pangkuan Si Cilik because they have had negative experiences with the

representatives of these foundations. As a result, ISS can no longer help with

the search for adoptees who have been adopted through these foundations.

Private individuals

In addition, you had many private individuals who were involved in adoption.

Parents were placed in special boarding houses through a contact person

from the Netherlands, where they could choose a baby. It also happened that

contact was made with a midwife in Jakarta via a Dutch contact person. As

soon as the baby of their choice was born, they received a telegram.

In 1979, an anonymous midwife from Jakarta who did not want to give her

name because an investigation was being conducted into adoption

procedures, indicated that she worked for a contact person in the

Netherlands. She has already helped many families with a child, mainly

because it takes much longer through the official channels. She indicates that

9 out of 10 times the papers are incorrect

This information comes from newspaper reports between 1977 – 1983, from

adoption files or from the FB page or website that are currently still connected to

the organizations. We have even more information. Do you want to know more?

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