ADOPTION is a process of providing orphaned children with stable, loving families, to give them the opportunity to grow and thrive in a friendly, loving and caring environment.

It is the right of every child to live in a safe, nurturing and loving environment. Marzia Golden Manor is an institution that is involved in the care, management and welfare of orphans and vulnerable children at its centre in Dar es Salaam Region. Marzia Golden Manor is registered with the government and operates in close collaboration with the social welfare office.

In addition, Aaliyah Haji, a student at IST School in Dar es Salaam who conducted this research, which is based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, demonstrates the power of changing lives through family upbringing and the positive impact of adoption on children and the families that receive them.

Adoption in Tanzania is guided by national laws and policies that emphasize the importance of family-based care rather than institutional care. The Tanzanian Children Act of 2009 outlines the rights of children and emphasizes that, wherever possible, children should be raised by their families of origin.

However, the reality is different, especially for abandoned children or those whose families lack the economic capacity to raise them in a supportive environment.

The right adoption has the power to transform the lives of orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children. By joining the right families who have gone through a rigorous adoption process and are loving, it provides children with a family, security, and love that will lead to better emotional and psychological well-being and development.

According to a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report, family care provides children with the resilience they need to thrive.

The adoption process in Tanzania reflects a growing understanding of the importance of building strong family relationships and connecting children to safe and supportive homes.

Through this process, children gain not only a stable environment but also the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Providing safe homes for orphaned, abandoned, and vulnerable children is essential because every child has the right to a safe and nurturing environment, as recognized by international frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A stable home ensures that their fundamental needs—shelter, food, education, and healthcare—are met.

Orphaned or abandoned children often experience trauma, a safe and caring home offers them emotional stability and helps in healing from past experiences. A secure environment protects children from abuse, exploitation and neglect, enabling them to grow in a healthy way.

Growing up in a stable environment helps children learn values, social norms, and the skills needed to integrate into society as responsible and productive individuals.

Safe homes empower children to realize their potential, contributing positively to their communities and society. When these children thrive, they become adults who can give back, reducing societal burdens in the long term.

Marzia Golden Manor's place 

Marzia Golden Manor has a serious responsibility to raise children who are at their facility, but they also have a greater responsibility to oversee the adoption process for children who pass through this facility.

The researcher explained that while interviewing quoted Ali Dewji, Manager of Marzia: "The centre’s goal is not only to provide children with food and shelter, but also to promote emotional and psychological well-being so that they are ready for adoption and can connect with their new families." 

Marzia works closely with the government through social welfare offices to ensure that children are given suitable families to take care of them.

Success stories

In her research, Aaliyah Haji explained that initially, Nadia (Name changed to protect the child) was afraid of joining her new family, but eventually through a long process under the supervision of Marzia, Nadia and her adoptive mother managed to build a good relationship and to this day they live in peace and great love.

Aaliyah Haji explained that her mother Nadia later decided to take in and adopt two more children from Marzia after Nadia. "Her journey wasn't just about finding a family; it was about finding a place where she would feel loved and wanted. Marzia's services were essential to her transition into her new family," says Anisa Nasser, Marzia's manager.

The student, in his research, said that positive developments in this new family show that Marzia's efforts and procedures to prepare children for adoption are working and successful, said Nadia's mother.

“Nadia adapted quickly, as she was prepared by Marzia to understand about adoption. All the children call me 'mama' and look at me as their biological mother. The love and nurturing made”, she stated.