(have also posted this on adoptions threads)
My BF lives in South Africa and at the end of last year her housemaid died quite suddenly of aids, leaving two girls aged 7 and 12. BF and her husband have taken them in and are fostering them with a view to adoption. One child has no father (he has died too) and the other childs' father is not keen on much contact with his DD - he sees her maybe once a month. There is an extended family, but no-one was willing to take the children (even with the offer of financial support, there just wasn't anyone in a position to help - AIDS has meant too many children, not enough adults in many areas). BF and her DH feel honoured to have the children in their lives but the adjustment isn't easy for anyone in the household.
BF is seeking advice regularly from a child psychologist over there but finds she feels a bit isolated. She is British and her DH is Irish and it is a pretty unusual situation - they don't know anyone else in SA who is going through similar, and find it hard to discuss problems/issues with anyone - most of their friends/neighbours over there think they are mad/martyrs but can't relate to what they are going through. They are just normal folk and can't bear not to be doing right by the kids and giving them the love they deserve.
Things aren't going too badly considering, but as you can imagine they are having to deal not only with the childrens' grief but also cultural clashes, school changes, language barriers etc. Not to mention being parents for the first time.......
Can anyone recommend any chatsites/groups/ charities that my friends can get in touch with just for a bit of advice/support?
Thanks in advance to all.
s.