Testimonials

A…first met his little boy when he was five weeks old. “He was the one who chose us and not the contrary. A moment of pure joy. It s an adventure we chose after careful thought, a mutual decision within our couple. In the beginning, we didn’t know what we were getting into; the mechanisms of the Kafala not being simple to understand. We, therefore, searched the internet, read hundreds of testimonials from people relating their happiness or for some, their deception. We then naturally turned towards the Maison d’Enfants Lalla Hasnaa. The welcome we received there put us at ease. We were able to understand the steps involved for the Kafala, and were accompanied through it all with friendliness, comprehension and support. Laws often generate slow procedures, but they are necessary to protect the child.

N, mother of 3 children (7, 16 and 20 years old) met H at her children’s school. ”This little endearing, 5 year old boy that always came towards me was from the Maison d’Enfants Lalla Hasnaa. When I learned he was going to be transferred to another orphanage at 6 years old, I decided to take him into my family by means of the Kafala, and immediately started the administrative procedure. The waiting period allowed my family to ripen the decision. Today H is 12 years old and is able to talk about all of this. He always wants to go to see his “brothers” at the Maison d’Enfants Lalla Hasnaa and share with them everything he has. One year after the arrival of H, it’s a little 4 year old girl with an enormous angioma on her face that we welcomed into our family. Today, her angioma has considerably regressed. When she asked me “why did you choose me? “, I explained that she had a mother that couldn’t take care of her, so she brought her to the orphanage for her own good. She, then answered: “even if I meet my mother one day, you are my real mother “. This little one is determined and thinks things thoroughly through.

June 2008, we are in Casablanca ,the agreement from France in our pocket. We head to the Maison d’Enfants Lalla Hasnaa full of hope. The procedure starts with the attribution of a baby. I had worried about this moment, but when I held Amir in my arms, with his little fists pointed towards me, his wide open eyes told me right away that he was my son and I was his father. I had the impression that we were talking and already understanding each other through some sort of magic airwaves. Saida and I were overwhelmed. Nothing would stop us now! After devoting months to the administrative procedure, Amir arrives home in February 2009. He is 9 months old. On the way, if he wasn’t sleeping, he was smiling. Amir grows fast and well, always with a smile. Today (2014) he is 6 ½ years old. We brought him back to the Maison d Enfants Lalla Hasnaa last summer to show him where he had spent his first months. “He’s such a bright and pleasant child “said the women from the committee who met him”

In 2002, I started taking care of a group of children with specific needs. A year later, a new child named S was brought into my service. From the start, we both felt a strong connection with each other. The idea of taking charge of her crossed my mind every time I took my service. In 2006, for her 3rd birthday, I started the procedure for the Kafala, and that, in spite of her profound disability. This little girl brings me a lot of joy and happiness. It is a heavy burden, but God gives me the courage to continue.

22 years ago, our daughter, encouraged by her high school teacher, started volunteering at the Maison d’Enfants Lalla Hasnaa. She “ fell in love” with the little baby boy she was taking care of and that we used to take out on Sundays. This child became very attached to us ; we happily decided to keep him. We welcomed him into our family with a lot of love and attention so as to “erase “his first 10 months at the orphanage. I used to tell him his story in this way :” I carried your brother and your sister in my belly. You were in your mother’s belly. She had no money to buy you milk, yoghurt or cakes, but she was very nice.” From the age of 15 months, I always explained to him, with a child’s words, why he was here. We gave him lots of love and affection, always trying to treat him in the same way as our other children. Today, he’s a well balanced boy, with an artistic streak (music) who has integrated a business school. He’s a generous young man, full of love for his parents.