ADOPTION There are an estimated 3.7 million orphans in South Africa and 150,000 children are believed to be living in child-headed households. There is an estimated 3 000 babies abandoned in South Africa each year. These statistics breaks my heart. Now I have this question: Why does the government (and private institutions) make it so difficult AND expensive to adopt a baby/child. I am a 36 year old single woman and I have inquired about adopting. This has been a dream of mine since I was a young girl, you see my mom grew up in an orphanage. She had a mom and dad but because of family issues she had to grow up in an orphanage with her some of her siblings. When I started my inquiry I was so excited I was ready and I was willing to give it all to this child I want to adopt. To give someone the love and care and attention that their biological parent couldn't or wouldn't give them. Soon I was disappointed in what I heard and read....