For 80 children living at St Christopher’s Home in 9 Miles, Nasinu, in 1997, hope often came in the form of a loving family through adoption.
An article in The Fiji Times on September 6, 1997, stated the Anglican-run home, led by Sister Claire Masina since 1975, provided refuge for children who had experienced domestic abuse, abandonment, or whose families could no longer care for them. Beyond being an orphanage, it served as a sanctuary where children found care, stability and the possibility of a brighter future.
“They all have that feeling of hope in them that one day someone will come and adopt them one day,” Sister Claire said.
Sister Clare was born in Nukualofa, Tonga. She trained as a teacher and taught for 14 years at St Andrew’s Mission School before going to Christchurch, New Zealand, for further training in mission work with the Community of the Sacred Name. She took her vows in 1965 and arrived in Fiji in 1967.
After spending some time at Labasa’s St Mary’s Hostel, she moved to Suva to establish St Christopher’s Home in March 1968.
“Adoption is only a word. For all 80 children at the home, the feeling of having adoptive parents is a very emotional experience.
“Some of the children had been here from when they were babies and now they are like our own.
“I look on them as my own children. I love them all.”
She said all adoption arrangements were handled through the Social Welfare Department.
“People wanting to adopt children through the home must first see the department.”
Since the beginning of 1997, six children had been adopted — two to the UK and one each to the US, New Zealand, Australia and Tonga.
“Over the years the countries which have adopted the most children are Australia and New Zealand.”
Prospective parents were encouraged to spend time at the home before an adoption was finalised, while local and overseas welfare authorities monitored every placement and maintained contact with adoptive families.
At the time, the home cared for children ranging in age from 10 months to a 20-year-old university student.
She also noted a difficult reality of adoption in Fiji: prospective parents generally preferred to adopt boys.
