India Program Staff Spotlight: In-Country Director

We’d like to introduce you to Minal Dani, America World’s In-country Program Director in India. Minal has spent the past 20 years working in the field of adoption and advocating for vulnerable children through nonprofit volunteer work in Pune. An active participant in public awareness and humanitarian aid activities, Minal works passionately on behalf of India’s orphans.

Minal is a licensed medical and psychiatric social worker and has her masters in psychology.  She takes courses every year to keep her license valid in the US. As our in-country spokesperson and advocate, Minal has developed positive relationships with orphanage directors and the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) of India. She communicates with orphanages all over India to help facilitate the referral communication process and provide status updates on adoption cases currently in progress.

AW’s Director of the India Program, Lisa Adams-Reese, praises Minal “for her tireless work and commitment to vulnerable children in India. She has been an inspiration to me throughout the years as I have witnessed her passion and unending dedication.â€

Families traveling to India to bring home their son or daughter will have the distinct pleasure of working with Minal during their visit. Minal accompanies families during their orphanage visit to meet their child and helps educate families on India culture. She also arranges for an AW representative to meet families at the airport and accompany them during their adoption appointment in Delhi.   

Brett and Auburn Hutson, who recently returned from India to  bring home their twin daughters, remark on the great blessing that Minal was to their family. “By the grace of God our 6 day stay in India was made possible because of Minal and her relentless efforts. We consider her a true gift and without her, we undoubtedly would not have overcome many of the unexpected hurdles that arose in-country at the very end of our adoptions. Not only was she an expert in India adoptions and bureaucracy, but she was an invaluable resource, a calming voice, and a ruthless leader. We cannot say enough good things about her as a person and how her expertise is invaluable to America World.†

We are privileged and honored to work alongside Minal to advocate for orphans in India and to place children into their forever homes. Pease join us in prayer for Minal, her family and her advocacy and adoption efforts.