Sharon Slater

On Sharon Slater’s first trip to Africa in 2001 she witnessed firsthand the plight of orphans throughout the continent and the disintegration of the family as a result of the AIDS pandemic. Since that time, she has dedicated herself to helping orphans and vulnerable children around the world.

In 2002, she co-chaired the first International Conference on Family-Based Care for Orphans in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2006, Sharon organized and co-chaired the Best Interest of the Child Seminar, an intercultural exchange between government officials from the United States and Mozambique on orphan issues and adoption.

In 2007, Sharon directed the production of the documentary “The Best Interest of the Child” which tells the heartwarming stories of four U.S. families who adopted children from foreign countries. The documentary was created to showcase the positive outcomes for many foreign children adopted into American families.

Sharon has had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Africa, Central America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean. She has broad experience in international affairs and cultures and speaks both Spanish and Portuguese.

Sharon is the co-founder and president of Family Watch International and chairs the UN Family Rights Caucus. Sharon and her husband, Greg, are the parents of four biological children and three adopted children from Mozambique. You can read their full adoption story here.