In a small village of Achaia, a woman stumbled upon the Eftychia Project—a nonprofit founded by Linda Carol Trotter, born Eftychia Noula, to help Greek-born adoptees reconnect with their families and identities. Her first attempt to trace her family tree led her to distant relatives who kept her at arm’s length. Disheartened, she turned to the Eftychia Project.
What she found wasn’t just a research office but a lifeline. So far, 39 Greek adoptees in the U.S. have reunited with their families thanks to the project. “Every reunion is a victory,” says Trotter. Behind each success lie lost papers, closed doors, hesitant families, and endless volunteer hours.
A Dark Chapter of Greek History
Between 3,500 and 4,000 Greek children were sent to America in the mid-20th century, another 600 to the Netherlands. Some estimates suggest as many as 50,000 may have been uprooted—infants given up under poverty, stigma, or outright trafficking. Lawyers, doctors, and even police profited, charging up to $3,000 per child.
The scandal reached the front page of The New York Times in 1959 with stories of “stolen babies and lost identities.”
One Woman’s Return
Among those children was Trotter herself. Born in Athens and adopted at eight months, she was told her mother had died. In truth, her godmother had surrendered her without consent. Raised in Texas by loving adoptive parents, she began her search after losing them in 2015 and 2017.
With expert help, she uncovered her mother’s name—Charikleia Noula of Nafpaktia. In June 2017, the two embraced for the first time. “It was a rebirth,” she recalls.
Since then, she has split her life between the U.S. and Greece, dedicating herself to others walking the same difficult path.
A Fight for Truth
The Eftychia Project has grown into a network of volunteers, lawyers, and researchers. DNA testing has become crucial, while a 2024 ministerial decision has eased citizenship rights for adoptees—20 have already registered as Greek citizens.
Yet obstacles remain: orphanages blocking access to records, and little support from wealthy Greek-Americans. Still, at the group’s latest Las Vegas conference, 70 adoptees from 13 states left hopeful—dreaming of their next gathering in Greece.
For Trotter, the mission is clear: “Every reunion closes a circle. I feel 100% Greek—and I’ll keep fighting until everyone finds their way home.”
