These Connections Make Me Who I Am
During the 1990s and early 2000s, tens of thousands of children were adopted from Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
For many adoptees from Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, Moldova, and more, these early years hold powerful memories, even if some are only captured in old photos. These memories can also be complex.
I was adopted from an orphanage in Arkhangelsk, Russia, in 1994 with my brother. We grew up in New Zealand, and although I was just two years old at the time, I have spent years reconnecting with my bloodline. Along that journey, I discovered my birth family in Russia (met them in 2013), as well as relatives in both Ukraine and Kazakhstan. These connections have become an important part of who I am. I also wouldn’t be the person I am today without my parents who adopted me.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, tens of thousands of children were adopted from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. More than 60,000 children from Russia were adopted into the United States, and over 700 into New Zealand. Thousands more came from countries like Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Belarus during this time.
Every story is different. But many of us share common threads of identity, culture, and reconnection that stretch across borders and generations.
I am also proud to have created this I'm Adopted community for those adopted around the world. Thank you for being part of it.
Alex Gilbert
Alex Gilbert was born in Arkhangelsk, Russia in 1992 and placed in an orphanage until he was adopted at two years old to his New Zealand family. He established the I’m Adopted community in July 2015. He works closely with his An Adoption Story series while also sharing his story on YouTube.
