At a colourful and friendly multi-cultural gathering in Brisbane, Queensland, on the last Sunday of July, one would be wondering what the celebration was all about. Lisa Dibb, president of International Adoptive Families of Queensland (IAFQ) explains, “Today is International Adoption Day, which is a celebration of how our families were formed and each country is represented by dance and parading in their national costumes under the flag of their country, including Taiwan.”
This celebration of the 30th International Adoption Day gave adopted children and their families an opportunity to learn about different cultures and customs. Flags from 10 different countries were seen during a parade. IAFQ supports these families with such gatherings as well as camps where children can spend 4 days being together and enjoying each others’ company.
With the best interests of the child being a criteria, the new trend is to provide support and care for children in the country they now call home so that they grow up in their own cultures. UNICEF says it, “Identifies intercountry adoption as one possible component of wider child care and protection provision, to be used only when no suitable alternatives exist, or can be created in that child’s own country.”
