Each November, we celebrate, honor and bring awareness to adoption. And this November 9 is World Adoption Day! Here’s what that means for you:
What is World Adoption Day?
Hank Fortener, the founder of the adoption crowdfunding platform AdoptTogether, began World Adoption Day in 2014. He wanted to use one day every November as a time to bring people together in support of a mission: “A world with no more orphans, a family for every child.”
World Adoption Day primarily raises awareness for international adoptions of orphaned children, but it can also celebrate all types of adoption.
How Can You Raise Awareness?
The main tactic is simple and uses virality to draw attention to adoption. On November 9, draw a smiley face on your hand and take a photo. Post your photo to social media with the hashtag #WorldAdoptionDay.
Other ways to get involved for World Adoption Day 2019:
- Become an Ambassador.
- Attend AdoptTogether’s Baby Ball fundraising gala.
- Donate to AdoptTogether, where you can choose to donate to a waiting adoptive family and help them fund their adoption process.
- Follow World Adoption Day’s social media accounts and share their posts, especially on November 9:
How Else Can You Celebrate?
For anyone who has been touched by adoption, but especially international adoption, November 9 is a great opportunity to honor and share your stories. Other ways you can choose to mark the day include:
- Sharing your personal connection to adoption along with your smiley face photo, and talking about what World Adoption Day means to you and your family.
- Celebrating the birth culture of international adoptees today by making a meal from their country of origin, attending a cultural festival, reading a book together about their birth country, etc.
- Honoring the memory of birth family members by lighting a candle, saying a special prayer together, or by writing them a letter or drawing them a picture.
- Retelling the story of how your family came together, asking questions and sharing memories.
How do you plan on spreading awareness about World Adoption Day this year? Let us know!
