" Parts of Darkness": The Vietnam Adoptees Now

Adotped Vietnamese International

3rd July, 2000
PRESS RELEASE

" Parts of Darkness": The Vietnam Adoptees Now

Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI) desperately seeking other Vietnamese adoptees and birth parents who gave up their children during the Vietnam war. Help us reach them, the media is our greatest hope!

25 Years after the Vietnam war ended, Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI) announces a call to Australian, American, Canadian and European individuals adopted from Vietnam to become a part of an increasing number of war 'babies' who are now wishing to reclaim and reunite their ties with Vietnam . Over 3000 babies were evacuated to Australia and America and elsewhere at the close of the Vietnam war, adopted most adopted by western families.

Now the adult adoptees, Vietnam Veterans, adoptive families and high level officials (including Bill Clinton, US President) are recognising the importance of this generations' issues of identity, grief, reconcilliation and arising celebration of survival and support.

A major event to take place in January 2001 at the launch of the Vietnamese TET festival will be returning to their birth country. For most it will be the very first time since they were separated as babies from their language, culture and biological family and thrown into an identity transracial deep end of trying to 'fit in' with all white families, schools and even whole towns. A humanitarian act, but also a social experiment with the young adults only now beginning coming to terms with many of the complex issues of transracial adoption.

This will be a very unique event. With the support of Vietnam Veterans, the adoptive families, former Vietnam peace protestors and current adoption agencies and orphanages , the adopted Vietnamese will travel to HCMC as an intimate group with the hope to bridge the gap between their lives and that of their ancestors and perhaps, surviving biological families. Some will try to find their birth parents and others are just looking forward to exploring their native land, culture and customs.

The online meeting place is at http://www.adoptedvietnamese.org - a place to meet and read about the many adopted Vietnamese living all around the world and to catch up on events, news, successful or current searches for birth parents and resources on Vietnam and transracial adoption. Adoptees and their families are encouraged to become involved by submitting their photos, stories or joining as a contact person to be in touch with other adoptees.

Media Enquiries:-

Ms Indigo Williams - Web: http://www.adoptedvietnamese.org
Adopted Vietnamese, born Saigon 1971 - brought to Sydney, 1972)
Media Enquiries - Australia
Organiser of the return trip to Vietnam, 2001
Work Ph: 02 9351 1901 Home Ph: 02 9692 0914 Mobile: 0403 168 490
Fax: 02 9351 1910
Email: indigo@adoptedvietnamese.org
Mail: 147 Bridge Rd, Glebe, NSW 2037, Australia

Mr Tuan Rishard Schneider - Web: http://www.adoptedvietnamese.org
Operation Babylift orphan - 1975
Media Enquiries - USA
Recent participant in the Vietnam war adoptees reunion in Baltimore (April) and Colorado (June).
Home Ph: +1 608.236.9144 Work Ph: +1.800.244.8637
Email: trfs@hotmail.com
Mail: 2110 University Ave. apt 204, Madison, WI 53705, USA

Officially launched on the 25th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War this is an online organisation maintained and continuously updated by the generous efforts of many individuals who are adopted from Vietnam, parents of adopted Vietnamese, supporters, friends and Vietnamese people from around the world. The main aim of the organisation is to provide support, services and friendship to individuals who are adopted from Vietnam and to bridge the separation from their birth country, family and culture.