Our Stories. Our Perspectives. Our Creative Expressions.
Since 1998, ICAV has provided a space for intercountry adoptees worldwide to share their lived experiences, perspectives and creative work.
Through personal stories, blogs, books, films, podcasts, art and music, we amplify the diversity of intercountry adoptee voices and the lifelong complexities of adoption.
Our experiences are not all the same. Every adoptee has their own story, and every voice deserves to be heard and respected.
Explore the collections below to hear directly from intercountry adoptees, in our own words and through our own creative expressions.
Explore Adoptee Voices
Personal Stories
Life experiences shared in adoptee’s own words
Art & Music
Visual art, photography, music and creative expression
Books & Anthologies
Memoirs, literature, poetry and collective publications
Blogs & Reflections
Discover adoptee writers and their perspectives
Podcasts & Vlogs
Listen to conversations and watch adoptee-created videos
Films & Documentaries
Adoptee stories and experiences on screen
Our Collective Voices
ICAV’s Perspective Papers bring together intercountry adoptees worldwide to share lived experiences on identity, racism, search and reunion, family, rights and the lifelong impacts of adoption.
Featured Adoptee Expressions
Lifelong Impacts of Identity Loss
Idetity is more than a name or a document. For intercountry adoptees, the loss of identity, origins, family connections and cultural belonging can have lifelong consequences.
In 2021, ICAV invited adotpees to share how identity loss had affected their lives. These slides feature eight perspectives from the 50 responses received.
Read or listen to the full presentation and context →
Share Your Voice
Are you an intercountry adoptee who writes, creates art, makes music, films, podcasts or other forms of creative expression?
ICAV welcomes opportunities to amplify diverse intercountry adoptee voices and share resources created by our community.
You are welcome to contact us about sharing your work or contributing your experiences. Contributions are considered with respect for each person’s choices, privacy and right to tell their story in their own way.