An Adoption Story

An Adoption Story is an online series where we follow the lives of adoptees' with their journeys. Sitting down with Russian-New Zealand adoptee, Alex Gilbert to give an insight to their lives that may come with challenges along the way.

Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story: Valentina’s Heartbreaking Discovery and Reunion with Long-Lost Sibling

An Adoption Story: Valentina’s Heartbreaking Discovery and Reunion with Long-Lost Sibling

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story: Ian’s Long Kept Family Secret and Surprise Heritage

An Adoption Story: Ian’s Long Kept Family Secret and Surprise Heritage

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story: Ekaterina's Emotional Journey and the Search for those Birth Family Links

An Adoption Story: Ekaterina's Emotional Journey and the Search for those Birth Family Links

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Felicita's Journey from Odesa, Ukraine to Southern Italy

An Adoption Story (S1): Felicita's Journey from Odesa, Ukraine to Southern Italy

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Marina's Adoption Journey from Crimea to Italy

An Adoption Story (S1): Marina's Adoption Journey from Crimea to Italy

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Iván's Discovery of His Birth Family Links in Russia and Armenia

An Adoption Story (S1): Iván's Discovery of His Birth Family Links in Russia and Armenia

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Nina's Story - Adopted from St Petersburg, Russia to Rochester, NY

An Adoption Story (S1): Nina's Story - Adopted from St Petersburg, Russia to Rochester, NY

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Adopted from Krasnodar, Russia to NY - Zachary-Victor's Journey

An Adoption Story (S1): Adopted from Krasnodar, Russia to NY - Zachary-Victor's Journey

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Ukrainian - American Adoptee Katya Reach Shares Her Emotional Story

An Adoption Story (S1): Ukrainian - American Adoptee Katya Reach Shares Her Emotional Story

Thumbnail for video: An Adoption Story (S1): Alexei's Story, Links with Birth Family and Life with Spina bifida

An Adoption Story (S1): Alexei's Story, Links with Birth Family and Life with Spina bifida

Seasons

12 Episodes • Premiered 2022

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 1: Alexei Zarya

1. Alexei Zarya

Alexei was born in Ukraine but moved to Pskov, Russia at an early age. He was then adopted at the age of eight to New Zealand. Throughout his life he has learnt that staying positive helps him when times get difficult, living with Eisenmenger Syndrome.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 2: Viktoria Rundle

2. Viktoria Rundle

Viktoria was born in the North of Russia, in a city called Severodvinsk. She was adopted at the age five by her New Zealand parents who also adopted another child from the neighbourhood city Arkhangelsk.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 3: Anya Gibson

3. Anya Gibson

Anya Gibson, lives in the far south of New Zealand. She was adopted at the age of four from a regional orphanage inside of Saint Petersburg, Russia. Prior to her adoption, she was looked after by her grandmother.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 4: Alex Kuch

4. Alex Kuch

Romanian adoptee Alex Kuch was adopted from Cluj-Napoca, Romania at the age of two by his German parents. His family then moved to New Zealand in 2006. Alex shares his journey of his reconnections with Romania and his birth family.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 5: Vanya Syron

5. Vanya Syron

Vanya was adopted from an orphanage in Arkhangelsk, Russia in the late 1990s by his New Zealand parents. With information that his parents held onto about his birth family, he managed to get a letter through to his Birth Mother in 2010.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 6: Alexei D'Ath

6. Alexei D'Ath

Alexei D'Ath was adopted from an orphanage in Pechory, Russia by his New Zealand parents. Born with spina bifida, Alexei shares his gratitude to his parents who saved his life.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 7: Katya Reach

7. Katya Reach

Katya Reach was adopted from an orphanage in Donetsk, Ukraine at the age of four years old by her American parents.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 8: Zachary-Victor

8. Zachary-Victor

Russian-American adoptee Zachary-Victor was adopted at the age of 8 months from Krasnodar, Russia. He was raised in Long Island to Brooklyn to pursue a career in music.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 9: Nina

9. Nina

Nina was born from a small village called Bolshaya Vruda which is located just below Saint Petersburg in Russia. She was adopted at the age of three and a half years old by her American parents who then raised her in Rochester, New York.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 10: Iván

10. Iván

Iván was adopted at the age of 13 months from Moscow, Russia by his Spanish parents. He was raised on the north coast of Spain. He had always known that he had birth family in Russia but later on he found out about having links in Armenia.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 11: Marina

11. Marina

Marina was born in Staryi Krym, Crimea to then being adopted out from an orphanage in Simferopol by her Italian parents. With her life in Italy, she has grown up learning more about her roots within Crimea.

Still image for An Adoption Story season 1 episode 12: Felicita

12. Felicita

Felicita was born in the city of Odesa, Ukraine to then being adopted at the age of 7 months by her Italian parents. She was raised in the small village town of Ascea. She shares her journey and story.

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