Orphan adopted from Russia at two returns 24 years later to give the children Christmas presents

Orphan who was adopted from Russia at the age of two returns 24 years later to give the deprived children Christmas presents

  • A 26-year-old man who was adopted from Russia has returned 24 years later 
  • Alex Gilbert returned to the orphanage to give presents to the children 
  • He began ‘I’m Adopted’ project in 2015 to help others track their birth parents 

An orphan who was adopted from Russia when he was two years old has returned 24 years later to the same orphanage to give Christmas presents to the children.

Alex Gilbert, who was adopted by a New Zealand couple and now lives in Oteha north of Auckland, said that travelling back to the orphanage where he spent the first two years of his life was something he always wanted to do.

‘I have always wanted to give back to my old orphanage. I revisited the orphanage just to see it in 2017, and throughout 2018 I started to plan to go back and take gifts for the children,’ Alex told Daily Mail Australia.

Alex Gilbert who was adopted from Russia when he was two years old has returned 24 years later to the same orphanage to give Christmas presents to the children (pictured from left Anastasia a friend and translator, Liana his birth father’s wife, birth Father Misha) 

'I have always wanted to give back to my old orphanage. I revisited the orphanage just to see it in 2017, and throughout 2018 I started to plan to go back and take gifts for the children,' Alex told Daily Mail Australia 

‘I have always wanted to give back to my old orphanage. I revisited the orphanage just to see it in 2017, and throughout 2018 I started to plan to go back and take gifts for the children,’ Alex told Daily Mail Australia 

Earlier this month Alex set his plan into action loading a large box full of gifts and boarding a flight to Russia, eventually arriving at the Regional Baby Orphanage in Arkhangelsk about 1000km north of Moscow.

Braving Russia’s harsh winter, made worse by the fact Arkhangelsk is on roughly the same longitude as Iceland, the 26-year-old delivered the presents to the delight of the children.

Alex said he went in search of his birth parents in 2013 and has always wanted to be open about his story to help others connect with their birth families and in 2015 he began the I’m Adopted project to encourage others to tell their stories.

‘Many people who have shared their stories have been able to track their birth families,’ he said.

Braving Russia's harsh winter, made worse by the fact Arkhangelsk is on roughly the same longitude as Iceland, the 26-year-old delivered the presents to the delight of the children 

Braving Russia’s harsh winter, made worse by the fact Arkhangelsk is on roughly the same longitude as Iceland, the 26-year-old delivered the presents to the delight of the children 

Alex with his brother and adoptive parents who are from New Zealand where he was raised 

Alex with his brother and adoptive parents who are from New Zealand where he was raised 

He also said his adoptive parents have been a hundred per cent supportive of his decision.

‘They supported me going to met my birth parents for the first time, right up to going to take the gifts to my old orphanage. They are incredible parents and I can’t thank them enough for that.’

Alex was able to track his birth parents down using his mother’s name from the adoption papers.

‘I traced my birth mother down first and then of course she told me the entire story. She knew about my birth father and who he was. He was easy to track down once I knew his name. We look very similar and he knew all about my birth mother and always wondered what happened to her.’

Alex giving presents to the children at his old orphanage in northern Russia 

Alex giving presents to the children at his old orphanage in northern Russia 

‘My birth father didn’t know about me existing and so when I contacted him for the first time he thought it was a joke. He didn’t know what was going on. My birth mother just never told him. She left the town after I was born and he never heard from her again.’

Alex continues to campaign having appeared on a Russian talk show and talked in Wellington at the Beehive about the project, as well as in Moscow to the Russian Government.

‘I’m trying to get more people around the world to connect with birth families. I believe it is important.’ 

Alex has visited Russia in the past previously visiting a school to talk to the children 

Alex has visited Russia in the past previously visiting a school to talk to the children 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk