Heritage Tours

HOPE for Children, Inc. believes that every child adopted internationally is forever connected to the country and heritage of their birth. We encourage families to foster an interest and an understanding of their birth country and share the experience with their child.

We are committed to providing opportunities for children and their families to stay connected to the country, culture and heritage through Heritage Tours. In partnership with Lotus Travel HOPE for Children, Inc. offers an exciting and unique opportunity for adoptees and their families to share in culture and heritage in an environment that is supportive, understanding, and includes the adoption experience perspective.

When: Tentative dates for HOPE for Children’s inaugural Family Tour to China have been set for June 14 to June 28, 2006.

Where: This tour is for families with children who were adopted from China only.

Additional tour itinerary and information

Clinical Child Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Nelson , a Korean adoptee, wrote these words regarding birth country visit:

"Parents often ask me about when might be a good time for their child to visit her birthcountry. I like hearing this question because it means parents are sensitively thinking about their child’s adoptive experience in a developmental context. Ideally, multiple visits across the lifespan provide a wonderful way for a family to stay connected to a child’s birth heritage. If more than one visit is doable, the first trip can be taken when the child is relatively young (4 or 5), assuming she was adopted approximately before the age of 2 and familial attachment is secure. Before the age of 6 or 7, a child is too young to have the capacity to understand the differences and similarities between biological and adoptive relationships. So, parents might want to think of this trip as providing a comfortable initial exploration of a birth culture. This birth culture will probably be rather foreign to your child, despite it being her place of birth. Having this trip be rewarding from a child’s perspective is important. It will create a lasting impression and influence whether your child wants to return when she is older, when questions about adoption and her origins will surface. This early trip can be made fun for a child by engaging in activities that celebrate her ethnic heritage and that are especially appealing for her... “