Wonderful way to form a family

On behalf of Adoptive Families of Hong Kong, I would like to commend Elaine Yau on the positive and encouraging article in Family Post on adoption in Hong Kong ('The chosen few', July 22).

Couples who are beginning their adoption journey and families who have already adopted may like to know that our volunteer-run charity (www.afhk.org. hk), which was established nearly 20 years ago in Hong Kong, is here to provide them with support, encouragement, information and social activities for all the family.

Adoption is a wonderful way to form a family and empirical studies have shown overwhelmingly that it is a great success.

Of course, bringing up children is never easy, and with adopted children sometimes there are unique challenges to overcome.

For members we hold monthly parent support meetings in which we discuss everything from behavioural issues to roots tracing.

These are organised and supported by a professional psychologist and social worker who are also adoptive parents.

Next month we are organising a series of workshops led by our Australian guest speaker, social worker and adoptive parent, Janette Pepall.

Several of these workshops will be on how to talk about adoption with your child, family, helper, friends and the wider public.

Like any other family we all want to have fun together.

Throughout the year we plan a range of social activities for all age groups, including our annual summer picnic on Victoria Peak, festive party with Santa, book club, teen events, dinners and other casual get-togethers for members of our community, which includes families waiting to be matched with a child, two- parent and single-parent families, and adult adoptees.

We hope that more couples will consider adoption as a way of building their family and that families living in Hong Kong who have already adopted will consider joining the vibrant and diverse adoption community that makes up our organisation.

Mina Weight, chair and external relations, Adoptive Families of Hong Kong