Young women from Kazakhstan, adopted by an American family two decades ago, arrived in Astana. Twenty years ago, they were among a group of 25 children flown to California. Accompanied by their adoptive mother, Sharon, the girls have returned to the land of their birth. Sharon adopted five girls from a children’s home in Karaganda, and she also has two biological sons.

During their visit, the American citizens will spend several weeks getting to know Kazakhstan more closely, learning about their heritage, roots, and culture. The visit was initiated and organized by honored cultural figure and media manager Gulmira Dairabayeva, who has been in contact with Sharon’s family for more than four years.

It is worth noting that last year members of the Kazakh Senate raised concerns about the lack of information regarding Kazakh orphans adopted by foreigners. There are still no official records of how many children were taken abroad before 1999.

Gulmira Dairabayeva, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Media Manager:

– I first got in touch with Sharon’s family in 2021. She has two sons of her own and adopted five Kazakh girls from a Karaganda orphanage back in 2005. In all these years, no one — not the country, not the embassy or consulate, nor their biological Kazakh mother — tried to find these girls. Their only memories are of the orphanage. I truly wanted them to see today’s Astana, to witness how Kazakhstan is developing.

Suykimdy, a girl adopted from Kazakhstan:

– It feels very nice and unusual to be here. I met my sister for the first time in 19 years. We were welcomed in Kazakh traditions. I remembered the taste of baursaks. In California, we used to find shops selling Kazakh food too, but I don’t remember their exact names.