Databases

Before Russia allows outsiders like us to adopt their children, they try to get Russian citizens to adopt them. Part of the process that Russia has in place is what they call a database. They have a website where they post pictures of all the children who are available for adoption. Some organizations estimate that there are between 700,000 and one million children in orphanages.

We knew Roman and Sergei were born on May 7, 2006 in St. Petersburg, Russia but we had no idea at which of the 49 orphanages in St. Petersburg they were in though. Of course the database is entirely in Russian but with the limited information I had and with the help of a web-based translator, I was actually able to find their database listings and photos!

The smiling guy on the left is Sergei and the handsome one on the right is Roman. The photos have since long disappeared from the database but luckily I had a chance to save them first.


The words Roman and Sergei in Russian looks like "Pоман" and "Сергей"