Let’s remember our childhoods for a second. Happy-go-lucky times of joy and, sometimes, annoyance: our parents asking us to wash the dishes, to move away from the TV screen to not ruin our eyes, dressing up in 50 layers to not freeze in autumnal weather. The common denominator, though: the hugs, the warmth, the care, the love. And yet, some children have no such memories.

However, all that can change by one word – adoption. The ever-present chance for stability and an opportunity to experience a loving, happy family life. It is a moment of pure happiness, a moment to remember, a moment of celebration. Hence the non-profit organization Together We Rise has been capturing them in photographs for the last 2 years.

We will also consider the bigger picture, dive into the nuances of adoption and foster care, looking into the ways we can contribute in helping foster youth when we’re not able to adopt, and seeing where the future could lead. Let’s get into it!

Together We Rise is a non-profit organization aiming to make the foster care experience better for the 430,000 children going through it. They collaborate with individuals, companies, and community partners to bring resources, providing thousands of foster youth new bicycles, educational programs, college scholarships, and sweet cases to give them a fun and convenient way to pack and transport their belongings. They believe that children in foster care deserve dignity, respect, and support.

For over two years they have been sharing heartwarming photos of foster kids on the day they were adopted into their “forever families”. While most of them show the children standing next to signs announcing how much time they spent in foster care before being adopted, their pure happiness cannot be mistaken.

“With so much negative news surrounding foster care we just want to highlight the positive with amazing adoptions that are happening every day,” the Executive Director of Together We Rise, Gianna Dahlia, told The Huffington Post. She continues to say that they want to inspire families, either going through the process of adoption or considering it. The non-profit told Bored Panda: “we’ve had thousands of people reach out to us and either say they are considering being a foster parent or adopting because of the photos.” They’ve also received inquiries and offers of help from professionals and volunteers.

The pictures truly show a time of celebration, so much love and joy being shared. However, the pictures are not only met with positivity, but also criticism, accusing them of exploiting these children as props and minimizing the issues at hand. And you can’t help but question, do these people have a point? So let’s have a look at some facts and professionals suggesting potential solutions other than adoption.