Old Eastbournian Hannah publishes book on adoption

Hannah Feben-Smith (Nugent 2016-18) is the co-founder of Whatever Next?, a multi-award winning project that opens up conversations about adoption. Hannah tells us:

In 2019, I met two friends, Josephine Jay and Addie Bara, via a Facebook group for Chinese adoptees. After a short period, we realised that there was a lack of discussion and understanding about adoption and wanted to do something about it.

So, in 2021, we set up a website called Whatever Next? to share our insights as Chinese adoptees living in the West with the aim of creating dialogues, challenging misconceptions, and uplifting adoptee voices. This paved the way to the creation of our Instagram and podcast, and the start to an unbelievable journey.

In the span of just 20 months, we published our very own book with publishers 404Ink, titled Whatever Next? On Adult Adoptee Identities, which tackles three mainstream narratives and addresses their negative impact on the adoptive community.

We have also been recognised for our work having won the 2022 Young Scot Award for Equality and Diversity, the 2021 Creative Edinburgh Student Award, and the Awesome Without Borders Grant.

We have enjoyed our appearances on BBC Radio Scotland, LBC Radio, The Herald Scotland, and have been fortunate enough to give talks to the UK Government’s Race Forum and even travel to the US to speak at the Catalyst Foundation’s 20th Culture Camp.

For now, the three of us reside in Edinburgh working on the project alongside our part-time jobs and studies, looking forward to whatever’s next.

You can contact us via social media @WhateverNext2020

You can purchase our book in local stores or online at www.404ink.com/store/inklings-whatever-next