In the following Q&A, Paul Kim, Holt’s director of Korea and Mongolia programs, reflects on the history and continued importance of this unique post-adoption service — and shares some of his favorite memories from the past 25 years of leading Holt’s annual heritage tour of Korea.

Q: How did the concept for adoptee heritage tours originate?

A: The idea emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s when the first generation of Korean adoptees began reaching adolescence. At that time, adoptees were grappling with identity questions — who they were, where they came from, and what their heritage meant. Social work practices then focused on assimilation, encouraging adoptees to forget their birth culture and integrate quickly into American society. But as understanding of adoption evolved, it became clear that this approach was deeply flawed.

Q: It was in fact your father, Dr. David H. Kim, who pioneered the first heritage tour. Can you share more about what inspired him to create this unique service for adoptees? [Note: David Kim was the first employee Harry Holt hired in post-war Korea, and together they created the Holt Adoption Program. David also went on to become executive director of Holt International from 1980 to 1990.]

A: My father began receiving letters from adoptees asking about their origins and Korean history. Most people at that time, even after the Korean War, didn’t know much about Korea. He realized the best way of reintroducing them to their birth heritage is to organize travel back to Korea — to show their roots and give them an idea and an understanding of Korean life. In 1975, he organized the first “Motherland Tour” to Korea for a group of 18 adoptees, most of whom were biracial and part of the post-Korean War adoption wave.

Q: What was the impact of that first tour?

A: It was transformative. The adoptees really learned much more about Korea than anyone could ever provide them just by showing them pictures or reading out of books. … Back then, if you wanted to look something up about a country, you went and read an encyclopedia. There was no Internet, there was no Wikipedia. Even television was limited.

A lot of them also really had questions about identity. How do I fit in? And so the trip was a journey of exploration and discovery, but also one of self-understanding and growth and acceptance.

Q: How did the program evolve over time?

A: After the success of the first tour, Holt continued organizing annual heritage tours of Korea. In the 1980s, we began a second tour — the “family tour” — in addition to a tour for individual adoptees traveling by themselves. This was a tour that was designed to accommodate adoptive families whose children were not old enough to come on their own, but also for families that wanted to take this journey of exploration and discovery together.

Q: Did you ever join one of the heritage tours your father led?

A: Yes, I was part of the very first tour in 1975. I also joined subsequent tours during my teens and twenties.

Q: What are some of your memories from those early experiences?

A: Korea was vastly different back then. Today, it’s modern and technologically advanced, but in 1975, it was still deeply affected by poverty. I had an experience where we were out doing some shopping and a little boy, probably about 10-11 years old — about my same age — just appeared in front of me. His clothes were in tatters. He had no shoes. His face was all smudged with dirt. He just stood there standing in front of me with his hand out with palm up, asking for money, but he never said anything, just looked at me. … I think back on that and his face is still just burned into my memory. What I feel now is a deep sense of shame for not having done anything to help him.

The reason I I talk about this is that people need to understand Korea in 1975. This is a generation where a lot of adoptees were placed in the United States. Korea was so different then. There was so much poverty.

Q: You’ve made it your life’s mission to help orphaned and vulnerable children as Holt’s director of Korea and Mongolia programs. Did early experiences like that influence your decision to go into child welfare work?

A: It certainly is something that deeply affected me. However, growing up I never envisioned working for Holt or in child welfare. But it is funny how sometimes the universe has other plans for you.

Q: After your father retired from leading heritage tours, you took up the mantle. How many heritage tours of Korea have you led?

A: I’ve led every tour since 2000. That adds up to over 30 tours so far.

Q: How has the tour changed over the years — either intentionally or organically?

A: One of the biggest changes is the kind of information adoptees have access to. As Korean laws and recordkeeping have improved, more detailed histories have become available. Today, adoptees often have access to birth family information, hospital records and even the opportunity to meet birth relatives. This summer alone, several adoptees on the tour were able to connect with their birth families. And so the tour has really evolved from one of a tourist experience; it has moved away from being so focused on just learning about Korea to where it’s now more about learning about yourself.

Q: Has the structure of the tour changed as well?

A: Yes, we eventually decided to discontinue the “motherland tour,” and our tour is now more of a unified experience. It’s not just an adoptee-only tour and it’s not just a family-only tour. We have found that this mix of life stories, of ages, of experiences really enriches that journey for everyone.

Q: After 25 years of leading Korea Heritage Tours, what are some of your favorite memories?

A: One that I’ll never forget involved a young adoptee celebrating her 16th birthday during the tour. She had enough background information to visit her birth hospital. When she arrived, the staff asked if she’d like to meet the doctor who delivered her — and he was still working there, along with the two nurses who assisted.

They even took her to the delivery room, and she sat on the very bed where her mother had given birth to her. What made it even more incredible was that it happened on her actual birthday — 16 years to the day — and within an hour of her birth time. it was just amazing. It was the most serendipitous experience.

Q: Was she able to meet her birth mother?

A: No, she wasn’t. But even without that, the experience was transformative for her. It gave her a powerful connection to her beginnings.

Q: Are you present for birth family or foster family meetings during the tours?

A: Yes, I’ve actually translated and facilitated quite a number of meetings. It’s incredibly powerful. One of the things that I’m tasked to do during that process is to act as a bridge. I grew up in the U.S. but in a Korean-American family and I was born in Korea, so I have insights into both cultural perspectives. I help navigate the differences in expectations, emotions and communication between adoptees, birth families and adoptive families.

Q: What do adoptees gain by traveling on Holt’s Korea Heritage Tour instead of going on their own?

A: That’s a question we get a lot — and it’s one that’s been answered best by the adoptees who’ve taken our tour. Traveling overseas, especially to a country where you don’t speak the language and may be visiting for the first time, can be exhausting. You’re constantly navigating logistics: where to eat, how to get around, what to do if something goes wrong. On Holt’s tour, all of that is taken care of so adoptees can focus entirely on the experience.

On Holt’s heritage tour, you’re also traveling with people who understand the adoption story. Adoptees often face questions in daily life — about their families, their identity, their background. On this tour, there’s no need to explain yourself. It’s a safe space. And that is something that I cannot overstate. You’re surrounded by people who get it. That sense of belonging is incredibly powerful, especially during such a vulnerable and transformative journey.

Q: What kind of support does Holt provide during the tour?

A: Our staff and guides are with you every step of the way. If something comes up —whether it’s a logistical issue, a health concern, or an emotional moment — you have people you can count on. We’ve been doing this for a long time, and we know how to help adoptees get the most out of their time in Korea.

Q: Can’t adoptees just do a file review on their own?

A: They can, but the difference is in the ongoing support. If questions come up days later —about something in the file, or about processing the experience — who will be there to help? With Holt, our post-adoption services team is available before, during and after the tour. Whether it’s help packing, navigating medical needs or emotional support, we’re here for the entire journey.

Q: What’s the best age for an adoptee to join a heritage tour?

A: That’s one of the most frequently asked questions from adoptive families — and our answer is always: your child will tell you. We’ve had adoptees join the tour as young as 8 and as old as 70. Some are ready early, others much later. Even siblings adopted into the same family can feel differently — one may be eager to go, while the other has no interest.

Q: Should parents encourage their child to go, even if they’re unsure?

A: We always advise parents not to force it. Listen to your child. They’ll give you clues about whether it’s the right time. And it’s not uncommon for adoptees to return to Korea multiple times — once with their parents, and later with a partner or their own children.

Q: What else would you like to share about Holt’s heritage tours?

A: It is founded on the idea that when you place a child from a country overseas, you don’t erase that child’s background. It really is a disservice to the adoptees and their understanding of who they are. Since that time, many other organizations have begun their own tour opportunities, but it all sprang from that very first tour that Holt began in 1975, born out of the idea that we do have a commitment to the children we’ve placed through adoption. This is a lifelong relationship that we have with adoptees and adoptive families.

Travel with Holt on a Heritage Tour!

For adoptees ages 9 and older, Holt offers guided tours of China, Korea, Mongolia and Vietnam. Experience the culture and customs of your birth country and visit sites significant to your adoption story.

Learn About heritage Tours

The post Fifty Years of Holt’s Korea Heritage Tour appeared first on Holt International.

This past year, we captured some amazing photos of the children and families around the world who you help through kindness and generosity. In April, we visited children and families in Uganda who are thriving with the support of sponsors and donors. In May, we traveled to rural northern Mongolia with a team of Holt supporters, where they got to deliver gifts of livestock to traditional herding families. And in December, we celebrated Christmas with children who attend a unique special education program that you support in Vietnam.

Below, we share some of the photos that we felt best showcased our programs — and your impact — in 2024. Take a moment to view them again or discover them for the first time!

Top Photos of 2024 Around The World

Children with special needs in Vietnam are dressed to the nines as they celebrate Christmas, with performances, food and presents from their sponsors.

Children wore traditional dress as their families received gifts of goats and sheep personally delivered by a group of sponsors and donors who traveled on Holt’s vision trip to Mongolia in May 2024.

Some of our favorite photos this year came from adoptive family submissions. Sisters Ivy and Lili love being goofy together, and are known to be little “spitfires.”

Children in Cambodia enjoy school lunches you help provide through our Child Nutrition Program.

National Play Day in Uganda where Holt-supported schools invited students and their caregivers to play and learn together. Here you’ll see a young girl playing with a toy on the left, and on the right, a caregiver making the toy.

Visiting some traditional herding families in the northern hills of Mongolia, who received the gift of goats to provide for their family of seven.

In Vietnam, we visited a family who has greatly benefitted from the additional income they began earning after they received a gift of ducks through Holt’s Gifts of Hope catalog. This mom showed our team how she feeds her ducks that she uses to provide for her children.

In China, children residing at Peace House, a Holt-supported medical foster home, took a field trip to a nearby ecological farm.

Thank you for helping children around the world in 2024!

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The post Our Favorite Photos of 2024 appeared first on Holt International.

Below, Jordan Love, a Korean adoptee and Holt staff member, shares about the party at the Ilsan Center for individuals with disabilities. The Korea Gift Team sang Christmas carols and delivered presents hand-selected for each resident based on what they specifically requested.

Concerned about children who wouldn’t be adopted, especially children with profound medical and developmental conditions, Harry and Bertha Holt personally funded and built the Ilsan Center in 1962. As Jordan notes, some of the residents have lived here for over 60 years. Others, like Jordan, stayed at Ilsan for a short time as children before they joined adoptive families. Some residents have even been able to leave the care home and lead mostly independent lives after receiving specialized therapies, vocational and skill-based trainings, and other support at Ilsan. Today, the Ilsan Center is a state-of-the-art facility that is world renowned for its care and support for individuals with disabilities.

As Jordan shares, “I feel so much gratitude and appreciation to be able to return to Holt Ilsan Center, somewhere that was vital to my life story. To be able to celebrate Christmas with the residents here (some of whom were here when I lived here) is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life. I am blessed to be in a position to be able to advocate and show donors how transformative their caring hearts and generosity has on those in Holt care.”

The 2024 Korea Gift Team Christmas Party at Ilsan

While traveling in Korea, the gift team members also had the chance to visit the Goyang Community Center, a facility Holt donors support to empower and enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities through art and music. Below, Dan Smith, Holt’s president and CEO, shares about this amazing facility.

Visiting the Goyang Community Center in Korea

This year, the Korea Gift Team also had the chance to spend some time with the women and children living at the Morning Garden shelter.

One of six Holt donor-supported shelters for single mothers in Korea, Morning Garden provides everything from housing, food and healthcare to parenting courses, childcare and vocational training. The women receive counseling to help them cope with the stigma and discrimination that single mothers and their children face in Korean society. And they may stay at Morning Garden for as long as they need to become empowered and confident in their ability to independently raise their child.

Catch a glimpse of the Korea Gift Team’s Christmas celebration at Morning Garden below!

A Special Visit With the Women and Children at Morning Garden

Couldn’t join this year’s Korea Gift Team trip, but still want to help children and individuals with disabilities? Give a gift to the Molly Holt Fund!

Learn more about Holt’s work in Korea!

See how sponsors and donors create a brighter, more hopeful future for children and families in Korea!

view korea programs

The post See Video From Korea Gift Team 2024 appeared first on Holt International.

Erdene squeezes her eyes shut and laughs with delight as her sister grabs her from behind and hugs her close. It’s a cold day in early May on the steppes of the Mongolian plains where Erdene lives with her mom, dad and four older sisters, and her cheeks are flushed pink from an icy wind that’s rolling across the grasslands. A family of lambs and baby goats were recently born on her family’s farm, and are just small enough for Erdene to hold in her arms as she helps her mom bottle feed the new herd.

Five-year-old Erdene and her family live in Mongolia’s northernmost province, where herding families continue a traditional way of life — seasonally migrating with their cattle, sheep and goats across the vast plains. Life is hard on the land, not far from Siberia, and winters are especially harsh with temperatures that can dip to -60 degrees. Although the nomadic people of this region have existed here for generations and know how to survive the extreme climate, many live in poverty and struggle to provide enough food, warm clothing and other necessities for their children.

Four years ago, Erdene’s family was among the hundreds of families living in this rural province who could not earn enough to meet their basic needs. Her father worked as an assistant herdsman, helping a livestock owner tend his herds. But in this agricultural region of Mongolia where herding livestock is the primary occupation, families have very limited opportunities to earn a stable income unless they own their own herd. As an assistant herdsman, Erdene’s father earned less than $30/month — not nearly enough to support his five young daughters.

“The bitter cold and barren landscape of this beautiful but harsh region offer few opportunities for families to make a living,” explains Paul Kim, Holt’s director of programs in Mongolia and Korea. “While those with sufficient wealth can support an adequate lifestyle, the salary of a hired herder is only enough to purchase food, vital fuel for heating, and maybe just a little more for other needs. For these families, the wage they earn is about affording the basic necessities for their families’ month-to-month survival.”

How Sponsors and Donors Support Nomadic Families in Mongolia

In 2019, Holt’s team in Mongolia began working in this remote province to help care for the region’s most vulnerable children, including children with disabilities, children growing up in orphanages and children living in poverty with their families, including the children of assistant herdsmen. Erdene and her siblings were among over 80 children who Holt donors began to support through Holt’s family strengthening program. Holt provided emergency food for Erdene and her siblings. Erdene was also enrolled in Holt’s child sponsorship program, which provided ongoing support for her and her family.

Erdene’s family felt deep gratitude for the support of Holt sponsors and donors. But as traditional nomadic people who have chosen to stay and work the land like their families have for generations, Erdene’s parents are hard-working and skilled in raising livestock. Like many assistant herdsmen, they dreamt of owning their own herd, nourishing their children from what they produced, and living by their own means.

“If they could own some livestock, they would be able to get wool and cashmere during springtime,” explains our team in Mongolia. “And in summer, they would be able to get dairy products — and the children would benefit from the milk.”

In March 2021, their dreams were realized when Holt presented Erdene’s family with an incredible, donor-funded gift of hope — a gift that would empower Erdene’s parents to work toward stability and self-reliance, and ultimately meet all of their children’s needs. They gave the family a herd of 20 goats and 28 sheep.

Over the past four years, Erdene’s parents have nearly doubled the size of their herd and added cattle as well — bringing in considerable profits for their family. In that time, Erdene and her siblings have also grown healthier and stronger because of the nourishing milk and cheese they regularly have in their diet.

“I am very happy as a mother to see my children growing, thriving, healthy and happy … Life has changed and we are very, very happy,” Erdine’s mother shared with a visiting Holt team member as one of her daughters hugged her arm. “I would like to say thank you. Really, really thank you.”

Because of this heartfelt gift from Holt donors, Erdene and her family are thriving. But many more families in this region struggle to survive and continue a traditionally nomadic way of life without their own herds of livestock.

“In this region, the only way for a family to reach beyond poverty, and to be able to ensure their children a better future and independent lives, is to have and grow a herd of their own,” Paul says. “For these families, having their own herd is not about wealth, but in knowing that through their own hard work and the proper care of their herd that they can build something tangible that they can pass on to their children — enabling them to have a head start in building their own lives and futures.”

Holt Vision Trip Team Presents Livestock to Three Families

In early May of this year, a team of sponsors, donors and other Holt supporters traveled to Mongolia as part of our 2024 vision trip. They came to visit children and families in Holt programs and see with their own eyes the life-changing impact of their gifts. They held babies and played with children in Holt-supported orphanages. They visited the Red Stone School in Ulaanbaatar for children whose families live and work in a nearby garbage dump. They saw one of our newest programs for children living with disabilities in an underserved community. And they traveled hours by bus and plane to northern Khuvsgul province, where they visited Erdene and her family — and presented gifts of livestock to three additional families.

“All of the families have been waiting for four years for the opportunity to have their own herds,” explains Paul Kim, who led the vision trip team on their journey across Mongolia. “The families were selected based on need and their ability to sustain and grow their herds. Until now, they have all worked for other livestock owners as hired herdsmen.”

Batu and his wife, Enkhmaa, are one of the young herding couples who were presented with a gift of livestock during the vision trip in May. They are a family of six, with four children ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old. Although Enkhmaa had completed primary school — often the highest level of traditional classroom education herding families receive — few opportunities meant both she and Batu were only able to secure irregular, part‐time work in town. This made it challenging for them to meet their family’s needs, including providing enough food for their children and ensuring they could attend school regularly.

In the spring of 2017, Batu began assisting a rural herdsman family with calving, and eventually became an assistant herdsman himself. This transition allowed him to earn a living by raising livestock in the countryside instead of working lower-paying jobs in town. Since 2018, Batu has been raising rams and goats given to him by herder families. He owns a winter fence in the countryside where he lives with his family. But his monthly salary does not fully cover the family’s needs for school supplies, clothing and food. Like most nomadic families in this region, their children attend boarding school. But without uniforms, supplies and fees to stay in the dormitory, their children might have had to quit school early.

“I am very happy and proud that I gave birth to them. I love seeing them growing up happy and thriving. I really would like my kids to grow up healthy, not to see bad things — to see and to live in a brighter world.”

Enkhmaa, a mother whose family received the gift of livestock from Holt donors

“For a family of herders who survive by working for others, this often requires that both parents tend to the herds. Pasture sufficient to feed the herds necessitates moving from area to area, often days or more of travel away from their homes, for weeks at a time,” Paul says, explaining why children in this region must attend boarding school. “The sparse population means that schools are located far away — too far for families to be able to afford daily transportation — and beyond the means of children to travel on their own.”

As a result, many children remain at home while their parents tend to the herds, sometimes with no adults to care for them. For parents committed to educating their children — parents like Batu and Enkhmaa — sending their children to boarding school is the only option.

“But for families barely able to feed, house and clothe their children,” Paul says, “even the relatively modest cost of these schools requires sacrifice and hardship.”

When Holt’s team in Mongolia learned about this family, they immediately enrolled two of their children in Holt’s child sponsorship program. Sponsors ensured their children could continue attending school — providing basic supplies and helping to cover the cost of boarding school for the three oldest children. Their youngest daughter, Tuya, who is now 6, currently lives with her grandmother in town so that she can attend preschool. In the fall, she will start kindergarten.    

In a recent progress report for Tuya’s sponsor, her social worker shared that “during the weekends, her father comes to take her home riding a bicycle. She loves to cuddle with her mom and dad.” Tuya also loves to draw, dance and sing, watch cartoons — her favorite is “Masha and the Bear” — and although she is a bit shy, she like schools and has become friends with all of her classmates.

Although Tuya and her siblings have been able go to school with the monthly support of sponsors, and see their parents on weekends, a full herd of livestock would allow Enkhmaa and Batu to grow their income, become self-reliant — and most importantly, provide a better quality of life for their children. 

Learn more about Holt’s work in Mongolia!

See how sponsors and donors create a brighter, more hopeful future for children and families in Mongolia!

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They Are the Few, They Are the Keepers

On the cold day in May when the vision trip team arrived to present them with the gift of livestock, Enkhmaa and Batu waited eagerly for their guests along with the other two families. For the presentation ceremony, they had all gathered at one of the family’s gers — a traditional round Mongolian home wrapped in insulating layers of felt made of sheep’s wool.

Although the team was late arriving, the families were very gracious about it and just happy and grateful to see the Holt team. “Enkhmaa was more reserved, but so kind and very humble,” shares one vision trip team member. “The children were shy at first but very playful. Their daughter played around and laughed with her dad a lot. Enkhmaa shared that their older son was back home taking care of the livestock — and that they have a baby on the way!”

“It is essential to support herder families. Why? Because this is a very unique way of life, a native way of life, and these few families are really the keeper of Mongolian nomad tradition. Thanks to them, our nomad lifestyle is alive and will be passed on to the next generation. Without them, we would not have it. So it’s very essential. Not only because this is nomad way of life, but because they are few and they are the keepers.”

Ariunbolor Davaatsogt, Holt Mongolia Social Worker

As all of the families and vision trip team huddled inside the ger, the wind and rain whipping against the sides, each family received a plaque of ownership and took turns expressing their gratitude for this life-changing gift. For the occasion, several of them wore traditional silk Mongolian dress in vibrant colors. With everyone gathered, the Holt Mongolia social worker who works with the local families answered questions and shared about the families’ unique way of life — emphasizing the importance of supporting traditional herding families.

“It is essential to support herder families. Why? Because this is a very unique way of life, a native way of life, and these few families are really the keeper of Mongolian nomad tradition,” the social worker, Ariunbolor Davaatsogt, shared. “Thanks to them, our nomad lifestyle is alive and will be passed on to the next generation. Without them, we would not have it. So it’s very essential. Not only because this is nomad way of life, but because they are few and they are the keepers.”

Over the past 25 years, more and more traditional nomadic families have migrated to Ulaanbaatar in search of other opportunities.

“Being a herder and looking after and tending to the livestock is very hard work,” explained Airunbolor, who grew up in Khuvsgul but now works for Holt Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. “The young people give up because you really need to have this resilience and stamina and this really strong will to go through it. What happened starting from the early 2000s is that the young herdsmen families give up and moved to UB — Ulaanbaatar — city.”

But once they arrive in Ulaanbaatar, many struggle to find work and adjust to a new way of life. When families migrate from rural to urban areas, children are also at greater risk of trafficking, exploitation and domestic violence due to the tough existence many of these families face living in makeshift ger camps on the outskirts of the city.

And as Paul adds, the mass migration of nomad families from rural to urban areas impacts not just the families who leave — but also those left behind. 

“The traditional pastoral culture and lifestyle of Mongolia not only provided the people with the means to survival, but was the foundation of their families and their nomadic communities. … Traditions maintained strong family ties, and created communities where neighbors offered assistance without obligation and without being asked,” he explains. “But as urbanization began in Mongolia, the lure of greater opportunity began to rend families and nomadic communities apart.”

If they receive support to stay in Khuvsgul, however, nomadic families can continue their traditional way of life, rise above poverty and raise thriving children who can grow up safe and free in the beautiful plains of their homeland — a vision that three more families can now realize through the gift of livestock they received from Holt donors.

For these families, Paul says, this is what was most meaningful to them.

“They expressed their thanks, as they never imagined that this day would truly come, and that the impact of the gift is greatest when seen as how it will positively affect their children’s futures,” he says. “This is what was most meaningful, being given the ability to work hard to raise themselves out of poverty, and to be able to actually envision a brighter future for their children.”

Now, like Erdine’s family before them, these three families have what they need to grow their income, feed, clothe and educate their children, and follow in the path of generations of nomadic herding families before them — keeping alive the tradition and culture of this remote northern region of Mongolia, and providing a more hopeful future for their children.

As the day closed and their guests prepared to leave, Enkhmaa shared what brought her the greatest joy.

“I am very happy and proud that I gave birth to them,” Enkhmaa said of her children. “I love seeing them growing up happy and thriving. I really would like my kids to grow up healthy, not to see bad things — to see and to live in a brighter world.”

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The post They Are the Keepers: Supporting Nomadic Families in Mongolia appeared first on Holt International.

To begin the week, our vision trip team of Holt staff and supporters visited Holt-supported daycare and early education centers where we met children with special needs who are receiving state-of-the-art therapies and resources to help them reach their fullest potential. We delivered food to families living in and near Ulaanbaatar’s largest garbage dump — where nearby, children receive education and hope of overcoming poverty through the donor-supported Red Stone School. We stopped by child care facilities and tried the nutritious food the kids in our programs eat every day — meals expertly put together by Holt’s nutrition team.

Everywhere we stopped, children greeted us with traditional Mongolian dancing and music performances, showing their appreciation of the programs they’re a part of. We visited families that have received Gifts of Hope and were so encouraged to see how they are thriving now, including families in the countryside who recently received new livestock. We concluded the trip by visiting our brand new, donor-supported special needs facility, Joyful Palace, where children with special needs and their families are benefitting from the life-changing support they’d never otherwise receive.

Here is a small glimpse, in photos, into our week in Mongolia:

What an incredible week! Thank you for supporting Holt’s work in Mongolia and for helping the children and families in our programs to thrive!

Learn more about Holt’s work in Mongolia!

See how sponsors and donors create a brighter, more hopeful future for children and families in Mongolia!

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The post Holt Donors Visit Children and Families in Mongolia appeared first on Holt International.

Holt’s Special Needs Projects (SNP’s) are the only ones of their kind in the U.S., setting them apart from other programs. Through these programs, Holt social workers from the U.S. travel to meet children in person! Holt currently has SNPs in the Philippines and Thailand, and hopes to utilize this advocacy strategy in more countries in the future. By visiting children waiting for adoptive families and meeting them face to face, Holt social workers can learn about their personalities and interests, and review any medical, developmental, cognitive or emotional needs they may have. This helps our clinical social workers best determine the kind of family they will thrive in — maybe yours!

If you’re a prospective adoptive parent concerned about the unknowns in adoption, one of Holt’s Special Needs Projects may be the right choice for you because of the detailed information our highly trained social workers are able to provide about children in these programs.

February 2024 Trip to the Philippines

During this February 2024 trip, the Holt social workers will visit and gather information about these children and their daily lives. They’ll also speak with a variety of people who work with the children, including teachers, caregivers, nurses and social workers. Having a comprehensive portrait of the child’s life, personality and environment, Holt staff here in the U.S. will better position our social workers to advocate and talk with prospective adoptive parents about the individual needs of these children.

And when prospective families reach out to Holt, we will now have a wealth of information and photos to share! Often, we can even direct families to a staff member who traveled to the Philippines and interacted personally with the child. They can then give their impressions and perspective on the child’s needs! In the world of international adoption, this kind of interactive approach is transformative for children and families alike.

While the team is there, they will also have real conversations with the children. They get to talk to them about adoption and their wishes for the future.

The Benefit of Conversations about Adoption with Children

Celeste Snodgrass, Holt’s senior director of clinical services, was part of the team that visited the Philippines in 2023 on Holt’s first SNP trip. She participated in many of these conversations — including how the children felt about the possibility of adoption.

“We discussed the topic of adoption often. The majority of children have seen friends be placed with adoptive families,” Celeste says. “When asked what they would wish for if they had three wishes, most children said their first wish would be for an adoptive family. Many children said they pray every night for an adoptive family.”

“It is so nice to meet with these children!” Celeste continues. “Their personalities really come alive when we talk with them about things they enjoy and games they like to play. Meeting them and getting to sit down and engage in both play and discussion with them means we are able to highlight who they are as a person. This helps us advocate to find them an adoptive family!”

The children in the program tend to be older, between 9 and 15 years old. For these youth, a dialogue about adoption is especially important.

“I hope that these children will feel that they have a voice in communicating with prospective families,” says Luisa Barnes, Holt social worker and director of adoption for Korea and the Philippines. “Since most of these children are older, their input is so important for a successful adoption. Their wishes, dreams and the vulnerability that they shared with us are so impactful. There is no doubt that families will see how incredible they are!” 

Last year some children said they want to be adopted into a two-parent family, others said they wanted a single mom. Many children wanted adoptive siblings while others were looking for pets. Whatever their wish, our SNP team listened and assured them the agency would do everything to advocate for them when they returned to the U.S.

Want to learn more about the children who need families through this special project? Our agreement with the Philippines government requires us to only share the children’s profiles with families who have an active application with Holt. If you fall into this category and you would like to view the children who are waiting, please email our waiting child team at waitingchild@holtinternational.org.

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The post Holt’s Unique Adoption Program in the Philippines Is Growing appeared first on Holt International.

Members of the Holt team recently returned from the “17th Philippine Global Consultation on Child Welfare Services.” This conference was put on by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) in the Philippines. Hang Dam, director of programs for the Philippines, Luisa Barnes, director of adoption for the Philippines, and Nate Schiffer, Holt’s camp director, traveled to Quezon City.

As the NACC is a newly established government body, Holt’s adoption team aims to strengthen their relationship with the organization so they can better advocate for children waiting for families in the Philippines.

This conference was a wonderful opportunity!

Recent Success of the Philippines Special Needs Project

Luisa presented about the Philippines Special Needs Project (SNP). This is a new initiative in the Philippines designed to help find families for children in the Philippines who are older, have special needs or are part of a sibling group. It is modeled after a similar project in Thailand that Holt has run for many years. 

Through these unique special needs projects, Holt social workers travel to meet and assess the children in person. This enables them to learn about each child’s personality and offer a personalized recommendation about the kind of family in which they believe they would thrive.

“I think moving forward, all of us are on the same page that adoption is moving toward older children and children with special needs. We want to advocate by being collaborative and creative in talking to the NACC about paths to make that happen.”

Luisa Barnes, director of adoption for the Philippines

Holt social workers traveled to the Philippines in February 2023 to establish the Philippines SNP. As Luisa shared in her presentation, 11 children from the Philippines SNP have been matched with families in the last six months! The youngest child was 9 years old, and three of those 11 children were a sibling group — an especially amazing success!

“Our goal was to share some of these findings with in-country participants, like orphanages and the NACC,” Luisa says. “Since the NACC is a newer organization, we are working hard to build trust with them and demonstrate that we are a leader in child matching.”

Holt adoption team leaders like Luisa and Hang are working especially hard to develop this relationship so that the Philippines SNP, and other child advocacy initiatives like it, can grow!

Holt Hopes to Expand the Philippines SNP

The next phase of the Philippines SNP is to welcome new children into the program. There will be another round of in-country child assessments conducted by Holt social workers. To do so requires permission and support from the NACC.

“Overall, the government in the Philippines supports this initiative,” Hang Dam says. “Because it is a way to advocate for children who have been waiting for a long time to find families.”

The NACC has been looking for new initiatives to help find families for children. They focus on children who are older, have special needs or who are part of a sibling group. Because of the program’s proven success at uniting children with families, Hang and Luisa are hopeful that the SNP will continue to expand in the Philippines!

“I think moving forward, all of us are on the same page that adoption is moving toward older children and children with special needs,” Luisa says. “We want to advocate by being collaborative and creative in talking to the NACC about paths to make that happen.”

One of the ways the NACC brought innovation to the conference was by inviting adoptees to share their adoption stories. This was the first year they invited Filipino adoptees to speak!

Nate’s Adoption Story — Why He Shared It

Toward the end of the conference, Nate Schiffer and a fellow Filipino adoptee from Wisconsin, Hannah, both shared their stories. They stood in front of a packed room of government officials and talked about how adoption had influenced their lives.

Nate is Holt’s current adoptee camp director, which is part of why he agreed to travel so far to talk about something he hasn’t always thought about much — his identity as an adoptee. The first time Nate shared his adoption story was on the Holt blog. The blog went live soon before he left for five weeks to run Holt Adoptee Camp 2023 in Oregon, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

“I wouldn’t have presented at the conference without the blog, honestly,” Nate says. “But a lot of the campers saw the blog and asked about my story and about my reunion with my birth family. We all want to talk about those things at camp, but we don’t always. It takes so much vulnerability.”

After reading Nate’s story on the blog, many kids approached him at camp with their deepest questions. They asked things like: What was it like meeting your birth family? How did you do a birth search? What did you think about? What were you thinking when you met all your biological siblings, but your adoptive family was there too? Would you do it again? How would you prepare if you did it again? What advice do you have for me?

At camp, Nate was struck by how his willingness to share his story invited so many campers to open up about the feelings and questions burning inside them. He had many deep, vulnerable conversations with campers that were some of the most meaningful parts of camp for him.

“Those conversations never would have taken place without that blog post,” Nate reflects. 

Which is why, anticipating another summer of camp, Nate agreed to speak at the NACC’s 2023 conference.

“I wouldn’t have shared if I didn’t think that it would help spark conversation with other adoptees, especially adoptees who have questions,” Nate says. “I want them to know that I’m comfortable sharing my story. When leadership can share, it helps everyone.”

Nate also says that speaking at the conference was meaningful because he sees it as coming full circle.

Did you know our team provides support to all Holt adoptees?

Every adoptee has a unique and complex life experience. Our team strives to support all Holt adoptees, by providing help with birth search, citizenship and more.

adoptee support

Coming Full Circle for Nate

“It felt full circle that the first time I ever shared my story publicly was in my birth country,” Nate says. “Being placed in an orphanage the day I was born and then coming back 22 years later to share my story at a conference in the Philippines with government officials and politicians was very surreal. I never dreamed that I would be doing that, but I’m so glad for the opportunity.”

When Nate thinks about his childhood and adolescence as an adoptee, he knows he would have benefitted from more opportunities to talk about his adoption.

“Adoption was never who I was,” Nate says. “For me, this identity is new, but now it is an important part of my life. I didn’t have an adoptee mentor to help me navigate my adoptee identity when I was campers’ age. I didn’t go to camps. It would have been so amazing to have those resources, and now I and my camp staff are that resource.”

Taking Insights Back to Camp

Nate knows how much it takes to be vulnerable with others. He wants to do everything he can to model this openness to campers.

“As a camper, it takes a lot to be vulnerable to adult adoptees, let alone adoptee peers,” Nate says. “Most kids don’t have adoptee friends growing up until they get to camp. I think if we want to give these kids a chance to be vulnerable, we need to be willing to be vulnerable ourselves.”

In his presentation, Nate walked the audience through his story. He talked about what it was like growing up in a predominantly white community and growing up with adopted siblings. Nate also reflected on his reunion with his birth family, and shared things he recommends that parents know before adopting. He finished by talking about camp and Holt’s post-adoption services department — and what they’re doing to support kids.

“This is the first year Filipino adoptees spoke at the event,” Hang says. “I think that representation gave a very strong impact on the participants. Everyone was so quiet and rapt during their presentations. It was so powerful.”

The Take-Away

Hang, Luisa and Nate all appreciated their time at the global conference in the Philippines. They came home feeling accomplished and touched by what happened there.

“It was really amazing to hear how many people had a heart for what we’re doing. There are so many partners in our mission of finding permanent, loving families for children,” Luisa says. “One of the biggest take-aways we had is that we can work together to find homes for children in need of permanency and love.”

As the landscape of adoption continues to shift, Holt is grateful for opportunities to advance the conversation and advocate for children. Because every child deserves a loving, stable home where they can thrive!

Children with special needs are waiting for families!

Meet some of the children waiting for loving adoptive families. Could you be the right family for one of these children?

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The post Holt Staff Share Stories and Successes at Philippines Adoption Conference appeared first on Holt International.

Over the summer, Holt led our first heritage tour of Korea since the pandemic! The tour included 37 participants, including 18 adoptees ranging in age from 9 to 70, along with their adoptive parents, siblings, spouses and/or friends.

“It was truly an amazing group to have for our first time back in four years,” says Paul Kim, Holt’s director of programs in Korea and Mongolia. Paul led the tour group on their journey across Korea, as he has many times before as the leader of Holt’s Korea program.

“Since 1975, when Holt listened to the needs expressed by adoptees and conducted the very first tour for international adoptees to the country of their birth, we have understood that this is a journey that encompasses much more than simply sightseeing. Reconnecting with their cultural heritage, and most importantly their birth history, is of critical importance to adoptees, and from the very beginning we have strived to provide answers and facilitate meetings whenever possible.”

Paul Kim, Korea and Mongolia Program Director

The participants traveled from Seoul to Jeju Island, Busan, Gyeongju, Daejeon, and then back to Seoul, visiting national and historic sites and learning about Korea’s rich cultural heritage. This tour included visits to the Korean Folk Village, the DMZ, lava caves and Sunrise Peak in Jeju, historic temples in Gyeongju, and large open-air markets. By traveling with Holt, the participants also had the unique opportunity to visit some of Holt’s longstanding programs for vulnerable children and families, including the Ilsan Center for children and adults with special needs, a children’s care center founded by Harry and Bertha Holt in the early 1960s. The participants also visited a Holt-supported shelter program that empowers single mothers to parent their children.

Adoptees were able to visit the Holt office in Seoul, where they had the opportunity to review their adoption files, and ask questions about their birth history.

“Since 1975, when Holt listened to the needs expressed by adoptees and conducted the very first tour for international adoptees to the country of their birth, we have understood that this is a journey that encompasses much more than simply sightseeing,” Paul explains. “Reconnecting with their cultural heritage, and most importantly their birth history, is of critical importance to adoptees, and from the very beginning we have strived to provide answers and facilitate meetings whenever possible.”

Over many years of Holt tours, adoptees have been able to visit their birth cities, former orphanages, birth hospitals, meet their foster families, and for some, meet members of their birth family.

“As one of the foremost international child welfare organizations,” Paul adds, “our dedicated post-adoption services team provides tour adoptees and their families with support and information — before, during and after the tour.”

Did you know our team provides support to all Holt adoptees?

Every adoptee has a unique and complex life experience. Our team strives to support all Holt adoptees, by providing help with birth search, citizenship and more.

adoptee support

On the summer 2023 tour, four adoptees reconnected with the foster mothers who cared for them while they were waiting to join adoptive families. Two adoptees were able to meet their birth families. And although unable to meet them while in Korea, two adoptees were also able to make connections with their birth mothers.

For some of the adoptees, the tour was their first time traveling back to their birth country since they joined their adoptive families in the U.S. — including two adoptee siblings who are now in their 70s.

Some adoptees choose to travel back to their birth country independently. When they do, Holt can also help facilitate birth searches and visits to people and places of significance from their past. But, as Paul explains, traveling with Holt’s heritage tour group offers certain benefits.

“Some adoptees and adoptive families debate whether to join a tour for their time in Korea,” Paul says. “Many are already experienced travelers, and may have visited Asia in the past. However, this journey can be one of great emotion, wonder and growth. Traveling together with fellow adoptees and adoptive families — individuals who all understand adoption and are supportive of one another — is an amazing experience. Also, not having to figure out each morning where to eat, how to get from place to place, and not feeling alone in a new country, can be quite liberating and allow our tour members to fully immerse themselves in the journey, without worry about the ‘how?’”

Holt’s heritage tour is open to all Korean adoptees and adoptive families, whether or not their placing agency was Holt. Learn more about the tour and join us in 2024!

Photos From the 2023 Holt Heritage Tour of Korea

Learn more about opportunities to travel!

Join us on a vision trip (open to anyone interested in Holt’s work) or a heritage tour (for adoptees and adoptive families)!

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The post Korea Heritage Tour 2023: Photos & Highlights appeared first on Holt International.

The Child Nutrition Program Training Model

We started our days with a van ride through the busy streets of Addis Ababa. As we pulled in through the gates of the rehabilitation center, we were ready for a day of interacting with physical therapists, parents and the children in their care. Families and children were already lined up outside the therapy room. They were waiting for the opportunity to learn new skills to support and feed their child. Child nutrition program (CNP) training in Ethiopia had begun!

For many low-income families who have children with disabilities in Ethiopia’s capital city, mealtimes can be stressful. Diverse and nutrient-filled ingredients are often too expensive and out of reach, despite being so important. Most days, these families will feed their children the Ethiopian staple food, injera (sourdough flat bread) and shiro (a chickpea stew). Other fruits (papayas, mangos, avocados) and vegetables will sometimes be incorporated into their diet if finances allow. On top of limited resources, feeding a child with disabilities like cerebral palsy involves extra challenges in terms of safety and optimal nutrient intake.

These were the children and families we were here to help.

We were providing CNP training for physical therapists at a rehabilitation center in Addis Ababa. These physical therapists work closely with children who have severe disabilities and their parents or caregivers to improve everyday physical function. Our role was to share with these professionals the skills necessary to support safe feeding practices and optimal nutritional status of the caregivers and children they work with. In addition to four days of interactive classroom training, we arranged a hands-on practicum at the site and worked with over 20 families. This allowed us to find solutions to feeding challenges and conduct nutrition and health screenings.

The CNP brings nutrition, feeding and health education to caregivers and families all around the world. We know that proper nutrition and safe feeding greatly improve children’s health and quality of life. And the most efficient way to do this? Train the professionals who work with these children and families every day. By following this “Training of Trainers” (ToT) model, those trained in the CNP can pass their knowledge on to others. Then, they share with others, creating lasting change in nutrition and feeding practices for children!

Training Therapists and Parents

It was primarily mothers who brought their children to the center. But we also saw some fathers and grandmothers make the journey to the rehab center with their child to work with the team of therapists. We saw firsthand the love and dedication they all had for their children, as they made the extra effort for them to get the care and support they needed. As each session passed, it became evident that the trusting relationship between the physical therapist, caregiver and child was the main contributor to the success of each session. Therapists worked on providing individually tailored guidance for each parent, based on the child’s specific needs. They always collaborated with each other to improve their instructions. There was never a dull moment! We worked through frustrations, laughs, tears and the oh-so rewarding “ah-ha” moments as children and parents experienced breakthroughs with eating and feeding.

As if the weather was our timekeeper, each afternoon as we were wrapping up our long day of sessions, the clouds would roll in above us and let out a heavy rain. During our end-of-day meetings, we had to speak loudly over the roar of the raindrops on the therapy room’s metal roof. We learned two things that week: the rainy season came early this year, and no matter where you are in the world, the weather is always something to talk about.

Group Training

To finish up the four days of practicum, we held a half-day group caregiver training session. There we shared nutrition and feeding information with families who were just beginning their journey at the rehabilitation center. The day started with Holt Ethiopia staff members teaching about nutrition, health and meal planning. Parents showed what they had learned through an activity where they chose key foods and ingredients available in their communities to prepare a week’s worth of meals. It was clear to see that the families were excited to show what they knew and learned, choosing meals based on their personal food preferences.

The day concluded with feeding and positioning training led by the physical therapists. Along with the support of our feeding specialist, the physical therapists showcased their new knowledge by demonstrating and talking through the feeding practices. This was a true testament to the ToT model. Like the prior sessions, each parent’s deep desire to help their child be the healthiest they could be and reach their greatest potential was undeniable. Families also looked to each other for comfort and advice on the challenges they faced during mealtimes with their children.

A Lasting Impact

As we packed up our bags and prepared for our journey back to the United States, we took some time to reflect on the experience. Many of our nutrition and health programs were built to support families in rural areas. So, learning more about challenges for families in Ethiopia’s urban setting helps us strengthen the CNP training overall in Ethiopia. This, in turn, will allow us to reach more families in need of support. We look forward to seeing the impact of this training through the regular health screenings children at this center will receive. As more parents learn and practice improved nutrition and feeding practices for their children through our newly trained CNP trainers, more and more children will grow and thrive!

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The post The “Ah-Ha” Moments of Feeding & Nutrition  appeared first on Holt International.

Colombia

In Colombia, Christmas preparations begin on the evening of December 7^th, known as “Dia de las Velitas” or “Day of the Little Candles.” Colombians decorate house and streets as they gather in the streets with thousands of little candles in handmade lanterns to light a pathway for Mary, Jesus’ mother, who according to tradition comes to bless each home that night. Firework displays explode overhead while the scent of buñuelos (cheesy fritters) and empanadas (baked or fried filled turnovers) fills each home!

The nine days before Christmas are traditionally observed in Colombia. This is a time when the largely Catholic population recites a set of daily prayers called the Novena of Aguinaldos, family and friends gathering to eat, pray and sing Christmas carols. The novena is hosted at a different home each night in honor of Mary, Joseph, the Wise Men and baby Jesus, who sought shelter at different places.

December 16^th to 24^th also heralds the “Juegos del Aguinaldos,” a set of fun games and challenges that people of all ages play for nine days! This event culminates on Christmas Eve, when gifts are exchanged.

The main Christmas meal in Colombia is eaten on Christmas Eve night and it’s called “Cena de Navidad.” The dishes often include “lechona” (pork stuffed with rice and peas), ham, turkey or a chicken soup called “Ajiaco Bogotano.” A popular Christmas dessert is “Natilla,” a set custard. After this meal, many people will go to a midnight mass at church.

Colombians prize their nativity scene Christmas decoration, or “el pesebre.” In early December, children write a “carta al niño dios” (letter to the baby Jesus) asking for the presents they want! Sound familiar? They place their letters in the nativity scene, hoping that Jesus will arrive with presents on Christmas Eve.

Uganda

In Uganda, holiday traditions for children at Christmastime is called Sekukkulu and its traditions closely resemble Western Christmas. It is celebrated on December 25, and it is an annual family reunion where people travel far distances back to their home villages to spend Christmas and New Year with family! Family members from the city arrive with treats like bread, sugar, cooking oil, mobile phones and other novelties. In return, they receive piles of fresh fruit from their country-dwelling relatives and enjoy slow cooked meats from the farm.

Sekukkulu has retained much of the true spirit of the holiday. The focus is much less on consumerism and more about food, family, friends and God. Many people do not have the financial resources to buy gifts like toys. Instead, people share food and new clothes. The emphasis is on making sure that each person in the community goes home with something need, whether that be food or some other provision.

Christmas Day itself is a feast day! After attending church in the morning, the whole family prepares lunch. Prepared chicken is central to Sekukkulu feasting. Starting in October family begin to fatten a chicken for the Christmas table. Even families who can’t afford chicken at any other time of the year manage to buy a chicken for Sekukkulu. On the table you’ll find a bit of everything: matooke (steamed banana), yams, sweet potatoes, cassava, kalo (pounded millet), rice, pumpkin, and posho (maizemeal). All Ugandan foods are steamed inside banana leaves over a wood fire for hours, giving them an unbeatable depth of flavor.

Taiwan

In Taiwan, families in our programs are much more likely to say “Happy Lunar New Year!” than “Merry Christmas!” The great majority of Taiwanese people follow Buddhist and Taoist traditions. The Lunar New Year Holiday tradition extends from New Year’s Eve to February 15, when the Lantern Festival is held. Holiday traditions for children include family reunions, and festivals in many villages, cities and towns. The majority of people in Taiwan spend the month of December gearing up for the upcoming Lunar Holiday that is celebrated much more widely than Christmas. In 2023 (the year of the water rabbit!), the holiday will begin on January 2, 2023 and it will end on January 9.

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a large meal of traditional Chinese foods. They eat dumplings in the morning and younger people visit their older relatives to wish them a Happy New Year! Younger family members receive red envelopes filled with money from their elders, which symbolize good wishes and luck for the coming year.

Christmas itself is a minor event for the Taiwanese people. However, because of Western influence, tidings of Christmas still show up around the country. In Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, Disney sponsored an event called Christmasland starting in November 2022. It is comprised of Christmas-themed family activities and art installations. And, while people in Taiwan go to work as normal on December 25, many wear Santa hats and decorate their shops for the holiday.

So Merry Christmas to you and your family, and thank you for taking a moment to learn about what holiday traditions look like for children around the world. Children in our programs, whether sponsorship, family strengthening or adoption, rely on your support to make the holidays as bright and hopeful as they can be. Thank you!

No matter where you go, the importance of family, connection and generosity remains the same!

The post Learn About Christmas Traditions in Colombia, Uganda and Taiwan appeared first on Holt International.