Every year, Holt awards scholarships to three adoptees graduating high school and planning to pursue further education. This year, we announced an additional $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to an adoptee who is pursuing their dream career in a traditionally underfunded field of study. The Hope Scholarship is generously sponsored by Holt adoptee Mareyuna, who followed her dreams to become a veterinarian, and Mareyuna’s family. Mareyuna and her family felt called to help other adoptees like her who are drawn to a profession that has limited scholarship opportunities available.

Congratulations to Haley Havens, who won Holt’s first Hope Adoptee Scholarship after submitting the following poem:

 Statement: The following poem was created to express the internal wounds that are oftentimes reopened when people question adoptees’ history. Adoption oftentimes leads to lots of questioning. This poem represents what I wished others knew happens in my mind when they ask me questions, while also showing the struggle of a conflicted identity. I hope to shed some light on the complex and vulnerable life of an adoptee. 

Where are you from?

A question I have heard many times. Where am I from? A question that has many ties. Truthfully, I was born elsewhere, in the country of Guatemala, full of despair. While I was only an infant, it is still a part of me. While I may not remember, I believe it is still my history. Yet, this question always causes me to freeze, because I am unsure what the right answer is for me. I have lived in America my entire life, or so it seems. Except for the four months when my life was unknowingly ripping at the seams. As a baby, I have no way of knowing how it felt. So many lives impacted by someone who can’t even remember the cards they were dealt. Well, I was born in Guatemala, I start to say. I lived there for a few months, before going my separate way. I was adopted by a loving family, who is all I’ve ever known. They saved me from poverty and loved me as their own.

Well what about your birth mother?

Another question I tend to hear. What about her? Any memory of her is more distant than near. I never really thought about her much till now. Then I went searching for answers I didn’t necessarily want to know about. Digging up my past disrupted my peace. I was losing my sense of tranquility. I have never met her, nor seen a picture. To me, she wasn’t anything more than my birth giver. There was a lady out there with my face and half my DNA. I started to spiral, wondering should I be feeling a certain way? I began to search and search, hoping to find answers. Digging up information I probably wasn’t ready for. Well, my mother gave me up for a better life, I would say. She saw me for a few weeks, before going her separate way. I was adopted by a loving family, who is all I’ve ever known. I became their daughter and they love me as their own.

Well what about your brother? Is he your real one?

Oh great, now my brother is in the picture. Is he my real one? What type of definition do they figure? While it is true, he is from Guatemala just like me. We don’t necessarily have a biological history. Sure, maybe we aren’t related by blood. But neither is any part of my family, So what’s the difference if he is loved? He’s just like me, been here since he was an infant. If he were to ask for help, I’d be there in an instant. Well, we are not biologically related, I say. But he is my brother, no matter the way. He was adopted by a loving family, who is all he’s ever known. He became my brother, and we love him as our own.

Okay, well have you gone back? Tried to reconnect?

A complicated question. Should I have visited by now? It’s a difficult topic for me to mention. It’s hard to process feelings without showing guilt. Why should I think about the past when my family is fulfilled. Wanting to learn about my past, feels like a burden. It feels like I’m hurting someone, no matter the choices. I understand that adoption is part of my story. And that reconnecting with my culture is important. Well, I haven’t visited yet, I begin to say. But I hope I can someday. It’s a little difficult venturing into the unknown. Especially when I have a family that loves me as my own. Questions have surrounded me all my life. Questions that sometimes feel like a cut with a knife. Questions that make me start to think. Questions that cause my wellbeing to sink. I enjoy sharing my story with the world. But when questions approach me, I begin to fold. Harmless thoughts that people think to ask I don’t necessarily mind them; It’s more so the aftermath that makes me reflect back. I don’t always have the answers, but I’m learning day by day. Being adopted is my beginning, not what stands in my way.

Haley Havens is a Guatemalan adoptee entering her second year at the University of Texas at Austin. She is pursuing an honors degree in advanced human development and family sciences, while also hoping to complete two pre-health related certificates. She hopes to one day become a genetic counselor to help others better understand their genes. “I was adopted from Guatemala at 4 months old, which sparked my initial interest in genetics,” Haley writes. “I found it fascinating how everybody could know their ancestry simply from their DNA, however I didn’t have much information regarding my own genealogy. What started as curiosity about DNA and ancestry has grown into a passion for supporting others as they navigate their own genetic stories.”

Support Adoptees and Adoptive Families!

Help adoptees and adoptive families thrive by ensuring lifetime adoption support services are available to all those whose lives are touched by adoption.

Donate now

The post Congratulations to Holt’s First Hope Adoptee Scholarship Winner appeared first on Holt International.

Every year, Holt awards scholarships to three adoptees graduating high school and planning to pursue further education. We ask them to submit work based around a question or theme relating to the adoptee experience and encourage them to interpret the prompt creatively — whether through an essay, digital art or any other form that inspires them. This year, applicants responded to the prompt, “What is one thing you wish your family, friends or society knew about the adoptee experience?”

For her submission, Lily Rose Macaluso wrote the following poem:

“Those lips, those eyes,” her mother would say, Always took her breath away. From first glance, he loved me so, His forever girl to love and grow. 

They flew across the ocean far and wide, To claim their daughter by their side. Our family complete — my two brothers and I — A house full of laughs and an occasional cry. 

Our love grew strong, like entwined vines, Adoption and biology — just blended lines. “You don’t look like your parents,” some would speak, Echoes linger, soft yet deep. 

These words so simple yet pierced my heart, A subtle stab at my different start. “Where is your real mom?” kids would ask, As if switching moms was a simple task. 

She’s the one who kissed my scraped-up knees, And always embraced me with a warm, tight squeeze. The woman who sang me to sleep every night — Is somehow less real? Is somehow less right? 

They compare my eyes, my skin, my face, Trying to make sense of my family, my place. But family is more than physicality; It shapes our truth, our shared reality. 

So, when you notice that I look different, Know our bond is deep and significant. And when you ask, “Where is your real dad and mom?” Know that they’ve been by my side all along. 

A love so endless, so true, so strong — They are my anchor. They are where I belong. 

Lily Macaluso was adopted from China at 15 months old in 2008, joining her loving family in New Jersey. During high school, Lily was an active student who played on the tennis team and participated in a variety of extracurricular activities. Beyond school, Lily embraced her community — working as a camp counselor and scooping ice cream at a local shop. She also enjoyed babysitting for neighborhood families, quickly becoming a trusted helper to younger kids. Lily is now a student at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she is majoring in exercise science with plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

See this year’s other winning Holt Adoptee Scholarship submissions!

Support Adoptees and Adoptive Families!

Help adoptees and adoptive families thrive by ensuring lifetime adoption support services are available to all those whose lives are touched by adoption.

Donate now

The post Where I Belong: A Poem by Holt Adoptee Scholarship Winner appeared first on Holt International.

AJ is an affectionate and sweet boy. He responds warmly when trusted caregivers show him attention and is learning how to express himself. He responds to his name by smiling.

AJ adjusted well when he moved into a new care center in 2022 and he now lives in the nursery area with seven other children his age. He is developmentally delayed in various areas compared to his peers, particularly in motor development. He is currently receiving various therapies to support his healthy development.

An ideal adoptive family will have good access to educational and therapeutic resources. With love and encouragement, AJ will thrive in an adoptive family!

If you think you or someone you know could be the right family for AJ, please email our waiting child team at waitingchild@holtinternational.org! We cannot share photos of AJ publicly due to country restrictions on privacy and adoption. However, the waiting child team has more photos and videos available to share with prospective families interested in adoption.

Email our Waiting Child Team!

Get in touch with our team of expert advocates for the waiting children we feature.

Email us!

The post AJ Needs a Family! appeared first on Holt International.

Earl lives in the Philippines with his father and mother. His father works as a street food vendor, while his mother stays home to take care of their household. With a tight budget from a single income, Earl’s schooling was at risk. Forced to choose between daily essentials and the cost of school supplies, his education had to come second.

But Earl’s future changed when a Holt sponsor stepped in.

Through monthly sponsorship, 10-year-old Earl no longer had to worry about the cost of school or how it impacted his family. Instead, sponsorship gave him the freedom to focus on his studies and enjoy his childhood.

Earl is now in 8^th grade and enjoys sudoku, reading about history and cooking for his family. He’s a diligent student and proud to be at the top of his class. His best subjects are English and technology, and he plans to complete his education through 12^th grade. As a shy 14-year-old, Earl tends to keep to himself, but his friends say he is a kind, thoughtful and loyal friend.

Recently, Earl wrote a letter to thank his sponsors for their help. He promises to “never stop dreaming” because of their support:

My name is Earl. I am 14 years old. I started participating in sponsor[ship] when I was in grade 4, and now I’m in grade 8. My favorite thing to do is read books about history.

First of all, thank you for helping my family, who are able to reduce costs because of what you gave. And most importantly, I would like to thank you for your help in my stud[ies], which helped me a lot. I’ve always been in the top 1 or 2, or with honors. And now in grade 8, I graduated with high honors. I also participated in the sudoku puzzle [competition], and I was top 2 in our school. … I promise you that as long as you help me and hold on to something, I will never stop dreaming of myself and [my] family. Thank you very much.

God Bless,

Earl

Become a Child Sponsor

Connect with a child. Provide for their needs. Share your heart for $43 per month.

sponsor now!

The post “I Will Never Stop Dreaming” appeared first on Holt International.

Holt International Children’s Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Derek Parker as the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The creation of this new executive leadership role reflects Holt’s commitment to strengthening operations and advancing its future strategies. As COO, Parker will provide oversight of Holt’s domestic and international programs, procurement and organizational performance. This structure allows President and CEO Dan Smith to devote more time to external leadership, global partnerships and advocacy, while Parker ensures alignment and accountability across Holt’s operations.

“Adding the COO role is a strategic step for Holt,” said Dan Smith, Holt’s president and CEO. “Derek brings not only extensive executive leadership experience but also his lived experience as a Holt adoptee and his knowledge as a former board chair. This combination of professional expertise and personal connection to Holt’s mission makes him uniquely suited to help lead us into the future.”

Parker brings over 20 years of senior management experience in both nonprofit and corporate sectors. Most recently, Parker served as the COO of the Parent Institute for Quality Education. Parker’s career also includes leadership roles such as President of Kurmac Inc. and Vice President and District Manager at U.S. Bank, where Parker oversaw 21 branches and managed 150 employees.

In addition to his professional background, Parker has a deep personal connection to Holt. As a Holt adoptee and a longtime board member, he has served as board chair and worked closely with the leadership team to guide the organization’s governance. Transitioning from governance to operations, Parker will now contribute his expertise from within the executive team.

“I am honored to step into this new role at Holt,” said Parker. “As a Holt adoptee and a leader committed to the children we serve around the world, I believe in Holt’s mission deeply. I look forward to working with Dan, the board and the entire team to strengthen Holt’s operations and expand its impact for children and families around the world.”

Parker will remain based in Southern California while traveling as required to Holt’s Eugene, Oregon, headquarters and other U.S. and international locations. He will join staff October 13.

Learn more about Holt’s work and history!

At Holt International, we help children thrive in the love and stability of a family. But our services extend far beyond the adoption work we are known for.

learn about holt

The post Holt International Appoints Derek Parker as First Chief Operating Officer appeared first on Holt International.

Gavin is a curious and happy 5-year-old boy with an adorable smile! He enjoys playing with puzzles, building blocks and toy cars. His favorite foods are meat, fruit and dessert, and he especially loves barbecue!

He is doing well in kindergarten, and his favorite subject is music. He plays well with other children and knows how to share and take turns cooperatively. Gavin enjoys being outside — whether he’s playing at the park or going camping. Right now, he’s learning how to ride a bike!

Gavin is currently living with a foster family while he waits for a permanent, loving family. He has some delays in speech as well as fine and gross motor skills. His foster family shares that he has made amazing progress.

An ideal adoptive family will be loving, patient and kind. Gavin will be best supported by a family who has access to occupational, physical and speech therapy, as well as learning support through school.

If you think you or someone you know could be the right family for Gavin, please email our waiting child team at waitingchild@holtinternational.org! We cannot share photos of Gavin publicly due to country restrictions on privacy and adoption. However, the waiting child team has more photos and videos available to share with prospective families interested in adoption.

Email our Waiting Child Team!

Get in touch with our team of expert advocates for the waiting children we feature.

Email us!

The post Gavin Needs a Family! appeared first on Holt International.

You Can Help a Hungry Child

When you give Food Every Day, you not only help a child learn, play and grow — you help keep their family together.

give food now

The post 30 Days of Full Bellies, Thanks to You appeared first on Holt International.

Mary is a bubbly little girl who enjoys playing with puzzles and dolls. From a young age, she has loved singing, dancing and listening to music. Mary loves cats and dogs and dreams of having a pet of her own one day! She enjoys riding in the car, playing at the park and going on special outings with her foster family. She gets along well with others and has formed good emotional attachments with her caregivers.

Mary is currently receiving ongoing therapeutic care to help her learn and grow. She is making good progress in her speech, occupational and educational development. Mary is calm, adaptable to change and responds well to routines.

An ideal adoptive family will be warm, patient, emotionally available and committed to offering Mary a stable and nurturing environment. A family who will support Mary’s therapeutic needs will help her thrive.

If you think you or someone you know could be the right adoptive family for Mary, please email our waiting child team at waitingchild@holtinternational.org! We cannot share photos of Mary publicly due to country restrictions on privacy and adoption. However, the waiting child team has more photos and videos available to share with prospective families interested in adoption.

Email our Waiting Child Team!

Get in touch with our team of expert advocates for the waiting children we feature.

Email us!

The post Mary Needs a Family! appeared first on Holt International.

Dear Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Gracon, Division Chief Bentley, and Ms. Urbina:

Thank you for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing your understanding of China’s current position on international adoptions. We are writing to follow up on that conversation and to strongly reiterate our request: that you continue to advocate—clearly and unequivocally—for our families and for our matched children who wait to be united, especially in this critical lead-up to a summit between the US and China.

As several of us noted, experts have long told us that any decision to complete China’s pending US adoptions must come from the highest levels of its government. China’s political structure is deeply hierarchical, and progress will only come if the matter is raised with senior leadership. Lower and mid-level bureaucrats must toe the party line and have no choice but to declare that the program is closed.

We appreciate your answers to our questions regarding the level of US diplomatic engagement to date. But we were profoundly discouraged to learn that, despite years of outreach from Members of Congress, Senators, and Governors, this issue has yet to be raised with China at the level necessary to effect change.

In short: the right door has never been knocked on. No one has engaged the necessary decision makers.

We urge you—respectfully but emphatically—not to give up on our children. While we understand that setting the agenda for bilateral talks may not rest with your office, your voice matters. A lack of strong advocacy now could prevent this issue from being raised at all.

This moment—on the eve of a rare U.S.-China summit—is the best opportunity we’ve had in years to bring our children home. Issues important to both our countries are on the table. We have worked tirelessly to build momentum and make our voices heard. 

Please do not undercut these efforts by:

1 Suggesting to the Administration that our children are not worth raising in this dialogue; or

2 Failing to advocate forcefully for their inclusion on the summit agenda.

The window is closing. We urge you not to be the ones who close it. Do not let China pre-emptively set the agenda.
This is the time to fulfill your promise to support our families. Please continue to advocate within the Administration that our waiting children deserve to be a part of these negotiations at the Presidential level.

With urgency and hope,

The Waiting Families of Hope Leads Home

The post Sign On to Advocate for Waiting Children in China appeared first on Holt International.

Vietnam

Holt Vietnam recently hosted a three-day Roots to Grow training for 20 children, ages 14-18, in Dong Nai Province. The Roots to Grow training focuses on exploring nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, and budgeting presented through fun and interactive games, activities, meal preparation and cooking.

The recent training brought a lot of fun for the children and helped them to feel confident in the kitchen. They learned about how different foods protect your body, help you grow and give you energy. Through hands-on time in the kitchen, they also learned practical skills like handling kitchen knives, keeping utensils clean and even how to cook new recipes, like omelets, focaccia bread, bulgogi and apple crisp!

Without learning these essential life skills, it can be extremely difficult for children growing up in poverty to make their way as independent adults. Through the support of sponsors and donors, children in Holt’s programs learn life skills that they need to live healthy, successful lives.

Uganda

In Uganda, maternal and child health camps were recently held at four health centers as well as Holt sponsor and donor-supported early childhood care and development centers. These donor-funded camps offer crucial medical care to children, families and caregivers living in impoverished communities.

The recent maternal and child health camps served 8,250 children and 694 adults, providing interventions such as Vitamin A supplementation, deworming and health education through Holt’s Child Nutrition Program. Children and families also received treatment for prevalent conditions including malaria, chronic coughs, influenza and skin infections. Children with more complex health issues were referred to health specialists.

Thanks to the support of sponsors and donors, families receive one-on-one support and benefit from community events— like camps — that provide training to help them nurture their child’s growth and development. When children are healthier, they are more likely to meet developmental milestones, perform better in school and their families miss less work — enabling them to earn more income for their household!

China

In China, Holt’s family strengthening programs focus on education to lift children and families out of poverty. Child sponsors and donors provide the critical support needed to help children attend school for as long as possible — creating generational change for thousands of families.

During August, ten students from the Shangyi Family Strengthening (FS) program attended a five-day summer camp held by the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Jiangxi Province. Through the generosity of Holt donors, these students attended the summer camp free of cost.

The field trip included hands-on aeronautic and astronautic experiences, inspiring the students to develop their professional skills and explore possible career paths. For children in Holt programs, experiences like these help broaden their horizons beyond the limited career opportunities they witnessed growing up in impoverished communities.

Cambodia

According to Holt-supported students in Cambodia, donors and sponsors are making a big difference.

Recently, students were given an assessment through the Educational Support Program (ESP) in Phnom Penh. All students reported that Holt Cambodia’s ESP has helped them remain in school, with 86.96% strongly agreeing and 13.04% agreeing. Furthermore, almost all children (91.3%) who participated in the assessment strongly agreed and 8.7% agreed that ESP support has motivated them to pursue higher education.

In late July, 83 children in the ESP completed their Grade 9 National Diploma Exams and 71 successfully passed to Grade 10. Without support from Holt sponsors and donors, many of these children would have dropped out as early as in primary school. For children growing up in poverty around the world, education is the key to a brighter future.

Become a Child Sponsor

Connect with a child. Provide for their needs. Share your heart for $43 per month.

sponsor now!

The post Notes from the Field: September 2025 appeared first on Holt International.