three green painted handprints of a sponsored child create the shape of a turkey, a bouquet and a potted cactus with the words "Holt International Thank You"

Children in Holt’s child sponsorship program love to thank their sponsors in the U.S. with letters and drawings. Six-year-old Azbayar wanted to thank his sponsors with a photo of his recent art project.

a sponsored child in a yellow shirt and blue pants smiles into the camera

Azbayar lives in rural Mongolia with his parents and siblings, where services for children with special needs are limited. He has Down syndrome, which affects his ability to communicate and feed himself. While he can sit and walk independently, he struggles with chewing and has no teeth, making it difficult for him to get the nutrition he needs. Without specialized support, expressing himself and building skills is challenging.

Because of his sponsors, Azbayar now attends a special needs kindergarten where he receives the care and encouragement he needs to grow.

Since starting school, Azbayar has made meaningful progress. He is developing his fine motor skills and is learning to feed himself. He can sort objects, hit a ball with his hand and increasingly express his needs verbally. Azbayar loves morning exercise, learning time and recess — and music lessons are his favorite!

Each day, Azbayar receives a nutritious meal tailored to his needs. His teachers have seen him grow more focused and engaged throughout the year. He enjoys being with his classmates and often smiles with his eyes when playing with friends.

At home, Azbayar loves watching cartoons with his family, listening to music and poems, and sharing story time with his mom — his favorite activity.

To share a big thank-you for helping him go to school, Azbayar shared this recent art project with his sponsors.

three green painted handprints of a sponsored child create the shape of a turkey, a bouquet and a potted cactus with the words "Holt International Thank You"

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