Recent updates from Holt-supported family strengthening and orphan care programs around the world!
Cambodia
In Cambodia, Holt’s nutrition and health services team recently completed a full five-day Child Nutrition Program training for staff of the National Center for Infants and Children, a residential care center home to around 180 children and young adults. Most of these residents are infants or children with severe disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, blindness or congenital conditions. Many have arrived at the orphanage after prenatal malnutrition, neglect, drug exposure or trauma. And many have no families to return to and will live in the orphanage for their entire lives.
Children with disabilities are at a significantly higher risk of malnutrition because their caregivers simply don’t have the training to feed them properly. Children are often fed lying down, which can cause them to choke or aspirate on their food. But through a partnership with the organization Plants-Earth-Life, Holt is now bringing our life-changing Child Nutrition Program to Cambodia. Caregivers are learning how to properly position and feed children with disabilities, screen and monitor children’s nutrition and health status, and provide targeted interventions to prevent and treat malnutrition for children in care.
When you join Food Every Day (FED), Holt’s community of monthly donors dedicated to ending child hunger, you help ensure that every child receives the nourishment needed not just to survive, but to grow and thrive. Join FED today!
India
In late October, families across India celebrated Diwali — the festival of lights. Through the support of Holt sponsors and donors, children in our partners’ residential care, child development and community centers were also able to participate in the celebrations. With great joy, the staff and children came together to make colorful diyas and lanterns, beautifully decorate the community and care centers, and build creative forts. The entire atmosphere was filled with joy, laughter and festive spirit, truly reflecting the essence of Diwali — the triumph of light over darkness.
In the same month, both of our partners, BSSK and VCT, celebrated the International Day of the Girl — a day to recognize the remarkable achievements of girls and women, highlighting that being a girl is not a limitation but a symbol of strength, independence and success. In India, girls and women continue to face significant gender barriers due to entrenched beliefs about the role of girls and women in society — especially in impoverished communities like those served by our partners. But thanks to the support of Holt sponsors and donors, vulnerable girls in India receive the resources and support they need to attend school and delay marriage until they graduate.
On Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, Holt is raising funds to send girls to school! Give the gift of education and help her achiever her dreams!
Mongolia
In late October, a group of dedicated Holt supporters had the opportunity to witness Holt’s vision in action and see the impact of their gifts while traveling on Holt’s vision trip to Mongolia! They journeyed to the northernmost province of Mongolia, 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. But with the support of Holt sponsors and donors, children receive the supplies they need to attend school. Many of their families have also received gifts of livestock to earn a stable income and overcome poverty.
During the vision trip, the team generously funded and helped build a new home — a traditional Mongolian ger — for a single mother and her children. They also gave livestock to another family in need.
Learn about more opportunities to travel with Holt and see the life-changing impact of your gifts!
Uganda
In Uganda, our local team recently supported 113 health centers to carry out Child Health Days — reaching 178,000 children with malaria vaccines, Vitamin A and deworming tablets. In rural, impoverished communities in Uganda, too many children don’t get the medical care they need. They don’t go to the doctor when they get an infection, they miss out on routine childhood vaccinations, and many are terribly malnourished due to intestinal parasites. But thanks to Holt donors, hundreds of thousands of children and pregnant women in rural Uganda now receive the treatments at Holt’s annual Child Health Days held in partnership with the Ugandan government. Each health day provides routine catch-up immunizations, vitamin A supplements, deworming medication, malnutrition screening, general health check-ups, prenatal vitamins for mothers, treatments of common illnesses, and health and nutrition education.
Vietnam
In October, children and families in Holt-supported programs celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as “the Children’s Festival.” As many people in Vietnam live in rural areas, the harvest is a time to celebrate, take a break from work and enjoy time with loved ones. At the Kianh Foundation — a Holt-supported school for children with disabilities — children had a chance to perform dances, participate in fun activities, enjoy special moon cakes and treats, and receive gifts. Volunteers also performed dragon dances, sang with the children and decorated the school. Holt sponsors and donors helped make this celebration possible, and our team in Vietnam says it was wonderful to see happiness and laughter on the children’s faces.
In the same month, children and families in the community surrounding the Kianh Foundation experienced devastating floods that damaged their homes and left them without basic needs. Holt is still collecting donations to repair the homes of Kianh families and teachers, and help children and families rebuild their lives. Give now!
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.
