In one community struggling with rampant methamphetamine use and generational poverty in Thailand, family separation is far too common. But because of donors committed to family strengthening efforts, one little girl’s future changed when she was placed in a safe and nurturing home with loving relatives.
*Due to the sensitivity of this story, we have covered Dao’s face online.
Meet Dao, a sweet girl with big, round cheeks and a toothy smile. One-year-old Dao has just figured out how to climb onto the sofa, and the sparkle in her eyes shows how proud she is of her new skill. Dao lives in southern Thailand in the care of her loving family. But life has not always been this way. Dao’s first year was filled with adversity.
Her mother and father, New and Sing, met through their shared use of methamphetamines. Not long after, New discovered she was pregnant with Dao. They stayed together through most of New’s pregnancy until Sing’s drug use made him aggressive, leading to their separation.
In October 2023, Dao was born. When the doctors performed their newborn tests, amphetamines were found in her system. As her mother continued using methamphetamines, her care for Dao waned. Rather than providing breastmilk or formula, she fed Dao varying amounts of sweetened condensed milk. This substitute has become a common issue in Thailand, often due to limited access to accurate information about child nutrition. When the time came for a fresh diaper, Dao would sit for hours in her soiled clothes. Because of this, Dao developed red rashes where the wet diapers clung to her skin. New would disappear for long periods, leaving baby Dao with neighbors.
A Lifeline for Children
Dao’s neglect is not an isolated case. It’s part of a larger, heartbreaking cycle fueled by substance abuse. Methamphetamines are rampant in Thailand where a single tablet can be purchased for as little as 10 cents. This epidemic of substance abuse plagues nearly 60,000 adults. Especially in impoverished communities where many people treat meth like coffee, using it for energy and to increase their ability to work long hours. But before long, this pervasive substance takes hold, trapping its victims in addiction, ripping apart families and passing its devastation down through generations.
Many children are affected by substance abuse, from babies born addicted to drugs to teenagers who use substances and then drop out of school. While the meth epidemic continues to devastate families, Holt Sahathai Foundation (HSF), Holt’s partner organization in Thailand, offers a lifeline to children and families affected by substance abuse. HSF supports children by providing foster care, nutrition support, education, parental counseling and classes, community support, and by helping to reunite children with family members who can care for them. Donor support is critical for children in Thailand, like Dao, who lack the care and support they need to thrive.
Finding a Loving Family for Dao
New’s neighbors soon became concerned with Dao’s condition and urged her to place Dao in the care of her extended family. Wanting her daughter to be safe and loved, New brought Dao to her parents, but they were already caring for some of New’s other children — and they could not commit to caring for Dao. They contacted HSF for help, requesting that Dao be placed in an HSF foster home. Because family strengthening and reunification is always Holt’s first goal, our local partner worked to keep Dao in the care of family members. Far too often, children around the world are separated from their families due to poverty, illness and other hardships. But at Holt, we strive to ensure a stable, loving family for every child, and we believe that children should have every opportunity to grow up in the love and care of their birth family before we ever consider domestic or international adoption for them.
After continuing the search for extended family, Dao’s paternal grandparents, Sao and Pong, stepped forward to care for Dao.
Providing Nurturing Care
Dao’s grandparents have been working with Holt for almost a year now. In that time, they have provided nurturing care for Dao, helping nurse her to health. She has made strides with growth and development benchmarks. She eats three meals a day, sleeps through the night and has learned to brush her teeth with the help of her grandmother. Dao is a confident little girl, walking well and climbing on sofas and stairs with pride. She has learned to say “food,” “milk” and “water” and has a cheerful personality. Her healthy development has been made possible by generous donors sharing their hearts and contributing funds to strengthen families around the world.
Sao and Pong have worked closely with social workers through HSF’s family development programs. The grandparents are currently a part of HSF’s newborn-to-3-years program, which provides milk formula and health monitoring for Dao. HSF programs have also helped them with childcare skills, provided them with community support through parent groups and assisted them with completing paperwork for Dao. Home visits and emotional support for the grandparents have helped them care for Dao, with HSF utilizing casework to help guide the family towards a self-sustainable future.
The Impact of Family Strengthening
Sao and Pong hope to raise Dao in the best possible environment, believing that a loving and nurturing childhood is crucial for growth. They want her to have good health, an education and a career, while fostering close family bonds. They also hope Dao’s father, Sing, will rehabilitate, stay away from drugs and eventually take part in her upbringing. He is currently in a rehabilitation program to become clean from substance use.
Sao and Pong love Dao very much and have expressed interest in officially adopting her. When Dao was born, her father’s name was left off the birth certificate, so adopting Dao will help secure her future rights. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, Sao and Pong feel a strong connection to Dao, and they say she is a part of their family. When they see her smiling face, they are filled with a desire to love and nurture her.
Sao and Pong’s unwavering love for Dao has transformed her life, and they credit much of this progress to the ongoing support they’ve received from HSF and the generous donors who make this work possible. It is because of compassion and generosity of donors, like you, that families are strengthened and empowered with the resources they need to thrive.
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