Holt International Inspires

For the past fifty years Holt International has provided thousands of children with permanent and loving homes–through international adoption services, regional child welfare development, and child sponsorships. During presentations at Holt’s 50th Anniversary meeting in Eugene, Oregon–many of the speakers were former orphans with little hope for a healthy life and access to education–now they are doctors and lawyers and community leaders. Holt’s impact on the world is unquestioned. Unfortunately, in 2007, the need for Holt’s services is greater than ever.

As Holt looks ahead it is clear that the methods they have used to help children in the past may need to change as the problems causing and influencing child welfare are changing. The AIDS pandemic alone is creating entire cultures of children who are growing up without parents or any infrastructure for education or nutrition.

Working with Holt as a consultant is a powerful experience. It is one of those great professional challenges where I learn more than I could possibly teach and receive more than I could possibly give just because of the stories you see and hear from the people on the front lines of the children who are simply being abandoned or ignored. The Board of Directors at Holt is composed of profoundly committed professionals who are charged with nothing less than setting policies and strategy that will literally change the lives of thousands of children–but there is a limit to Holts’ resources. So, they must realize that they cannot handle this issue by themselves. Holt must help galvanize the resources, the agencies, and the political will to relieve the conditions that create homeless children. Believe me, this is remarkably complex and challenging policy development. It is tough, agonizing, frustrating, maddening, exasperating and ultimately some of the most satisfying work I have ever done.

Look for yourself at www.holtinternational.org.