About this Blog
On this blog, we share stories and updates about our work around the world. With reporting from Holt staff in the U.S. and overseas as well as contributions from adoptive parents, adoptees, sponsors and supporters, we strive to represent the heart, life and experiences of our extended “Holt Family.”
Because of Holt sponsors and donors, 7-year-old Anis gets to learn and grow each day at his school in southern Thailand. But when he leaves school for the day, his education is just beginning…
Read part one of this story!
Learning & Reviving Culture
As the group comes to a close, the children start to squirm with a nervous energy. You can tell they’ve been sitting patiently throughout the whole group for this one moment. And soon we see why.
They line up in rows in the same place that they met and sit down cross-legged. Some have shakers, a tambourine or a drum. A beat begins and they move their knees up and down in the sitting position and begin to sing.
It’s a traditional folk song and dance called the Likae Hullo. It tells the story of when their people were forced south into the waters of Malaysia in order to find fish, but the words of this song are a plea for their husbands, fathers and brothers to come home. Anis and his brother and sister perform the motions and words with full energy and enthusiasm.
Because of Holt sponsors and donors, 7-year-old Anis gets to learn and grow each day at his school in southern Thailand. But when he leaves school for the day, his education is just beginning…
At the fishing dock near his home in southern Thailand, 7-year-old Anis concentrates to untangle a squirmy, translucent crawfish from the net. It’s late in the day, and he’s dressed in his afterschool clothes — a red soccer jersey, yellow shorts and Crocs. The ocean air is thick and humid, and it has slightly curled his hair in front.
Next, Anis detangles a tiny crab with a bright purple claw.
“I am very proud to help my father,” he says shyly, then tosses the catch into a shallow rubber tub. His father, Burhan, looks on with approval as his son squats alongside him at the fishing net, then smiles as Anis jumps up and runs to join the other kids climbing on the fishing boats.
Anis’ brother, Daris, smiles while sitting in his father and grandfather’s fishing boat with his friends. Anis (far right) is going to join them.
Kyle needs a family!
Kyle came into care when he was about 11 months old. He is a growing boy that is on track developmentally both mentally and physically. His caregivers and peers love him and describe him as a spunky boy.
You can often find Kyle running around with his friends or playing with a ball. However, when he isn’t feeling like being active, he loves to color and play games. Read More
Because of Holt sponsors and donors, 7-year-old Anis gets to learn and grow each day at his school in southern Thailand. But when he leaves school for the day, his education is just beginning…
At the fishing dock near his home in southern Thailand, 7-year-old Anis concentrates to untangle a squirmy, translucent crawfish from the net. It’s late in the day, and he’s dressed in his afterschool clothes — a red soccer jersey, yellow shorts and Crocs. The ocean air is thick and humid, and it has slightly curled his hair in front.
Next, Anis detangles a tiny crab with a bright purple claw.
“I am very proud to help my father,” he says shyly, then tosses the catch into a shallow rubber tub. His father, Burhan, looks on with approval as his son squats alongside him at the fishing net, then smiles as Anis jumps up and runs to join the other kids climbing on the fishing boats.
Anis’ brother, Daris, smiles while sitting in his father and grandfather’s fishing boat with his friends. Anis (far right) is going to join them.
A little work, and a lot of play, is how Anis and his two siblings spend their days. And all day long, they are learning — both in and out of school.
With support from his sponsors, Anis attends elementary school each day. But this is only where his learning begins. Read More
The Fab4 became the Fab5 in October 2016 when Reynold, an older boy from the Philippines, joined their family.
When the Fabros family started pursuing older child adoption from the Philippines, soon-to-be adoptive mother Robin Ann had an emotion she never expected to have about adding to their family: grief.
