Learn about children our adoption team met in the Philippines! Read More →

Heide Still Needs an Adoptive Family!

2020 update:

We first shared Heide’s story in 2018, but she is still waiting for an adoptive family!

Today, Heide is fourteen. Her caregivers say she is in good physical health and is energetic and active. Heide has learned how to play badminton and volleyball, and she loves to dance! She is eager to participate in regional dance events and competitions.

Outside of sports and activities, Heide enjoys drawing and playing with dolls or Legos with her friends. Heide can be shy around adults but she is very talkative and silly around her two best friends! She and her friends bond over games and joking around together.

Heide’s caregivers say she is helpful and independent, and often volunteers to do errands or take care of the babies in her care center.  She is kind and gets along well with the other children in the care center and her school. At school, Heide enjoys learning new things and she receives extra assistance in reading, math and language development. Her teacher says she is making significant progress in her learning. She has very good artistic skills and expresses herself through colorful drawings.

Could you or someone you know be the right family for Heide? She is waiting for a loving and permanent family, one who will care for her and help her grow and thrive.

A grant is available to help Heide join a loving family! The best fit for Heide is a family with knowledge of older child adoption and access to excellent specialized educational resources for children with communication delays. For more information about her, please contact our Waiting Child Coordinator!

Keep scrolling to read the original story about Heide, and to see a video of her singing!

2018 story:
Heide needs a family!

Heide is sweet and playful, and she loves to help those around her. At 11 years old, Heide’s favorite activities are dancing, singing and being outside.

And in January 2018, I visited Heide at her care center while on a trip to SE Asia.

All the buildings were painted a light yellow on the outside, and some other pastel color on the inside. There were palm trees all over, and some old playground equipment in the corner. I kept thinking to myself that it seemed so pleasant! However, the more I thought about it, I also realized that even the nicest orphanage with calming colors and committed caregivers is still no place for a child. Every child deserves to be loved and given the personal attention that only a family can give.

Heide was in class at the orphanage school when we arrived, and we headed to the classroom to meet her, but we were instructed to wait outside for a bit while her caregivers helped her get used to the idea of meeting us. Apparently, she is pretty shy and needed some time to warm up to us. We peeked in to see she was learning math with about ten other students.

Heide needs a family

She was very excited about learning and was eager to answer the teacher’s questions. When she would get one right, her face would light up with a big grin!

Eventually, we got to meet her, and although she was very quiet, she was happy to be in pictures with her friend!

Heide needs a family

There were many kids at the care center like Heide who seemed to be doing well. But the reality is that in that environment, it is just not possible for them to get the individualized attention that they need to fully grow and develop and thrive.

Heide needs a family that has an understanding of older child adoption and can give her the personalized care and educational resources she needs to reach her potential.

smiling adoptive parents holding son adopted from thailand and baby girl

Older children are waiting for families!

Many children wait longer for a family simply because they are older in age. Could you be the right family to adopt an older child? Meet some of the children who are waiting!

Stories Up Next

All Stories