by Alice Evans—Holt Managing Editor

Not quite 3 years old, the little boy with the dark hair and dark eyes loved to dance — and he knew how to relate. “He got me dancing with him,” said Abbie Smith, director of the Holt International Waiting Child program.

Smith and Angie Wharfield, social services director for Holt International’s Bulgaria program, were in Bulgaria a week ago, where they interacted with dozens of children in five childcare institutions – four baby homes for children birth to 3, and one orphanage for children 3 to 5.

At one of the baby homes, they met a group of especially glowing children. “The children were obviously well cared for, and happy, and they had spent time learning folk dancing,” said Smith. “This little boy liked to dance with a partner.”

Wharfield and Smith also met with Bulgaria’s Deputy Minister of Justice. The attorney and CEO of Holt’s Bulgarian partner agency, Vesta, is currently working with the Ministry of Justice to draft a new family code that will amend the law favorably for adoption practices, including children with special needs.

“Overall, I have been motivated by the tireless care and work being done for children living in institutional care in Bulgaria,” said Wharfield. “Even when adoptions slowed and most U.S. agencies had to withdraw from adoptions in Bulgaria, Vesta and these institutions found creative and innovative ways to continue the good, quality care to children. The care I observed over the last week reflected the sacrifice and commitment these individuals have to the children in their care. And the proof is in the smiles and laughter observed in these children.” Read the rest of this entry »