Children and families benefit from a renovated healthcare clinic in Shinshicho, Ethiopia

By: Ashli Courtright, Managing Editor

A year ago the waiting room of a government-run healthcare clinic in Shinshicho, Ethiopia, and the only healthcare facility in the community, sat run down and almost completely empty. Many residents opted to travel long distances to other clinics, or remain in their homes as their treatable medical conditions worsened. Now, with the help of Holt International, the clinic has been completely renovated, and the residents of this community are finally receiving the medical treatment and care they desperately need, in a clean and safe environment.

In January Will Dantzler, Chairman of Holt’s Board of Directors, joined with Holt’s Ethiopia Country Director, Dr. Fikru Geleso, and members of local and central Ethiopian government, to cut the ribbon at an inauguration ceremony, signifying the opening of the beautiful, newly renovated clinic, and welcoming a new beginning for the estimated 250,000 area residents who will benefit from it.

“The clinic is 25 years old, and had never been renovated, no construction had been done to it until now,” says Dr. Fikru. “It was very unclean, and the nurses were inexperienced. We renovated the entire clinic, and did additional constructions including: sewer system, electrical system and telephone system.”

Holt, along with generous donors, provided funding for the renovation work and partial funding for a full-time doctor and several nurses who are now running the clinic and providing medical assistance to over 3,000 people a month, most of whom are women and children. “It benefits a lot of women specifically,” said Dr. Fikru.

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A couple with three daughters adopts a girl through the China Child of Promise program

by: SueAnn Rand

I got “the itch” shortly after my husband and I decided for sure that we were not having any more children. We were so very blessed to have three healthy, beautiful daughters.  What more could we ask for? I had the itch, nonetheless, and after discussing our many options, adoption seemed to call to us.

Our decision to adopt another girl was not even a decision really, though we would have been happy with a boy if we had one anywhere along the way, that was not the path chosen for us. Girls are just what we know and do best. We had many friends who had adopted from China and heard about the great need of forever families for girls. What a great life experience for our very lucky daughters and a wonderful opportunity for us to grow as a family while reaching out to a little girl halfway around the world.

A friend of a friend had adopted three children from China through Holt, and that was all we needed to hear, Holt was our choice. After starting the paper chase in April 2007, our dossier was logged in with China in June. After a few months, we were very discouraged to hear of the increasing wait times for adoption within China.

We had heard a little about the China Child of Promise option but didn’t really think it was right for us – quite frankly it scared me! After exploring it a little and learning that we were in control of the types of special needs we were willing to consider, we decided to fill out the minor/correctable needs conditions list.

By the time we were finished researching the different conditions, it seemed we hadn’t really selected many that we were ok with, but we finally submitted our list to Holt in December. I’ve always believed things work out the way they are supposed to, and I knew our perfect fate was waiting. Read the rest of this entry »

After months of advocating for her adoption, Melissa, a 13-year-old girl in Holt’s Waiting Child program, has been matched with a forever family.

We are delighted to share this wonderful news, and want to thank you for your well-wishes and prayers as Holt made efforts to find this precious, young girl a loving home in a very short time-frame.  Melissa had just one month before her 14th birthday, which would have made her no longer eligible for international adoption.

We ask for your continued prayers for the family who has made the decision to bring Melissa into their home, and for Melissa, as she prepares to unite with her forever family.

You can read more about Melissa in the story below.

Holt’s Waiting Child program has children with special healthcare needs, older children, and sibling groups who all need loving, forever families…

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