“Give an orphaned or vulnerable child a birthday to remember!” Holt International says.
About three months before my 9th birthday, on January 29th, 1975, Holt gave me a birthday to remember.
There were about 12 of us girls who had been transferred from another orphanage. Holt gave each of us a birthday to remember.
There were no gifts, no cake, no birthday party. Nothing like that.
There were two (or three) men sitting behind a table with lot of papers. One of them was the director of St. Paul’s orphanage.
One man asked us our age, while others were busy writing on the papers. We were all the same age.
He then asked if any of us knew our birthday. I raised my hand and I answered proudly because I was the only one to know her birthday.
The man gave each of the other girls a birthday and a new age. He also gave me a new age and a new birthday.
My birthday is on April. He gave a new “birth”day on November.
Another man said, “From now on, if someone asks your age, it’s important to give your new age… and you, MyungSook, your new birthday.” He repeated it several times that it was important to remember our new age.
We did what they told us without questioning…
I didn’t question then because I was only a vulnerable child who obeyed the adults.
As an adult I want the world to know how adoption agencies are using the words “orphaned child”, “vulnerable child” and “give a birthday”.
Vulnerable, I was.
Orphaned, I was not.
I want the world to know how Holt gave me a “birthday” that has nothing to do with my birth.
My family background information made up by Holt is here.
I want the world to know why I hate Holt and adoption agencies.
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