Latest News From BaanGerda
Photography Course
Posted by Mike Thomas on 1st August 2008
Several of the older children recently benefited from a photography course kindly organised by Barbara Walton. She has submitted this report along with a link to some of the photos that the children took:
“As professional news photographers based in Thailand for epa european pressphoto agency (www.epa.eu/), Narong Sangnak and I don’t have much time for passing on skills, but we enjoyed a great day teaching a group of BaanGerda photo enthusiasts the basics of taking a picture during a day-long workshop.
After Narong’s thorough theory lesson, and assisted by photographer Udo Weitz and Narong’s wife Prang, we worked with small teams in the field, encouraging and directing their portrait, landscape and self chosen assignments. The budding young photographers got to use Canon and Nikon professional equipment, and soon picked up that learning how to shoot pictures is often about re-learning how to look from behind a camera, and allowing yourself to be adventurous, curious, and bold enough to give a photo idea a try - and see if it works.
By the end of the session all the kids were moving their bodies and not just standing to shoot, getting closer to their subject and really searching their home BaanGerda environment to find where interesting light and nice locations were for picture taking.
We then saw a very enthusiastic group shown how to edit their shoots and work off their pictures - crop, tone and save for group discussion. While we only scratched the surface we saw some great talent emerge!”
Barbara Walton
View some of the children’s photos
Trip To The Seaside
Posted by Ginge on 3rd May 2008We are in the middle of the long school holidays which, for the children at BaanGerda, are punctuated by a very important event: the annual beach trip. Our first holiday with the children was 6 years ago, and since then it has become a tradition which the kids look forward to for months in advance.
Throughout the month of March the children talk of little else. They pack their bags days in advance, and when the day of departure arrives the buses set off at 4am, but you can be sure that with all the excitement hardly anyone manages to get any sleep before that. They arrive before lunch, sleepy from the long journey, and desperate to go and play in the sea.
Much has changed since our first visit when we were unable to disclose that our children were infected with HIV for fear that we would be turned away. Many resorts didn’t want to accept us when we mentioned that we were bringing HIV kids and ultimately it was decided to keep it secret. By the time our resort discovered they had HIV, the owners had become so fond of the kids they didn’t turn us away. Instead they gave us a cheap room rate and plenty of extra treats for free. Each family stays in a simple bungalow with one room for the children and another for the parents for 3 fun-filled days. Not only that, we have also observed that those children who have persistent HIV-associated skin problems show much improvement after a few days at the beach, perhaps due to the salty water.
It is as a result of the kind support of friends of BaanGerda that each year our children are able to enjoy what is a big highlight of the year.
Nutrition Research Study Update
Posted by Ginge on 9th April 2008At BaanGerda we are aware that the role on nutrition is just one of many important factors influencing the development of our children. Visitors to the village may have noticed that some of the children seem very small in comparison to other children of the same age. The HIV virus not only attacks the body’s immune system but can also affect the physical and mental development of a child.
It is believed that a healthy HIV infected child requires approximately 10% more food intake than a non-infected child. A child with clinical symptoms of HIV (opportunistic infections / HIV wasting etc.) however requires up to 50% more food. It is our responsibility to ensure that our children get sufficient nutrition to ensure they develop like normal children. We find this now takes up a larger proportion of our monthly budget .
We are delighted that a team of nutritionists from the Thai Red Cross HIV Research Centre and Mahidol University in Bangkok have decided to undertake a study of the role of nutrition in HIV children at BaanGerda. After two preliminary visits to assess the height, weight and food intake of the children, the team are now working on various approaches to ensure that the nutritional needs of our kids are being fulfilled.
BaanGerda is an ideal location for such a study because we have records about the physical development of our children going back several years as well as clinical data for each child. The team will be working with our cooks to adapt menus for healthy high-calorie foods; our parents to encourage their involvement in their children’s eating habits; and our kids to teach them the importance of eating healthy food.
We will be making regular reports on the progress of the study, but for now our children seem very happy to know that one of the team’s recommendations is to eat plenty of ice cream and milkshakes!
Sewing Workshop Teachers
Posted by Mike Thomas on 18th March 2008
An important part of the village is the handicraft and carpentry workshop that provides the parents with an opportunity to work and contribute to earn a living. Khun Narong and Dim have been involved in the textile industry in Thailand for over 30 years and regularly supply silk and cotton products to shops throughout Bangkok.
What is your role at BaanGerda?
Dim: We stay at BaanGerda for 1 or 2 weeks every month, teaching the foster mothers how to make various items such as pillows, hats, bags etc… Our silk comes from a small village in the north-east called Chaiyapoom, which uses traditional production methods and natural dyes.
Where are the finished products sold?
Dim: Some of the products are shipped to Australia where Father Sean from the Born To Live foundation sells them to local shops. We also supply to a company in Europe that deals only in Fair Trade products, which means that we have to meet strict standards for both manufacturing and the welfare of the workers.
How does the workshop help the mothers at BaanGerda?
Dim: When they can work they have a better meaning in life, they won’t think of all the negative things anymore. They can work and have an income and have a way of improving their life. They don’t have to be idle and stuck worrying about their condition. Another important factor is that having a job enhances the self-confidence of the parents which in return makes them better parents. During the holidays the mothers are also able to pass on their new skills to the children.
BaanGerda Sports Day
Posted by Kaew on 30th January 2008
This is the fifth sports day that the friends of ‘kaewdiary.com’ have organized for the kids of BaanGerda. We made the event so they can have the same experience as other non-infected kids.
It started one weekday when I went to BaanGerda I saw the children playing at home and not going to school. I asked “why do you not go to school ?” They answered that today is the sports day in the school and the teacher said that the BaanGerda kids should not participate. I did not know why the teachers had such a bad attitude about HIV.
My friends and I wanted the BaanGerda children to have the same happiness and excitement as the others so we organized our own sports day at BaanGerda. We did not have much money to to arrange the event but the children were very happy to take part in sport competitions, be cheerleaders etc… In the evening we staged a party and the volunteers from the website performed in funny shows for the kids. Now the teachers have more understanding of HIV and the BaanGerda children get the opportunity to take part in the school activities.
The sport event has become a tradition between Kaewdiary.com and BaanGerda and takes place in January every year for two days. The first day has the sports events and a party for the volunteers and children in the evening. The next day in the morning is a Buddhist ceremony with monks. We pray for the children who have died in the past and pray for a good life, good health and good luck.
In the afternoon we follow a Thai tradition which is called BAI-SRI (which actually means ‘lucky’ and ‘auspicious’ rice). In this ritual a little robe will connect the adults to the kids. This white robe represents a holy thread. When we connect it to the children’s wrists we bless them and wish them good health and tell them that we love them very much.
It is very time consuming and tiring to organize this sports event. In the end we know that all the trouble and pain is very worthwhile because it is for the children. At the end of the ceremony we all hug each other and say our thanks, ask for forgiveness and good spirit. We then promise to be back again for many other activities in the time to come.
Children Volunteer in Rural School
Posted by Kaew on 16th January 2008
At the beginning of December I arranged for my friends from my website (www.kaewdiary.com) to take the bigger children of BaanGerda to a volunteer camp in Buriram Province. It’s a volunteer camp to help a local school in an area known as ‘Isaan’ in north-eastern Thailand, 410 kilometres from Bangkok.
The objectives of the project were;
- to help a very poor local school.
- to help kids in poor families (we gave many things like books, pencils ,clothes, shoes).
- to teach the kids from BaanGerda about “GIVING” and working as a volunteer. The kids are becoming teenagers and old enough to understand that good people also GIVE and not only TAKE.
- for the kids from BaanGerda to learn about the difference in Thai culture, learn to live with other people.
I brought some twelve teenagers from BaanGerda to Baan Nong Phet School at Burirum and about 30 volunteer from my website. We used money from the donation in kaewdiary.com
At the camp, we helped to build a terrace with a roof in front of the library. We made a shelf to organise the books in the library. We renovated a hall of the school (it’s a little hall that is used for everything such as eating, meeting, etc…) We renovated a statue of Buddha, and we built a washbasin.
BaanGerda’s kids worked hard but they were happy. They have new friends now. They tried to eat local food and they joined in with dancing to local songs (Cambodian song and dance). I think that the kids get a good experience and good memory from this project. And I hope that when the kids grow up they will work as a volunteer to assist people who need their help. On our way back to BaanGerda we all were very happy.
Children Perform at FANC Charity Ball
Posted by Mike Thomas on 26th December 2007The Foreign Anti-Narcotic Community of Thailand (FANC) held their annual ball at the beginning of December, with proceeds going to BaanGerda. The event, held at the Westin Hotel in Bangkok, was an opportunity for some of the children to demonstrate their new musical skills they have learnt this year.
FANC has existed for over 25 years and is made up of police attaches from 20 countries, who work with the local police to fight drug trafficking and other crimes in Thailand. Some years ago, they looked at ways that their membership could make a difference to those individuals whose lives were directly (or indirectly) affected by these crimes. As a result, for the last 4 years FANC has chosen to sponsor the children of Baan Gerda.
Mike Hiller, FANC Chairman, “Many of the FANC members have visited with the children at BaanGerda and were deeply moved by the children themselves and the work being done there. It was the experience of having met the children that led us to inviting them to perform at the 2007 FANC Charity Ball. Not surprisingly, their performance was the highlight of the event…those that attended the ball were as deeply moved as those of us who visited BaanGerda and will likely not forget the amazing children of Baan Gerda.”
New Research Study into Children’s Nutrition
Posted by Mike Thomas on 17th December 2007
A new study is being carried out to asses the nutritional status of HIV-infected children. It is known as the TACHIN Project and is a collaboration between the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, the institute of Nutrition at Mahidol University (Bangkok), and the Albion Street Centre in Australia.
Children living with HIV are at a higher risk of malnutrition because of the effects of the virus on their immune system and the side-effects of the ARV treatment. The research team have spent four days at BaanGerda collecting data on the children and their diet. The initial results show that 50% are underdeveloped through stunted growth or underweight.
The first phase of the study will include the team returning to BaanGerda in a few weeks to offer advice and suggestions on improving the diet. Assessments will then be carried out after three and six months.
BaanGerda is one of the few places that have a large number of HIV-infected children with comprehensive medical and growth records. Very little research has been done in this area so far and it is hoped that, apart from improving the health of the children, it will also be of benefit to other organisations and medical professionals around the world.
Nutritionist Supabhorn Pengnonyang from the TACHIN project “To achieve the goal of promoting growth in children, every stakeholder especially those closely related to them must be responsible. Community can learn and find out the right and practical way for themselves. We do hope the outcomes will be sustainable and, importantly, will be applicable to other communities.”
HIV Advisors Attend Seminar at BaanGerda
Posted by Ginge on 30th November 2007
It was with an air of apprehension that I prepared a slide show last week describing some of our experiences setting up Baan Gerda. Our paediatrician Dr Jintanat had suggested that BaanGerda might be an interesting case-study for visitors from all over Asia working with an organisation called PLAN Asia. PLAN is reviewing its strategy with regards HIV and in so doing set up a 5 day workshop. The goal was to strengthen the HIV response in the region, especially among children and young people; ultimately they wanted to set up a regional strategy.
BaanGerda was the first port of call in their workshop. I was worried, partly because I have never had to do a talk to 25 strangers before and couldn’t believe that I knew anything that they would be interested in. I was also concerned because the last seminar at BaanGerda – at which I was not present – ended in such a strong conflict of opinions, that it was important this one succeeded and so it did. Even Karl agrees.
The participants came from a range of backgrounds: economists, programme managers, doctors, other health personnel and so on from all over South and South East Asia. Their range of knowledge was broad, but what united them was their interest in our experiences with treating HIV children here in Thailand.
I gave a half hour talk, with slides, talking about the challenges we have faced, the solutions we have sought and the lessons we have learned at Baan Gerda from a social and medical viewpoint. Dr Jintanat followed with an excellent presentation of the clinical issues of paediatric HIV treatment, which I hope she will share here too. Much to our relief, no one fell asleep and instead, we had a long and animated discussion period. We realised that not only have we knowledge to share, but that there are people in a position of creating change who want to hear it. We look forward to seeing the final results of PLAN’s workshop soon.
View the slideshow presentation
View the participant’s feedback
The Amari BMW Midnight Run, Bangkok 2007
Posted by Mike Thomas on 5th November 2007
The annual Amari Midnight Run is now in its 10th year, and continues to grow in popularity. More than 3,000 people took to the streets of Bangkok in a party-like atmosphere, and competitors had the choice of running either a 6km or 12km course. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Dr. Suwit Yodmanee, and the General Manager of Amari Watergate (and race competitor!) Pierre Pelletier. Proceeds from the event go to the Chalerm Prakiat School in Lampoon province, and BaanGerda.
A midnight run through the streets of London or Berlin may offer you cool temperatures and little traffic; not so in Bangkok! The notorious traffic jams and relentless heat don’t subside at the midnight hour. Still, they’re a hardy lot here and most people are skilled at dodging the buses while crossing the busy junctions.
Several of the children from BaanGerda attended the event for the first time. They were a little overwhelmed by the camera crews and photographers when they joined the sports minister at the opening ceremony. However, they showed-off their dancing skills during the pre-race aerobics and even managed their own 10 metre run through the starting line! Check out the video….
Weekly Music Lessons Using Orff Method
Posted by Mike Thomas on 1st July 2007
The children of BaanGerda are currently learning to play instruments using an innovative approach to music education known as Orff Schulwerk or Music for Children. It was developed in the 1920s by the German composer Carl Orff and follows the principle that learning music should be fun and natural.
Improvisation is encouraged and children benefit from the co-ordination and cohesion of playing in a group. It is based on things children like to do such as sing, chant rhymes, clap and dance. The forceful variations on rhythmic patterns makes for very simple and beautiful musical forms, which are easily learned by young children. This all happens in a non-competitive atmosphere and helps to develop confidence while enjoying the pleasure of making good music with others.
The program uses a special group of instruments including glockenspiels, xylophones, metallophones and percussion instruments. Lessons have been taking place every Sunday afternoon under the expert guidance of American composer and music director, Bruce Gaston, who is recognized as an authority on Thai music.
Amazingly, the children took part in a small concert at Tawandang Brew House in Bangkok on June 10th, just 2 months after they started learning. A concert is being organized at the Stock Exchange, when guests from Thailand’s largest companies will be in attendance. This will be followed by a performance in an opera at the Thailand Cultural Center. Dates will be released shortly.
Photos from the practice session
HIV Care Seminar at BaanGerda
Posted by Mike Thomas on 15th June 2007
BaanGerda is the host for a seminar entitled ‘Empowering Communities to providing treatment, care and support for Children affected by and living with HIV’. The goal is to provide a forum for lessons and experience-sharing and to encourage the generation of ideas in caring for children living with HIV. It is also hoped to develop the links and networks between organizations and groups that work with these children.
Amongst the different partners involved with the seminar are UNESCO, Thai Red Cross, SEARCH (South East Asia Research Collaboration with Hawaii) and Plan Thailand. Attendees include representatives from HDF Mercy Center, Camillian Social Center, Agape Home in Chiang Mai, We Understand Group in Bangkok, Baan Mettatham, UNESCO, UNICEF and the ACCESS Foundation Chiang Rai.
Although it is widely recognized that the ideal place for the child is in the home community, many communities lack the knowledge, understanding and skills to provide the required support and care. The first priority was to ensure that these vulnerable children receive the necessary medication and appropriate care. Many projects have been established and now it has become clear that children with HIV can live happy lives, the next step is to prepare the communities to take over caring for the children themselves. Hopefully, centers like BaanGerda will no longer be necessary in the future.
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