Latest News From BaanGerda
Developing The Orff System In Thailand
Posted by Bruce Gaston on 26th March 2008
I first heard about the Orff method about 25 ago, when The Goethe Institute in Bangkok sponsored a special workshop and they brought over Dr. Hermann Regner from the Orff Schulwerk Centre in Salzburg. After that, Regner led several workshops over a period of years and we developed together the beginning of the Orff system in Thailand. At that time we were unable to achieve the goal that we had set for ourselves; that was to make an Orff system as you see in so many other countries.
The basis of the idea behind the Orff System has to do with children’s songs and it’s very attached to a language and a culture. Carl Orff was German so he used many local nursery rhymes, folk tales and fairy tales to form the Orff system in Germany. It was such a magical system and it worked so well and gave children an early and rich understanding of music, that it spread immediately to other countries.
Very soon there was a whole series of English text books overseen and controlled by Orff himself, and this was followed by French, German, American and Spanish. Up until now we’ve never been able to achieve this in Thailand.
So one of the things that we are doing in BaanGerda is not only giving the gift of music and encouraging musical sensitivity, but also doing research and working very hard to develop the Orff system by using Thai nursery rhymes, folk tales and children’s songs that have been in the Thai tradition for hundreds of years.
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.
Why The Orff Method Is So Successful
Posted by Bruce Gaston on 28th February 2008
The reason the Orff system is so applicable and so appropriate in Thailand is because we have the same way of looking at things as Karl Orff did, and that is, you teach children to start with percussion instruments such as xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels. This means that you use your two hands to make melodies on bars which, if you think about it, is much easier than worrying about where your fingers go. If you look at the history of music all over the world you’ll see that people tend to start playing with two hands alternating back and forth in a kind of hitting gesture.
We take these percussion instruments and bring them together to have a symphonic sound; an ensemble, in which the children, even the very young children can immediately have some success in playing together. The other very convenient point, and certainly the genius in the Orff system, is that if you make the percussion instruments in a way that you can take the bars out, so that with the remaining bars the chance of making a mistake is manageable even for small children. You don’t have to worry like you do with a piano where you have so many black and white keys and much more chance of making an error.
With Thai instruments, the bars can’t be removed so you always have to choose between lots of notes to get the ones that are right. Using the Orff instruments, you take many of the bars away and the children can achieve something instantly. It’s a wonderful way of introducing the children to music and making it successful right from the very beginning, so the very first hour you start studying Orff you can have musical joy.
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.
Profile of Kaew
Posted by Karl Morsbach on 4th January 2008Kaew has been part of the BaanGerda team since 2002 and is responsible for functions, activities and general P.R. She is well-known in Thailand due to her online diaries that chronicle her experiences of living with HIV. She has also published a series of five ‘AIDS-Diaries’ that have become best sellers.
Six years ago, after graduating with a masters degree in psychology, Kaew secured a good job with a large Thai company. It is normal practice in Thailand for new employees to undergo a short medical and HIV test before they can start work. The result was to change her life. The blood test showed that she was HIV positive.
“I didn’t think that I’m in a risk group about HIV because I have only one boyfriend and we have a plan to marry in the next year. My first reaction was to be very sad, afraid and I cried a lot. I didn’t know about HIV/AIDS. I know like many Thai people that AIDS is no way to be cured and it’s a disease that only bad person will get. And everybody is afraid of people who are infected. So I called to the company and lied to them that I got another job, and I lied to my family that I found a company which will send me to work in inland province.”
Within three months her boyfriend was dead. She was afraid to talk about her problems with family and friends because of the stigma and prejudice associated with the disease. Instead, she began writing about her fears and experiences on the internet and soon developed a large readership that sent messages and offered their moral support. Today, her website is a well established institution especially for younger people. For a little annual fee they can register as a member of the website. As a matter of fact, they are regular visitors to BaanGerda and assist with the organisation and sponsorship of many of the activities that you read about on our website.
How did you become involved with BaanGerda?
“At first I start like someone who goes to visit the kids, give some useful things and go home. But then I go every month and invite my friends in my website to come together. We made many activities for the kids, then I became one of staff at BaanGerda.”
How has your life been affected in terms of the stigma of being HIV positive?
“It has affected my life in many ways because in Thailand we still have a bad attitude with people who are HIV infected and there is still a wrong understanding for HIV/AIDS infected people. I have a graduate master degree but I can’t find a good job because in big company they force you to test HIV before you can start work there. And many people are still afraid to stay near those who are infected. Many people still think that somebody HIV-infected must be a bad person.”
Have you noticed any change in people’s attitude here in Thailand?
“I think there is a change in attitude about HIV in Thailand, but it’s a little change and maybe it’s not a real change. You often are told that ‘you can stay together with HIV people’ but in the real life there are still blood tests to isolate people who are infected. But now it is better than in the past because the government provides ARV medicine. It improves the quality of life and helps people to take care of themselves.”
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.”
Premiere of New Documentary
Posted by Mike Thomas on 13th December 2007
December 17th is the premiere of Detlev Neufert’s documentary about BaanGerda, Dancing on Heaven’s Meadow. It focuses on Ben, the oldest child at BaanGerda, as he re-calls memories of his family, his daily lifestyle and his hopes for the future.
The 30-minute film with be shown at Bangkok’s Tawandang brewhouse on Rama III from 6pm. Everyone is welcome and entrance is free.
The evening also features the popular Thai band Carabao, playing live from 10pm (table reservations should be made if staying to watch Carabao: call 02 678 1114-6). A DVD of the documentary will be available shortly.
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How a Dying Mother Helped Define Our Community
Posted by Karl Morsbach on 10th December 2007Suphranee Lekgratok was a 39 year old woman from Pitsanalok who came to BaanGerda looking for a job as housemother. Her husband had died and she was HIV-infected. Unfortunately, she became very sick shortly after she arrived and was diagnosed with tuberculosis and meningitis. By this time she had no parental role yet.
Under guidance from the doctor, we isolated her in our clinic and then attempted to give her the necessary treatment. Her condition deteriorated rapidly and her prognosis was very poor. We had no past experience with dying adults in BaanGerda, and my wife and I assumed that our staff and house parents would expect us to send her to the close-by AIDS hospice.
Since this woman had opted to choose BaanGerda as her new home we thought it appropriate to let her stay with us for whatever time she had left. How could we persuade our families and staff to allow this woman to remain in their village? We were worried that they would not agree so we called for a meeting to deal with this urgent matter. What happened in this meeting convinced us that the special spirit of the village was understood and shared. Before we could voice our concern, the staff and parents pleaded with us “please do not send her away. We want to take care of her”
Isn’t it beautiful when you feel understood in this way? Suphranee finally found a family that she could be part of. When she died a few days later, she was not alone.
Fong Naam and “The Life of Pi”
Posted by Bruce Gaston on 3rd December 2007
Preparing our opera always involves smiles. Not that happiness is the goal of our work, but it is the modus operandi. Too often, music is thought of as a leisure activity and that only leads to re-creative results.
“No proper music education?” I hear you ask. Well, I admit that I do require the children to memorize aspects of musical theory which is so basic to Thai classical music. However, it is only one part of the overall approach which is centered on creative music making, and placing the children in situations where they learn for themselves.
By the way Fong Naam, my Contemporary Thai Music Ensemble, is celebrating our twenty fifth anniversary this year, and the production of this opera with the children is part of our celebrations. They have been enjoying working with the children over the last months. They were rather surprised the other day when I had our first rehearsal alone without the children. Up until now they have only been playing along with the kids to encourage their rhythmic skills. But during the rehearsal I gave them some fairly difficult tasks which were quite independent from what the children were doing. They suddenly realized that this children’s opera was going to require more of them than they had first thought. They did not complain because they know that you cannot ask your students to strive to go beyond themselves if the teacher is not also ready to do the same.
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
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