Sunday, April 24, 2011

13th annual HIV/AIDS conference in Bangkok


The CAM staff and several community church leaders around Chiang Mai participated in the 13th annual HIV/AIDS conference held at the Impact Arena in Bangkok. There was 17 people in all traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The conference was an informative 3 day event with a huge selection of widely varied workshops. The workshops ranged from how to talk to your kids about sex to transgender to human rights issues.

The conference had a grand exhibition hall that had information booths from many NGO and faith based organizations. Skits, dramas and panel discussions were held in the exhibition hall as well.

During one of the workshops Ajarn Sanan the Director of CAM was able to share information about the HIV/AIDS situation in Northern Thailand and what CAM is doing to help bring about greater awareness and ways to address the issues HIV + people face.

Ajarn Sanan on stage being honored alongside other prominent community members throughout Thailand by the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Prime Minister Abhisit was able to get a tour of the Exhibition hall and visit with several NGO's that are committed to working with people living with HIV and AIDS.
Every night the CAM staff processed the days event and were able to learn new things from each other. Overall, it was a great experience.