Gone before their time

I was at the CAM office last week doing my usual thing, working on the computer, sending emails and organizing photos for our new youth peer photo project. I went to go get a cup of coffee and I saw my office director Jaruwan going through old photos of kids that CAM took care of back 10 years ago. I stopped to look at photos with her while she described the kids lives. All the kids looked so happy and Jaruwan had a big smile on her face as she was telling stories of these kids. Like the kids in the swimming pool. That was the first time any of them had ever been in a swimming pool. After she tells me the story, she has kind of a sad expression when she points to the young boy on the left of the swimming picture because he passed away shortly after that due to HIV/AIDS.
She said the boy was around 8 or 9 at the time of his death. All I could think about was that my oldest daughter was almost 8. I couldn't fathom losing her at such a young age.
She went on to describe the other kids in the pictures. Each one had her smiling as she reminisced about the laughs they shared and how they touched her life. During all of this she kept pointing at kid after kid and said he's passed away and she's passed away. I could feel the tears start to well up in my eyes. I felt so helpless. These kids didn't do anything wrong, yet they are the ones paying the price with their lives. In America these kids could have been saved with Anti-Retro-Viral medications. Over here it was a different story back then. Fortunately, the situation is better in Thailand now although we still have a long way to go. There are many kids that fall through the cracks and don't receive any treatment. CAM tries desperately to reach all the kids affected and infected by HIV. Please pray for all the forgotten children that are suffering with HIV/AIDS.

Rot Nam Dam Hua, 2009

Rot Nam Dam Hua coincides with Songkran and The Lanna New Year. It is the time of year when we show respect for our elders and bless each other. Elders in the community sit at the head table and offer prayers and blessings for the new year. Water is then sprinkled on the community members as they come up to the table.

It is also a time to get together for fellowship and fun. A time to renew old friendships and create new ones.

After the festivities people lined up for the food that was prepared. Like many places in the world when there is a ceremony there is food. You would never go hungry in Thailand. Food is everywhere and the Thais are very generous.


Khun Luck showing us how it is done. CAM hosted this community event which was attended by several of the patients CAM sees on a regular basis. Fun was had by all.

Zoo trip for children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS

Children from several surrounding villages were invited by CAM to go on an outing to the Zoo. Some of the children had never been to the zoo before so this was a real treat. CAM sees a majority of these children on a regular basis and assists these families in dealing with HIV/AIDS. A number of these children will participate in a peer support and training group. The project will include the children photographing their lives and how HIV/AIDS affects them. They will put together scrapbooks/photo albums and then at the end of the year they will present it to their peers and the community.

This elephant is trying to hitch a ride on the shuttle bus. The children are trying to tell the elephant there is no room. They decide to give the elephant some food to distract it from trying to get on the bus again. The distraction worked.

All the kids drew pictures of their favorite animal and described what the animal does.

Playtime!!! I got the kids to pull me in the hanging basket. It was pretty tiring pulling a heavy farang. Poor kids.

We would have had more money for this project if it wasn't for this bird constantly stealing our money. Better luck next time I guess.


Best friends forever!