A recent visit to Baan Gerda in Lopburi province proved to be an enriching and inspiring experience. This village which is made up of 83 HIV and AIDS
Family house at Baan Gerda village
infected orphans and foster parents is a real success in that these children who have had such tumultuous lives are truly thriving in their new homes.
The basic premise of Baan Gerda is to create a family environment so that the children grow up in a secure, safe, and nurturing home. There are several houses on the property and each one is assigned to the foster parents and children. As in a real family everyone has to pitch in to do the chores, help with homework, ensure that everyone has taken their medication, and live independently within the Baan Gerda community.
Initially, Baan Gerda was intended to give children a comfortable place to spend whatever time they had left but with the introduction of new and affordable antivirals these children are truly living life to the fullest and proving how resilient they can be when they are put in the right environment.
Baan Gerda was started in 2001 by Karl and Tassanee Morsbach in a response to the growing number of HIV and AIDS infected orphans who fell between the cracks of the system. Many of the children were abandoned and arrived in very poor health but under the supervision of an expert medical team, caring foster parents and a safe environment in which they are not discriminated against they are nursed back to health and live relatively normal lives including going to a local school which is part of the King’s project which provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
Unfortunately, the stigma of HIV and AIDS in Thailand is still a big problem, particularly in rural areas and these children whose parents have also died of AIDS often have nowhere to turn as relatives are often not in the financial position to provide the care they need and more often than not many people are still uneducated about how HIV and AIDS are transmitted and those who have the virus are often ostracized from society at large.
Visiting this little village in Lopburi was a testament to the idea that one (or in this case two) people can make a real difference. This project is a part of the Children’s Right Foundation and was founded by Karl and his wife Tassanee.
While they do not actively seek volunteers unless they can commit to staying for at least 3 months what they are in most need of is donations to support their growing village with food, medication, school supplies, clothes, transportation fees to school and ultimately scholarships for those children who attend university. To find out more about how you might be able to support this organization visit their website or contact Baan Gerda directly.
Other ways you can help Baan Gerda:
1. Link to their website
2. Tell your friends about the great work they do
3. Make a donation
4. Sponsor a child and become a godparent
5. Include their header in your emails
6. Volunteer to teach the children a skill (photography, yoga etc…)
7. Fundraise
8. Put a banner on your website
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