The milk and food supplement program began already in the year 2000 and continues today. At that time as well school fees and supplies were distributed to a small group which has now grown from 60 children to 400. Not all the children are HIV positive, but among the 400 about 60 are HIV positive and remain in the villages with either a single parent or with grandparents for those whose mother and father have already died. Families look forward each year for this distribution which helps toward the education of their children and are grateful for this support. This program is an important outreach which gives both physical and moral support to these families - it is the concern of the Center to help these children who need extra help in villages as those children living in the orphanage are well cared for with a secure future.
Often during home visitations many of the neighbors will gather out of curiosity to see what is happening—this is a good means of educating others as well as they listen to the counseling given to the person inflicted with aids. Everyone can ask questions to become more familiar with aids and hopefully they will lose some of their fears connected with aids and promote less rejection to those inflicted. Village life in Thailand is a very close and open style of living—there isn’t much that is not known by everyone living nearby. Inspite of education and awareness people are still afraid and there is still a lot of rejection.
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