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Village
Career:
Polonging Breathing to the HIV People
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Reported by Sr. Vacharaphor
The Niramon Center of Khon Kaen made a vocational promotion
project by raising cattle fish, frogs and crickets to
provide additional income for the HIV people and the families
affected by AIDS. This project was financially supported
by the Catholic Commission for Pastoral Health Care
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| The Niramon Center
was originally the center for leprosy, but later on , when the
number of lepers was drastically reduced meanwhile the number
of HIV/AIDS has been found increasing, the center has turned
itself to work for the HIV/AIDS patients in every aspect. Currently,
Sr.Vacharaphorn Budda is the coordinator. |
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| Other than the normal
works of developing the physical and spiritual quality of life
to the HIV/AIDS patients, the family affected by AIDS and the
young people the center took up another kind of development
which promotes family occupation to the HIV/AIDS patients and
their families. Raising cattle fish, frogs and crickets become
an income-yielding project. The output is the village excellent
food and the raising does not take much time. The produce becomes
the villagers' daily food and the surplus is sold for additional
income. |
| The objective of this
occupational promotion project is to let the HIV/AIDS people
and the affected families able to develop their quality of life,
making income to feed themselves and families, to have a better
standard of living and be proud of themselves that they are
able to earn their honest living which is the inspiration for
them to continue living. |
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| The operational procedure
has been carried out this way. After studying the problem of
the HIB/AIDS patients of the targeted group a project has been
designed to look for funding. Then volunteers are recruited
to make survey of the patients and the problems. After that
all the information will be summarized and laid down before
the working committee. The president and committee members from
each district will prioritize the location most affected. |
| The patients and their
families who wish to join in the project are then called for
a meeting for the explanation of the objective and rules of
the project before signing the contract agreement. 15 families
from 3 districts join in the project. The center purchases equipment
and the necessary things and give them to the project participants.
The total budget for this project is 20,000 Baht. |
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| The decision as to
who will raise cat fish/frog/cricket depends on the HIV persons
themselves. They must have an active participation, i.e. members
of the family must help prepare the site. Technology is not
the problem as this type of occupation is already the way of
life to the villagers. The problem is the capital. This project
lasts 3 months from August to October. The criteria for our
selection are: HIV persons and the poor lightly sick willing
to join in this project and having the site. |
| The contract and refunding
are simple. The Center provides everything. After sales of the
produce refunding in the original amount is made. The capital
will be used as the revolving fund to assist others. |
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| Follow-up and monitoring
will be done monthly by the Center. It is good to see that members
of the family have more of the joint activities together. Some
HIV patients have changed their course of life altogether -
from being depressed to having hope, because they have the income
to buy food and medicine. |
