Time Marches On

With the PHA Hope Group in November 2009

Life at site unfolds and time marches on, indeed.

March is just around the corner. Before too long it will be April then, the Thai New Year followed by reaching the 1-year mark at site. Seeing as how I have a tendency to post entries that hint at but do not explain in great detail what I have cooking in the works (in terms of projects), I thought I would use this time to divulge.

Catching up to speed with where I currently am requires a sum-up of where I've been and what's to be expected...

Last Wednesday, I went to Ubon with 6 villagers and the SAO driver to take a woman to the cancer center and pick up my counterpart who had been there for a training. That's usually how things go around here. There is one SAO driver who happens to be at the disposal of potentially every villager (that does not have transportation). In a way, it's how the SAO fulfills it's responsibility of taking care of the villagers. It's also how the rural society often works--why not give somebody a lift it it's on the way? So, if one person was sick, why did 6 of her closest relatives come to see the doctor with her? That's Thailand's collective society--nobody goes it alone. It was a definitely an experience to behold. Especially since I hadn't spent that much time traveling with villagers in that capacity.

Last Thursday, I Met with the PHA (Person's Having HIV/AIDS) Hope Group in the District to discuss a potential project that Mrs. S (another Volunteer who lives close by) and I could do with the group. We outlined a plan to train them on business skills and write a grant to get them some start-up funds so they could develop their products and sustain a business enterprise. Peace Corps maintains a Community Enterprise Committee (CEC) that focuses on developing business skills and community enterprise. This means they also have a database at our disposal with business modules in both English and Thai. We mean to use the CEC modules to train the group on business skills. Currently, the group makes 5 products--dish soap, detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, & conditioner. They don't make a profit to speak of now because they only make the products for sale to group members and their families. At the meeting, the group expressed interest in taking their income generation project to the next level. Thus, the objective of the business training is to enable the Hope Group to produce, market, and distribute their products and eventually earn profits.

About the Hope Group
Mrs. S & I begun our relationship with PHA's in our communities and the district back in August. We learned that the group begun 7 years ago by PHA activists in the local area--along with the help of international organizations, and the local department of health--to serve as a local venue for support and gathering of PHA’s. The Hope Group meets every 18th of the month. Primarily, the group meets to receive anti-retrovial drugs, share stories, and discuss healthy living. Often, they have an activity or theme such as making crafts and household products, cooking, and/or having guest speakers. On average 30-40 members attend the meetings. Notably, this amount is significantly lower than 180-200 the total registered PHA’s within the District. Group leaders point out that some PHA’s do not have the strength to come to meetings and others have prior engagements such as shops to attend, which is why they cannot participate in the meetings. Over the years, the group has expanded beyond an exclusive support network. Branching out into the greater District area, Hope Group members have become leaders in HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns at schools, health clinics, and government organization. On other occasions, the Hope group has joined efforts with the Department of Social Development to spread awareness. Now the group is expanding even more into income generation.

SInce I arrived in Thailand and acquainted myself with PHA's and how HIV/AIDS exists in Thai society, I've become really impassioned to be a part of HIV/AIDS awareness and support of PHA's.

Upcoming events:

March 1- Ongoing: Meet with school staff of one of the local primary schools to plan for the world map project--together with 5th and 6th graders and a help of a local artist, we plan to draw a huge world map on the wall of the school. In addition, teacher's will present a unit on continents and countries/capitals. This is very thrilling for not only myself but, also for the kids and teachers since geography education is limited and many of my local friends cannot even identify Thailand on a map.

March 2-4: Office Vacation! The SAO (sub-district administrative office) where I work is taking it's yearly vacation to Rayong Province. Rayong is in the Southeast located near the Bay of Thailand. Seeing as how everyone will be gay and merry on this wonderful excursion, I predict lots of Thai karaoke in my near future!

March 5: Aerobic dance competition. Every year, each village competes at the Health Clinic to determine who has the best aerobic dance routine. It includes all ages and groups of both men and women. I somehow got talked in to partaking in the young women's aerobic dance group with my village--apparently having the farang on your team may win you extra points....we'll see how well I pull this off!

March 6-7: Peace Corps Trainees will come visit my site. They will travel to my site, see where I live/work, and I will help them navigate to their new sites for a visit. This is exiting (and surreal) because I first visited my site almost a year ago--just like them.

March 25: First business training with the leaders of the Hope Group

March 26: Visit the training site and talk to trainees about the Project Review Committee

March 28-30: Visit my old host family at our old training site in Lop Buri

March 30: My birthday

April 8: Second business training with the entire Hope Group

April 13-15: Thai New Year

April: 16-19: Potential trip to Cambodia and Angkor Wat

April 30: The Hope Group gathers to produce, package, and begin to distribute their first finished products!

In between these dates, I will complete 2 grant proposals, one for the Hope Group and one for the Organic Fertilizer Group to buy a fertilizer pellet machine. I also have to work on revising the Project Design Management Workshop materials. Plus, continue to oversee the world map project!



As you can tell by now, the work load is sustaining me and I'm content with how things are going. Life is good.