Hands of Hope

 

Under the direction of Good shepherd Sisters, Nongkhai, Thailand

 

The Hands of Hope Project, was begun as an income-generating project, in 2005, for those living with HIV/AIDS, who are visited by the Good Shepherd Sisters’ Outreach Team, in their village homes.

 

Facing discrimination in their communities and few employment opportunities, the people have found support and unconditional acceptance at the Good Shepherd ‘Friendship Centre’.

 

At weekends they gather here with their families to celebrate life and during the week, while their children attend school, work together to produce beautiful, handmade cards.

 

It is a peaceful place to work, overlooking the fishpond on the grounds of our Village Vocational Training Centre. The participants work five days a week and are collected from the villages every morning by truck. After meditation they work for three hours before sharing a meal together at mid-day. They work another three hours, before their homeward journey at 4pm. Wages are paid by the day. Pre-schoolers are able to accompany their mothers to the centre and during school holidays, older children also attend.

 

The community aspect of this programme is so important. The participants have friends with whom to share their concerns and their joys. Staff monitor their health and accompany them to medical appointments when necessary. Grandmothers, who are caring for children after the death of parents, are also welcome in the project.

 

Anti-retroviral medicine is indeed necessary for prolonging life, but without nutritious food, dignified employment and daily social support, it cannot give quality and purpose to those living with HIV/Aids.

 

“Absolutely incredible what a little bit of medicine, a lot of unconditional love and hope, and people who deeply care can do, to give strength and the ‘will to live’ to those facing one of our planet’s most deadly diseases.” Visitor to Friendship Centre

 

 

Jaruat is one of the key designers in the Hands of  Hope project. Although Jaruat is physically limited by his paraplegia, his creative ability knows no bounds! The man Jaruat worked with SRP to design our beautiful gift cars and candle lanterns.

 

 Jaruat at work