Children living with HIV

On 6th February 2015 a group meeting was held at Chiang Dao Hospital. The meeting was for children in Chiang Dao district infected with HIV. Currently there are 29 children (age range 2 to 18) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Chiang Dao hospital, The majority belonging to various hill tribe groups such as Lisu, Lahu, Chin Haw and Tai Yai.
Ten of these children, together with their guardians, attended the meeting. It was interesting to note that the younger children were from these minority groups (non-Thai) who have become infected from their mother at birth.

HIV Conference in Bangkok

In November 2014, Gee Jaiglar of Rejoice Thailand and Dr Martin Huddart, Trustee of Rejoice Foundation UK attended the 18th IUSTI Asia-Pacific Conference at The Anbassador Hotel in Bangkok. The theme was “STI, HIV and Sexual Health. Global Collaboration for Effective Prevention.

This was a three and a half day conference on all aspects of sexually transmitted infections and included presentations from leading experts from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the United States.

Welcome to Royal Mountain

The healthcare workers at Chiang Dao District hospital have formed a support group for everyone living with HIV in Chiang Dao District.  The name of the group is กลุ่มสู่ขวัญดอยหลวง‡ (Welcome to Royal Mountain).

On the final Wednesday of each month a self-help group of local HIV/Aids victims get together for an informal meeting and lunch at Chiang Dao Hospital. The object of the meeting is to share their knowledge and experience of living with HIV, health issues, antiretroviral medicine and opportunistic sicknesses they and their family have encountered. 

Russ Taufa (SDL) returns

Russ Taufa is Insight Director (Global Insight and Analytics) for SDL based in Saigon, Vietnam.  On his first visit, last year, Russ was so impressed by the work Rejoice was doing in supporting people living with HIV in the remote communities in Chiang Mai Province, he wrote a very complimentary article, Russ Taufa (SDL), which was included in the Rejoice January 2014 Newsletter.

Russ recently made his second visit to Rejoice.  He spent a week with the Rejoice team on their outreach visits.  Russ gives tremendous encouragement to the people living with HIV and the Rejoice staff - he is always welcome.

No!  Cheese from Alkmaar

Frank, Wendy and daughter Anouk have been sponsoring twins Narin (Bank) and Mayuree (Bow) for several years, the twins will be 19 years old next February  Mayuree is studying chemistry at Rajabhat University and Narin is in his final year at high school.  They both live with their HIV+ve mother, their father having deserted the family.

One man's trash is another man's fortune

Connie Low and family together with a group of like minded people make regular donations of clothing, toys, school materials etc. for the the poor people living with HIV in Chiang Mai province.

Tung Kao Puang

World Aids Day falls on 1st. December each year. Schools and government institutions (hospitals, police and army and local municipalities) get together to promote awareness of HIV.  This year, Chiang Dao district held their jamboree at Tung Kao Puang, situated in a village half way between Chiang Dao and Arunotai on the Myanmar border.

Friends of Rejoice Singapore (FRS) visit

Yi Peng or Yee Peng (local name) is part of the festival of lights in Northern Thailand to show respect to Buddha. It's date usually coincides with Loi Krathong which all of Thailand celebrates using floating lights on water. Yi Peng is different in that lights are placed into sky lanterns which float up into the air. 

Meditation Weekend at Wat Umong

Rejoice sponsors meetings for people living with HIV in Chiang Dao district in conjunction with HIV healthcare workers from Chiang Dao Hospital.
This month a gathering of approximately 40 people came from their villages to Chiang Dao hospital.

Wendy's Craftwork

Wendy is a long time supporter of Rejoice and a member of "Friends of Rejoice Singapore", a social network of friends organised by her brother Wight.  Wendy has a special talent for creating beautiful bead-work objects which, with a little help from her friends, she sells to raise money for Rejoice. 

Ploenchit Fair 2014

Saturday, 29th November is the big day for this years Ploenchit Fair.  The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) will hold its annual blockbuster Fair.  The proceeds from the Fair will be distributed to local charities in Thailand who help the disabled, disadvantaged and needy.  BCTFN has supported Rejoice for many years now.  

Sexual health and HIV awareness

Originally the programme focused on HIV patients who are receiving ARV medicine from Chiang Dao Hospital.  These meetings, which are held at Chiang Dao hospital bring patients together in one place.  The patients from diverse ethnicities and languages have an opportunity to meet, for the first time, other patients receiving similar HIV therapy.