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. 

Time to Rejoice

A couple of months ago, Ian Bushell, a committee member for the British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) asked Rejoice if we had any suitable article we could put forward for possible publication in the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) magazine “The Link”.   As luck would have it Dr. Martin Huddart, a trustee of Rejoice Foundation UK, had just written a brief report covering his recent annual visit to Chiang Mai  which was accepted for publication in "The Link" (page 56).

Little Boy Lost?

Dao was born in Shan State, Myanmar in 2003.  The family moved to Thailand a few years later to escape the hardship of living in a civil war zone in Myanmar.  They moved to a small village near Chiang Dao where Dao’s grandmother and other relatives lived.  Dao’s father worked in the fields and orchards nearby. 

Wi takes part in Poy Sang Long celebration

Every year at the end of March and the beginning of April the Poy Sang Long Ceremony takes place in many Shan temples throughout northern Thailand. It is the Shan Buddhist rite of passage ceremony celebrated by the Shan people, undertaken by boys usually between the age of 7 and 14 years of age.

SDL Ltd. Renew Scholarships for 12 Children

SDL Language Services have been supporting Rejoice for over 5 years. Without the help and advice of Winston Wong, SDL's Thailand country manager, Rejoice probably would not exist today. SDL's support and encouragement following Steve Hallam's death was instrumental in the revival of Rejoice.

Sponsor a Child's Education 

There are many families affected by HIV/Aids. It could be that grandparents, relatives or one parent have taken on the responsibility of raising children affected by HIV. The child may be also be infected or orphaned by the virus.

The hardships and difficulties of bringing up children in such circumstances can be quite substantial. Often without a regular income the household can be in danger of falling into abject poverty.

Russ Taufa from SDL Vietnam visits Rejoice

 SDL  is the main sponsor of Rejoice.  SDL run a scheme whereby their employees are given time off work to volunteer with a charity of their choice.  Russ Taufa is one such employee who recently spent one week volunteering with Rejoice.  

Russ accompanied the mobile clinic to various locations including Chiang Dao, Chomtong, Sankampeang, Saraphi, Sapatong and specially arranged home-care visits with HIV health care workers from both Chang Dao and Sankampeang Hospitals

Friends of Rejoice Singapore (FRS) visit Rejoice during the Loy Krathong Festival.

In mid-November Chiang Mai was very busy with locals and tourists for the Loy Krathong Festival. Amongst the visitors were 5 friends from Singapore, Wight Wong, Mr Chia, Trina and son, and Janice.
They brought with them warm clothing which Rejoice will distribute to the Home Care patients in Chiang Dao and Sankampeang district hospitals. Whilst in Chiang Mai, they also bought warm clothing and snacks for the children at the See-un Muang Day care centres

Soirée consacrée à l'aide des enfants en Thaïlande

The evening of Friday 22^nd  November 2013 saw a fundraising dinner on behalf of Rejoice.

The venue was Sawadee restaurant found in the village of St. Etienne de Fontbellon in the Ardeche in the south of France.

Restaurant owner and co fundraiser organiser Wanthani Wonggamrai, opened her doors to some 35 diners from several different nations (including Australia, the U.S.A., New Zealand, England, and of course France) all wishing to help Rejoice in its money raising efforts.

Report on Visit, by Dr. Martin Huddart

Over the years, I developed a close working relationship with Steve Hallam, one of the founders, Alan Wheeler, an ex-pat living in Chiang Mai and Gee Jaiglar, the health care worker, pivotal to the day-to-day work of the organization.  After Steve’s death in 2010, I feared that Rejoice Thailand would cease to exist, but how wrong I was.