By helping families to cover expenses for study materials, uniforms, food and transport to and from school for their children, we ensure that as little as possible stands in the way of them receiving a basic education.
Basic education in Thailand is free of charge, but it entails certain expenses described above.
Old grandparents or parents who are in poor health are struggle to find and secure a steady income.
Families are hardly making ends meet, therefore AIDS Care’s contributions make it possible for the children to attend school and get at least a basic education. This makes it possible for the children to get a diploma, find a decent job and help their families in the future.
Many children have lost both their mother and father and live with their grandparents. They therefore “inherit” the responsibility to financially support their grandparents.
With at least basic education we help these children to break the vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS. They now can define their future themselves instead of being victims of their circumstances.
By helping young people during their tertiary education years, we encourage them to explore their full potential. We invest in future Christian leaders and advocates, who will combat HIV/AIDS in Thailand.
There are many intelligent children in our program who are accepted in university or high school programs.
Getting a higher education is often connected with moving to another city, renting a room to live and covering one’s everyday expenses.Therefore, many of these young people need to have a part-time job in addition to their studies.
We are happy to have the financial opportunity to help a number of these young people. They have the biggest potential to develop their leadership skills and make a difference in the HIV/AIDS situation in their own country, as well as to be true servants of Christ on earth.
Every year 400-500 teenagers learn about HIV/AIDS and are encouraged to overcome common stereotypes through our HIV/AIDS Awareness program.
We constantly talk to young people in local schools, churches and youth camps about HIV/AIDS, its risks and prevention.
We try to reduce fear towards HIV-positive people, share Christ with the children and teach them the biblical concept of sexuality.
In addition, the families involved in the AIDS Care project attend numerous seminars, building up various life skills. We have held seminars on how to improve one’s self-esteem, how to take care of an HIV-positive person, how to grow vegetables, how a grand-parent can maintain good relations with their teenage orphaned grandchildren, and others.