Camps Against AIDS - A Model Project
Dressed in the white
garb of devout practitioners, they have accepted the eight higher precepts
of lay Buddhists and, under the guidance of a team of monks, are being
given instruction on the techniques and practice of Buddhist meditation.
meditation is aimed at calming the restless minds of these young adolescents so
that they can receive the utmost benefit of the HIV/Aids-Narcotics awareness-raising
programme that they are about to participate in.
the meditation, the monks will give the children a more detailed introduction
to the programme and ask them to complete questionnaires so that they can assess
the children's knowledge of HIV/Aids, along with their risk rating. The monks
will also use these questionnaires to help them identify the children's weaknesses
and the points they have to focus on.
the children retire for the night, they are invited to watch a video on HIV/AIDS.
This is the first
night of a 3-day programme that a team of monks from temples in Udon Thani, Maha
Sarakham and Sakon Nakhon provinces has designed to raise children's awareness
of HIV/AIDS and narcotics. The programme is run on a regular basis in collaboration
with schools in northeastern Thailand.
programme leaders are Phra Maha Sompharn Thammasophona of Wat Phothisomphon, Udon
Thani, Phra Thongchai Kemarato of Wat Klang Kosom, Maha Sarakham and Phra Maha
Anurak Chittatammo, of Wat Pa Ban Tung, Sakon Nakhon. All are former students
of Mahamakut Buddhist University, Lanna Campus, and all have been trained under
the Sangha Metta Project and equipped with modern participatory social management
returning to their home temples after graduation, they saw that the HIV/Aids crisis
and the spread of illegal narcotics were having an impact on the northeastern
provinces of Thailand and that the young people there were in danger if being
infected or becoming victims.
to sit back quietly and let fate take its toll, they agreed that they should put
their knowledge and training to use for the benefit of these young people and
for the communities that support them as monks.
realized that if children were to get infected or fall prey to drugs, it was partly
because they lacked the skills to protect themselves and partly due to a decline
in moral standards and traditional values.
this in mind, they designed their programme to combine Life Skills Development
with instruction in Buddhist ethics and traditional values.
morning. The early morning silence is broken by the sound of a temple bell
calling the monks and children to meditation and chanting. A group of teachers
and housewives take up duty in the temple kitchen to prepare a light breakfast
the early morning duties have been completed, the children move to the community
hall where they prepare for the day's activities.
arrival, they see that they have been joined group of attractive, young women.
These women are roughly the same age as the senior students, maybe a little bit
older, but instead of being dressed in white, they are dressed in ordinary street
is soon revealed that all these women are HIV+ and will be spending the next two
days with them. The reaction from the students is mixed. Some huddle closer to
their friends. Some whisper to others. Some remain indifferent. The HIV+ women
respond with friendly smiles.
monks have invited an official from the local health office to talk to the children
on HIV/Aids transmission, prevention and care. The children are encouraged to
answer questions to clarify any misunderstandings they may have.
the talk, the monks introduce an activity aimed at developing the children's skills
in preventing themselves from falling into high-risk situations.
are given different situations to evaluate and, after being broken into groups,
are assigned to put themselves in one of those situations. The groups are then
broken into two sub-groups and while one group devises ways to lure the other
into the situation, the other group has to develop the skills to prevent themselves
from falling victim of the first group.
It could be a situation related to sexual activity, high-risk behavior, narcotics or alcohol abuse, prejudice or discrimination. It could be something that will have an effect on their future life.
this exercise, the children learn how to evaluate situations, and develop certain
skills such as decision making, effective communication, showing empathy, critical
thinking, planning, etc.
exercises continue through the afternoon, but are slightly different in that the
HIV+ participants are invited to become group members. This gives the children
the opportunity to talk intimately with the women about their situation, their
feelings and their problems. At the same time it breaks down any preconceived
ideas the children may have had about PHA and helps to destroy discrimination.
It also helps to build trust.
completing the exercises, the children give presentations that are followed by
summaries given by the monks.
this point, the monks introduce various Buddhist teachings aimed at developing
a stronger code of ethics among the children participating.
day closes with more discussion and a video on HIV/Aids. By this time, the children's
awareness has been raised and they are more eager to participate, to share their
feelings, their views and opinions. Before retiring, they sit in quiet meditation
so they can contemplate the day's events and the Buddhist teachings they have
The mood, along with the theme, has changed. The children, calmed by their meditation
and motivated by the previous day's activities, listen attentively to a talk given
by a local official on the dangers of narcotics abuse.
talk is followed by the video "Goldtooth", which introduces a new set
of Life Skills Development activities. As with the previous day, all activities
are performed in groups and are accompanied by relevant Buddhist teachings.
During the afternoon,
the children are invited to openly express their feelings on the workshop. The
feedback is encouraging. In contrast with other awareness raising programmes that
some have attended, it's felt that this has been more effective because of the
role-plays and active participation. Previously the children have had to just
sit and listen.
informal approach has also helped to relax barriers between the children and the
monks, and now some of the children come to the monks to discuss personal problems
concerning peer pressure and drug abuse. Several young girls have found supportive
allies in the HIV+ women and confide in them about their sex related problems.
Before the programme
ends on Sunday evening, the children are once again asked to complete
Results show that
the children now have a better understanding of HIV/Aids prevention,
transmission and care. Whereas the average pre-test score was 60-65
percent, post-test scores were mostly perfect or in the high 90s.
to schools show that the children have taken their knowledge and skills with them
and have commenced HIV/Aids and narcotics related activities. In some schools,
peer support groups have been established, with the support of the teachers, so
that children can give advice and encouragement to friends who face peer pressure
or who are in danger in engaging in high-risk behavior. In other schools, corners
have been set aside in the library or student activity room where materials and
information on HIV/Aids and narcotics is freely available. The children are reassured
that they can turn to their friends or teachers to discuss any problems they may
monks and temple have not been forgotten and it is not unusual now to see groups
of students using their leisure hours to visit the temple and discuss their problems
with the monks.
The knowledge and
skills with which these children have been equipped will be of a great
help in managing the HIV/Aids situation in Thailand. At the same time,
the training in Buddhist ethics and traditional values will help the
children develop into valuable resources capable of assisting with future