Camillian Social Center Rayong
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Camillian Social Center Rayong was established by Father Giovanni Contarin in 1994 when the St. Camillus Foundation committee realized the need to provide care for rejected people living with HIV/AIDS
with a special emphasize on orphaned children and women living with HIV/AIDS who are unfortunately the most vulnerable victims of the disease. The CSC manages 7 projects in the southeast of Thailand related to HIV/AIDS. These include a palliative care unit, a childcare center, prevention programs, networking for people living with HIV/AIDS, a self sufficient community, a scholarship program for orphaned children and a home for HIV positive teenagers. These projects collaborate to form a comprehensive multi-faceted approach to solve social issues resulting from HIV/AIDS by linking prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, networking for HIV people and support.
The Center focuses upon the care of orphaned children living with HIV/AIDS and women. Currently we are providing care for 82 children in an atmosphere of love and compassion. Many arrive in the critical stages of AIDS, but after treatment and rehabilitation the replication of the virus is controlled, thus the majority of our children are leading healthy, productive lives and are attending the local public schools like normal children at their age. These children deserve the best medical treatment and the opportunity to experience a life full of happiness. In addition to their special medical requirements, they also need an education, childhood and love. Many of the children were rejected by their families or communities, experienced opportunistic infections because of the virus; and a result they did not go to school regularly and are affected in their physical and mental development. Part of the work of the Center is to fight this stigma, discrimination and to help the children feel loved and valued again.
Independent Learning Center
Opened in 2006, the Independent Learning Center was built to support teenagers living with HIV/AIDS. 23 teenagers presently reside here along with 3 adult supervisors. The household is largely run by the teens themselves. They are responsible for organizing chores, activities, meals, and their own medical appointments and drug renewals. 3 children who grew up here with us have moved on and are now living independently in society as responsible adults.
Palliative Care Unit
Our Palliative Care Department can accommodate 60 people with severe opportunistic infections. All are in the advanced stages of AIDS. We take care of the dying with dignity and try our best to rehabilitate those who are showing improvement due to the ARV therapy. The team of 14 care givers was all once PCU patients themselves
Garden of Eden
The continuation of our rehabilitation work is our Garden of Eden project which houses 50 people living with HIV. Most of the members living here were once patients in our PCU. The community gives residents a chance to learn skills that will aid them re-entering into society. In 2008 a new ward as opened at the Garden for patients living with physical and mental disabilities. This ward contains 12 beds and is supervised by 2 caregivers.
The local welfare organization recently asked the Garden to house children from the community who are affected by HIV. These children are either orphaned either orphans as a result of HIV, live with HIV positive parents at the facility, or have HIV positive parents who are incapable of providing care because of disability or addiction. Currently 9 children are living here as part of our family.
The Camillian Social Center Rayong is registered as non-profit charity.