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How Camillian Social Center Began
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By the beginning of 1990 the HIV/AIDS epidemic began
to have a serious impact on the Thai society. It was then that a Thai Delegation invited Father Giovanni
Contarin to study the matter and determine a way to help with this
modern affliction in the spirit of St. Camillus. Of the proposals brought to the Delegation, only one
was accepted by the Counselors; rent a three story building in the area
of the Bamraat Naradun
National Hospital for Communicable Diseases. This would become a
collaborative effort with the Hospital to provide counseling and
temporary shelter. |
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The project was initiated on July 14th, 1993 on the nearby Soi
Rawadi 24. The initial objective of
the project was to focus on providing training and communication on HIV/AIDS
within the area. We began our
efforts by taking on several HIV+ individuals as permanent training staff and
immediately began to conduct AIDS prevention activities and training in the
local factories.
Unfortunately a number of influential people within the community were
severely opposed to the project and its location within their neighborhood.
A number of violent attacks, including bomb attacks, were staged against
the center. In order to
ensure the safety of the patients and staff and to ensure the continued
operation of the Center, we were forced to relocate to Rayong Province after
only three years. Rayong
Province is located about three hours drive Southeast of Bangkok.
Since our relocation of the project to Rayong we have been very happy
and… very busy!
The St.
Camillus Foundation granted Fr.Giovanni Contarin 8,000 square meters of
land. This property was donated by Mrs. Rosaline in June 1976.
In less than one year the new location, which began with only a small
group of HIV/AIDS patients, homeless and rejected, came under the name of
“The
Camillian Social Center”.
The Center was opened by the
General Director of communicable diseases, Dr. Damrong
Bunyeun with Bishop Lorenz Tienciai also in attendance.
By July 17, 1998 we had the opportunity to commemorate the last building
of the original master site plan, called the Dr. Thani Sirijon Building.
Mgr. Luigi Bressan, Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr. Lorenz Thienciai, the local
Bishop, Mr. Itho, USA ambassador, and Fr. Pairat
Sriprasert were all honorable guests at the opening ceremony.
The construction of the building was a wonderful example of cooperation
between the US Navy, Thai Marines and a local volunteer work force. The spirit
of solidarity and a love for the sick and needy were the driving forces that
lead to completion of the project.
There are currently four primary activities at The Camillian Center:
v
Care
for the dying, abandoned and rejected.
v
HIV/AIDS
Prevention within local factories and schools.
v
Care
of orphaned children with HIV/AIDS.
v
HIV/AIDS
networking within the Southeast region of Thailand.
