There is an estimate 580,000 people living with HIV in Thailand.
Of those, an estimated 16,000 are children between the ages of 0
and 14. (Source: UNAIDS.org) Chiang Rai, one of the provinces worst
hit by the AIDS pandemic, had no home for HIV positive babies. Project
L.I.F.E. stepped in to meet that need with the Home of the Open
Heart.
Opened
in December 2000, its heart purpose is THREEFOLD:
1. To give HIV positive babies a loving home. We provide small
group homes for babies who cannot be cared for by relatives.
2. We offer self-contained cottages for HIV+ mums to live independently
with their baby, then hospice care when they are no longer able
to live independently.
3. Community visits which provide support for people with or affected
by HIV/AIDS.
Home of the Open Heart is also committed to caring for HIV+ babies
for the remainder of their lives. However if a baby is able to be
adopted, Home of the Open Heart will release the child to have a
family of their own!
Our mission is to assist families affected by HIV/AIDS, through
education, orphan care within the home and within the community,
community visits leading to income-generation projects, and mother/child
respite care.
Mother/Child
Respite Care Property "Lakeview"
Caring for HIV families in their final stages of AIDS.
Keeping the family together.
From funds
raised over several years, this “Lakeview’ property
is owned by Project LIFE Foundation. Construction on this property
continues to go ahead with new cottages being built each year.
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Construction
Continues |
New
Building Begins |
Currently there
are 3 cottages plus the manager's cottage already built with the
goal of 2 more cottages built and paid for by end of 2007.
1. For the three
storey hospice building cost - $160,000, fully equipped & furnished.
2. There will
be an additional 5 smaller cottages plus the manager's cottage,
each made as a duplex, to accommodate HIV+ mother & their babies
as a family unit. Each cottage will cost $7,000.
3. This property
will also have vegetable gardens & has numerous fruit trees,
that will be maintained by the residents as they are able.
4. Complete
fencing of property $1,500
Adjoining
this ‘Lakeview’ property is our property that houses
our main offices and our small group homes with house-parents in
each. Currently we have one home completed and the second home with
just the outside shell. (see photos below)
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Finished
Cottage |
Baby
Home |
We
are excited to have completely finished one baby home and continue
to fundraise and trust for the funds to complete our second baby
home. We need $80,000 to do this and want to begin before mid 2007.
Can you help us?
Make
A Donation Now
Meet
Our Children - (Click on image below to
read more about each child)
Current
staff needs:
Gardener
Cook
Maintenance person
Child carers
Houseparents
Nurse
Fundraising/public relations co-ordinator
Community workers
Administration staff
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Project L.I.F.E.
