With a Heart Full of Knowledge

"How would he/she change?" 

This was the question we asked students at Baan Im Jai after they'd finished creating their very own character.

 

The students at Baan Im Jai decided a gender, age, occupation, and likes for a character that hopefully reflected who they wanted to be when they grew up. However there was one small change made to their character at the end of the activity, they now had HIV and we wanted to know: How would he/she change once infected with the virus

The students at Baan Im Jai fell silent for a moment then replied that they wouldn't change if they knew how to deal with the disease, but if their character didn't know about the disease then maybe they would change a little bit once the disease began to take over.                   

         

A student works on their HIV fabric stenciling.

Our previous workshop had been a success, the welcoming children of Baan Im Jai had gathered in a circle around a small computer screen just a week earlier to learn all about how HIV works,  how to protect yourself, and how HIV medications work, as well.    

 Now the children were getting ready to create beautiful pieces of art revolving around HIV awareness and acceptance from the ideas and knowledge they had gained (and already harbored) from our previous lesson.  

                                        

 

Each student designed a different cloth panel to paint with symbols about HIV. Condoms, needles, and hearts filled the little black squares as chatter died down and brushes began moving. It was amazing to watch the talent of each child come to life as their work progressed. It was clear that each child had an open and loving heart and passion for knowledge.

Once finished their work was laid out in the sun to dry and was collected by Art Relief with the plan to display the pieces at a public at an art exhibition about HIV awareness and acceptance. As we cleaned up the room, which has been filled with paint it was apparent that the youth of Baan Im Jai had been filled with knowledge that they would soon pass along to their peers and fellow Thai citizens.