An overgrown area that needed a
great deal of effort to clear.
William Macey
I had heard about a small centre near Mabprachan Lake caring for adults
living with HIV. My first exploration to discover the whereabouts of Ban Pak
Rakpuan (known as The Glory Hut Foundation) ended in failure. A phone call to
the centre asking for help resulted in a motor bike coming to my aid and leading
me on to a small unmade path which I had passed many times previously, hidden
between some trees. At the end of the path, a warm welcome was waiting as was a
wooden hut which housed 10 residents that had HIV and some with TB.
But they were told they had to move. Fortunately, they found 3 small houses to
rent which, thankfully, were easier to find, but soon became overcrowded to the
extent that they had to erect tents outside the houses to accommodate everyone
for their were now 40 residents. Pattaya Sports Club and friends purchased some
bunk beds, which helped the situation, but further expansion was impossible.
Being the only centre of its kind outside Bangkok, they were often asked to take
in another resident or two but this was not possible. This situation did not sit
well with Muay who is a caring lady and believed they should be in a position to
help others in need.
The first building is under way.
Something had to be done. They were continually looking for
additional space and, as luck would have it, a gentleman of the church had a
spare plot of land which he offered to Rakpuan at a very low rent, to use as
they saw fit. Overgrown with years of non-use, the first step was to clear the
site and discover exactly what they had. The possibilities quickly became
obvious. They discovered more space than they could wish for and it even had a
house which could be used as a church, office and store areas, and so the
planning and hard work begins.
The toilets are complete, thanks
to Nigel Oakes.
Pattaya Sports Club, some good friends of PSC including the
Growling Swan Bar in Pattaya, Nigel Oakes, Walter Bolf and TFI have donated
considerable sums to the development of the site to fund the building of
toilets, a kitchen, a sala and, with vivid imagination painted the houses with
bright, cheerful colours, both big and small. The buildings were completed by
volunteers, but mainly, the residents of Rakpuan and when you remember that they
are living with HIV and are perhaps a little frail, the effort they put into
developing the site is nothing short of amazing and they have not finished yet.
A party is a must to open the
centre.
They moved onto the site during August and they will consider
how many more residents they can accommodate to help with their problems. By
living with others in a similar situation, their problems are shared and they
support each other in times of stress.
If you feel that you would like and are able to help Rakpuan in any way, whether
it is financial or a donation of clothes or other items, please contact William
at PSC on 0861522754. Remember 500 baht can purchase 25 kilos of rice. Every
little helps.
Paul Strachan, TFI and Walter Bolf
helped to pay for this house.
A 2 storied house is under
construction.
The house built with thanks to
Pattaya Sports Club.
The Growling Swan donated funds
for the first house.
