Family camp

Once a year, usually in early May when it is coming towards the end of the Thai summer school holidays, SiamCare organises a Family Camp, a 3 day weekend away for all the families it looks after and offers care and support to throughout the year.

The buses containing 180 very excited family members and about 30 dedicated SiamCare staff and volunteers made the journey from Bangkok to campplace of SiamCare Family Camp.

For the 80 adults involved, it proved to be a wonderful opportunity to network, share their day to day experiences with each other and develop a true sense of community spirit, support and ever developing friendships. SiamCare organised workshops with their trained staff leading informal and formal educational sessions throughout the camp. Such areas covered include updated knowledge on sexual health and HIV/AIDS issues, sex education, the work and role of Siam Care within Thai society, advocacy and general lifeskills.

For the 100 children who attended, all of whom are within the SiamCare Child Sponsorship Programme and aged from infancy through to mid-teens, they were split into age appropriate groups and had organised for them educational sessions on the work of Siam Care and how related to their own family life; Sex and Health Education; English for fun plus time to draw a picture for their sponsor. However, these sessions were interspersed with many fun and games sessions and the most popular time of being able to play and swim.

Thai culture is full of singing, cheering and happiness (The Land of Smiles) and the camp echoed this in whatever was done. Sing-songs and group cheers preceeded every meal-time and before all educational sessions commenced. The last night saw a talent show with Karaoke, funny and serious skits and presentations from SiamCare staff, the adults and the children followed by a disco where everyone couldn't fail to be involved and dance the night away.