Mrs. Supansri Yuensa
2005 Golden Talent Award
(Mae Moot Village, Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
 Globally number of adults and children suffering from AIDS epidemic had significantly reached 39.4 million at the end of 2004, the highest number on record (United Nations Statistics Division: http://unstats.un.org). Of them, almost half were female. No exception, even in a small village in Chiang Mai, Thailand the deadly disease was silently spreading in Mae Win community where most of them are women who got HIV contracted from her husbands. And Mrs. Supansri is one of those HIV/AIDS victims who never ever had idea what AIDS epidemic could forever change her life.
Mrs. Supansri, the second child of her parents, was born in 1966 at Mae Moot village, small and tranquil community in mountainous area, in Mae Win sub-district, Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai. After completing her secondary school, she received a two-year scholarship for practicing sewing skill in Chiang Mai city. Then, she worked as a dress-maker in few garment shops in Chiang Mai which most of her income, 3,500 - 4,000 baht/month, went directly to support her parents in Mae Moot village.
Unexpected news
Six years later, due to a special healthcare was needed for her mother; she decided to move back to her hometown, although the earning was relatively lower. Here, she continued her sewing job at home. At the age of 27, she was married and had one lovely daughter in a year later. Her married life went well until she discovered that she got infected with HIV/AIDS deadly disease from her husband. She said “At that time, I rarely know what exactly AIDS is, but I only know that no one will survive from AIDS.” It was the most horrified moment she ever faced, she recalled. Young Orathai, a one and a half year old daughter, was her only hope to make her living life.
Her life immediately turned up side down. Although some villagers did not reveal their real thought, she did know that their view had been changed towards her family and other HIV patients. Some people refused or were reluctant to eat the food prepared by Mrs. Supansri and other HIV patients. Worse, three years after her husband death, her five year-old Orathai, her only hope, passed away from serious illness. She became weak and her mind was eaten up by the lost of her daughter.
The center of hearts “Mae Win Ruam Jai” (Mae Win Harmony)
In 1997, thankfully she learned about a local AIDS support group in Mae Wang district that helps HIV patients receive healthcare and social services; hence, she decided to join the group. However due to the fact that a number of HIV patients was increasing and a working direction to empower people living with AIDS at sub-district level, then she established an HIV/AIDS group called “Mae Win Ruam Jai” (Mae Win Harmony).
At an outset, the new group, Mae Win Ruam Jai, had faced strong social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS from villagers. The group needed to be relocated 3 times due to people did not want group members to live near their communities.
Saving for the future
In 2003, Ms Supansri requested for assistance from Heifer Project International Thailand (HPI/TH) to help HIV/AIDS patients and their family members to sustainably upgrading people living life. With an alternative holistic development approach, HPI/TH has introduced potential activities to the villagers such as saving groups, kitchen gardens, biogas, and small-scale enterprises. Also, she participated in series of training such as micro-credit enterprise, accounting etc.
Saving group is one clear answer for “Mae Win Ruam Jai” group. This is because HIV/AIDS patients have the short life expectancy, as a result they are not allowed to access to any financial institutions. So HPI/TH had provided revolving fund with low interest rate to villagers for investing in agricultural inputs and supplies such as pig, chicken and fish raising, grocery stores, seeds and garment materials.
Each year the group will make a loan repayment to Heifer Thailand. In 2004, 60,000 baht plus interests had been already paid to HPI/TH by “Mae Win Ruam Jai” group. Currently the saving group has around 120,000 baht used as revolving fund for the members. To acknowledge people in saving group issue, she has passed on knowledge from the training to not only group members, but also interested villagers in nearby communities. So all members have better understanding of how to effectively manage their household income, saving and expenses.
Involve communities
Fear of the social stigma of the disease causes many HIV/AIDS patients to suffer in silence, even though this may prevent them getting proper health care. Therefore apart from setting up saving group, Mrs. Supansri has played a significant role in initiating house visit activity to HIV’s patient houses in Mae Win sub-district. Going to the patients' homes, she spends time asking about their health and their other needs as well as tries to cheer up their lives. More people become open their minds to reveal themselves as AIDS patients and join with the group.
Nowadays, the social gap has been narrowing by practicing these activities, people living with HIV/AIDS gain more acceptances. Consequently, they are able to access to other resources including antidotes and financial support from various agencies both GOs, NGOs, private organizations. Also, all group members have their own career and adequate and sustainable income to support their family. There are no more regarded as a social burden.
Brighten the future
Further they can work well on diverse project activities such as livestock raising, kitchen garden, grocery stores, handicraft. The success of group activities can increase the number members who do not get HIV positive. With the capacity building from HPI/TH, they are able to plan, manage, and evaluate any project activities on their own. In the future, this group will move forward to join the network with GOs and NGOs to access the resource, and seek the cooperation with related groups.
Finally Mrs. Supansri said that “Although we AIDS patients have a short life expectancy, “Mae Win Ruam Jai” group will continue being a center for passing on the knowledge of sustainable agriculture and saving group to not only AIDS patients, but also other poor families in the community.” When we look back at the village, HPI/TH activities are seen as one best medicine to improve both their physical therapy and spiritual treatment.
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