Visiting Baan Gerda in Lopburi, Thailand
We drove ~230 km north of Bangkok and arrived at Baan Gerda, a quiet village of about 80–85 HIV‑infected orphans cared for in family-style homes by foster parents who themselves live with HIV—ensuring deep empathy with the kids’ needs
Life at the Village
At first glance, Baan Gerda felt more like home than hospice. Simple cozy houses, each with ~10 children and caring foster parents. Space felt full of toys, posters, warmth—not illness. The medical ward and routine reminders made clear the daily reality, but joy prevailed
Children gathered in the communal “Kinderstern” building for meals and performances—laughter and chatter filling the air, with Thai dancing, xylophone music and games after dinner
Bonds & Community
The foster parents, all HIV‑positive, form true parental bonds. Older children help younger ones. The community supports vocational training—carpentry and sewing workshops, farming projects—to nourish self-reliance and self-esteem
Health & Education
Each child receives ARV medication, with systematic medical oversight. Bloodwork and CD4 counts are tracked, and foster families manage daily dosing routines. Despite the serious caregiving, the environment remains warm and normalized
Kids attend local schools alongside neighbourhood children, breaking stigma and integrating into broader society
Moments that linger
- Kids greeting you shyly, then grabbing hands for hugs.
- Watching them play duck-duck-goose in the fading sunlight—pure childhood energy
- Seeing the “before and after” photo wall in the dining room—some “before” images were haunting, others shocking—but the transformation visible in the “after” pictures was healing and hopeful
My Takaways
- Baan Gerda is not a rescue camp. It’s a deliberate experiment that humanizes children—and let’s them truly live.
- The families, the routines, the smiles… all offer a powerful reframing of what caregiving with dignity looks like.
- I left with the sense that despite the heavy truths beneath the surface, what endures is life, love, and the possibility of real futures
In Short
Baan Gerda is life‑affirming. It’s where HIV‑infected children aren’t just surviving—they’re children again.
Advice if you visit or volunteer
- Activities: maybe help teach English, join a workshop, assist with games or arts.
- Feel the balance: yes, the medical aspects are constant—but the heart of the place is relationships and normalcy.
- Respect boundaries: observe medication times and routines quietly.
- Support: the village is funded through donations and cycling fundraisers out of Bangkok (“Biking for Baan Gerda”)
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