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因為愛滋病而變成孤兒的范(Van)現在已經有一個家，而且可以上學。 Van, orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, now has a secure home and can attend school. |
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愛滋病最悽慘的後果之一就是因雙親或其中一人死於愛滋病而成為孤兒的人數迅速增加。USAID、聯合國兒童基金會、聯合國愛滋病委員會的聯合報告說，2001年全世界有1,340萬個愛滋病孤兒，估計這個數字在2010年將達到2,500萬人。2001年2月，在探訪過其中幾個兒童之後，查爾斯．普萊特(Charles Pratt)受到刺激，就採取行動。
One of the most devastating consequences of the AIDS epidemic is a rapidly growing population of children who have lost one or both parents to the disease. A recent joint report from USAID, UNICEF, and UNAIDS states that in 2001, there were 13.4 million of these children worldwide, and the number is estimated to reach as high as 25 million by 2010. In February 2001, after seeing some of them, Charles Pratt was spurred to action.
普萊特是加拿大艾柏特省卡加立(Dalgary)扶輪社的社員，已經在扶輪基金的發現獎助金的資助之下到泰國去。他訪問了Viengkhuk兒童救濟院及Sarnelli之家，這兩個簡單的收容機構於1999年成立，目的在幫助愛滋病孤兒—其中許多孤兒受到人類免疫不全病毒HIV的感染。
Pratt, a member of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, had traveled to Thailand on a Rotary Foundation Discovery Grant. He visited the Viengkhuk Children's Hospice and the Sarnelli House, modest facilities established in 1999 to help children orphaned by AIDS -many of them infected with HIV.
普萊特也認識了在這些地方當義工的曼萊(Bangrak)扶輪社社員薩西藍谷(Jarunee Sathirangkul)。兩個扶輪社社員就開始盡力取得扶輪基金會配合獎助金10,000美元，來提供學校家具、學校用品、食物、以及醫藥。曼萊扶輪社及卡加利扶輪提供了義工、意見; 以及給予鼓勵。
Pratt also became acquainted with Jarunee Sathirangkul, a member of the Rotary Club of Bangrak who volunteered at the facilities. The two Rotarians began working to secure a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant of US$10,000 to provide school furniture, school supplies, food, and medicines. The Rotary clubs of Bangrak and Calgary provided volunteers, advice, and encouragement.
管理這些機構的天主教牧師麥可．西雅報告說：「我們現在在3個救濟院有71個兒童，然而幾乎每一天都有一個受驚嚇、營養不良的兒童被遺棄在我們的門口。」由於扶輪社員的支持，所有這些兒童現在都有一個可以稱為家的地方。
The Reverend Michael Shea, a Catholic priest who runs these facilities, reports, "We now have 71 children in three hospices, though it seems every day another frightened, malnourished child is left at our door."
Thanks to Rotarian support, all of those children now have a place to call home.