Chanfong, 73, Thailand

Chanfong has lived in Sansai district for 15 years. She was widowed 38 years ago and had four children, but one died from an AIDS-related illness. Now she lives with her youngest son who is HIV positive after receiving an infected blood transfusion.

Chanfong has been taught to make flowers by HelpAge partner FOPDEV

Chanfong has been educated about HIV by HelpAge International's Thai partner, Foundation for Older Persons' Development (FOPDEV), and now educates others about people living with HIV.

She says: "My eldest son died in 1992, when he was 38. My other children, a daughter, 55, and two sons, aged 48 and 43, live in this village, and I have seven grandchildren who I see on important occasions like my birthday and Mother's Day.

We did not know about HIV

"When my eldest son got sick, we did not know about HIV. In fact, we did not know about AIDS until he died. A Christian friend suggested to me what my son might have died of, but I could not understand how he had become HIV positive.

"I had thought that my son would live with me until the day I died. I never expected to outlive him. Many people died at that time, so I went to a lot of funerals and that's where I heard people talking about HIV. But I did not know what it was. I felt very sad and lonely."

"I was discriminated against when people found out that my eldest son had died of AIDS. People did not want me to join them. I had no social life. Not now though: things have changed because people have more understanding of HIV.

"FOPDEV taught us how to take care of people who are HIV positive and how to protect ourselves. They told us what HIV is; how it gets in the body; how to live with it. When FOPDEV taught me about HIV, I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt a huge release. In the old days, I had so many questions and doubts, but now I am clear."

I help others take care of family members with HIV

"Now, I spread my knowledge with others. If anyone wants to know about HIV, I am invited to go and speak to them. And I do home visits to people living with HIV and tell other people how to take care of their family members who are living with HIV.

"I feel very grateful to have been chosen to share my experiences with other people. At the beginning, I was too shy to talk, too embarrassed, but now I feel more happy and confident.

"I feel sorry for people living with HIV, so I want to share my experiences with others: FOPDEV has taught me how to do that. I can help relieve the burden on people who are living through what I went through before.

"Some people feel isolated after their children die, so I visit them to try to encourage them to come out of their homes and mix with other people. And I have been successful in this. I am happy to do this work. I may not have much money, but I feel like a millionaire with the amount of happiness this work gives me.

"My younger son lives with me and is also HIV positive. He is taking anti-retroviral therapy and wants to share his knowledge and experience with others and to other people living with HIV.

"I had the deepest sorrow in my heart when I learned about his condition, but I still encourage and support him.

"He became infected after receiving a contaminated blood transfusion after suffering a stomach injury while serving in the army. The military did not screen blood back then [1989]. He did not get any compensation from the government or the military.

We've been given support and information

"FOPDEV has also given us financial support and information. They taught us how to make flowers and washing up liquid; they taught us how to make herbal massage balls and herbal medicine; and they taught us how to run a herbal sauna. We charge people 40 baht (US$1.3) an hour for a massage or a sauna.

"I am also a member of my local old people's association. When I joined there were just five members but now there are about 60 members. I would like to see this group grow more, to have more members, so we can continue to help and support each other."