Our search for handmade works of art and luxury decorative accessories and furnishings frequently takes us off the beaten path, sometimes to far flung locales in exotic countries. Chiang Mai, Thailand is one of those places. Long known for their parasols – elegant waxed rice paper and bamboo creations that were once crafted exclusively for members of the royal family – Chiang Mai now claims the disconcerting distinction of having one of the world’s highest epidemic levels of HIV infection and AIDS.
Chiang Mai is located in Northern Thailand is now home to a startling number of children who have been abandoned or orphaned by parents stricken with HIV and AIDS. As the epidemic worsens, more and more children are left to fend for themselves. Homeless and hungry, many children have little to no support and primarily depend on local goodwill and some charitable donations in their bid to survive. Some, unfortunately,
turn to crime as a way of surviving. None have the opportunity to go to school.
In honor of these orphans and the handicrafts this region is known for, Seasonal Living founded Parasol Kids™, a small, self-funded non-profit organization whose mission is to help educate the neglected children, to stimulate and support the local parasol and handicraft trades of Chiang Mai, and to help give the community a sense of hope for the future. This tiny village lies beyond the reach of traditional aid organizations and receives no attention at all from relief agencies. We recognized this gap and are now filling it with one-on-one personal attention – buyers spend quality time with the orphans every time they visit – as well as providing food, donated educational books, toys, and electronic learning devices.
Further, Seasonal Living suppliers in Chiang Mai are encouraged to create apprenticeship programs that teach the older children how to make the traditional handicrafts that are indigenous to the region. Seasonal Living believes that by nurturing the handicraft trades in this way, the company is ensuring a sustainable, long-term source of income for children in need. This effort also challenges the idea of global mass- homogenization, which threatens the Chiang Mai parasol, as well as other ancient arts and crafts industries, with extinction.
Parasol Kids™ is currently funded by Seasonal Living and gift contributions only, but we are looking for larger brother and sister organizations in the United States and Europe to assist us as we expand our outreach to include other remote villages seeking relief. Should you be interested in helping our Chiang Mai orphans, please contact us for more details – Thank you.
