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CAMBODIA / BUDDHIST MONKS HIV CARE
STORY: CAMBODIA / BUDDHIST MONKS HIV CARE
TRT: 05:03
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / KHMER / NATS
DATELINE: JANUARY 2012, PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
1. Various shots, Pagoda in Ang Popel Temple, Kampong Speu, Buddhist Leadership Initiative (BLI) session with prayer, meditation and support services for adults living with HIV AND AIDS or from AIDS impacted families, chanting led by monks
2. Various shots, at home of Ken Chanthy (29) and her husband Khem Sovanak (39), both HIV positive, and children Sokha Chanthirapech (11) and 3-year old boy, both HIV negative, at lunch
3. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ken Chanthy, Mother, HIV positive:
“Before these sessions, we were stressed and ashamed. We wouldn’t want to see anyone and felt discriminated against. But now we are a lot more positive.”
4. Various shots, UNICEF staff with Ken Chanthy and Khem Sovanak in their bedroom at home
5. Close shot, couple getting ready to take their daily ARV tablets
6. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ken Chanthy, Mother, HIV positive:
“Apart from monks leading meditation sessions, officials from the Government also tell us about taking our ARV’s exactly on time. We know our lives depend on it.”
7. Med shot, Buddhist monk at the Pagoda in Ang Popel Temple
8. Med shot, woman being helped to the Buddhist Leadership Initiative session at the Ang Popel Temple
9. Med shot, mother with child at the Buddhist temple
10. Various shots, statues and ornaments in Buddhist temple.
11. SOUNDBITE (English), Ulrike Gilbert, UNICEF HIV Specialist:
“From UNICEF’s point of view, the support monks provide to families affected by HIV is critically important because they address the spiritual needs of a Buddhist people as well as they help to mobilize material support for affected families. The vast majority of these families are impoverished and live well below the poverty line.”
12. Various shots, Chamnor Temple, Pongror village, Chbamorn City
13. Various shots, Ken Chanthy and family at lunch
14. Various shots, Monk Khun Khat walking with UNICEF staff
15. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Khun Khat, Monk:
“Buddhism teaches that we can’t live in isolation. Even if you have difficulties or challenges, you have to live in the society.”
16. Med shot, Monk Khun Khat arriving at Tula Sala Temple to assist in session for children from HIV-impacted families and those who are HIV positive
17. Med shot, pan left to right, Children sitting in session listening to instruction from monks
18. Med shot, Khun Khat writing lesson points on white board
19. Various shots, Khun Khat giving blessing at end of above session
20. Various shots, staff from local government partner explaining hygiene products to children
21. Various shots, children collecting small cash handouts to help with their education needs and signing for the money with thumbprint stamp.
22. SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Sorpheann, Director, Provincial Department, Cult & Religion:
“The material and the spiritual must go along hand in hand. You cannot just give money without education and advice. And they need to take away something inside, with education from us, and spiritual guidance from the monks.”
23. Various shot, girl collecting bag of products and departing.
24. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ung Chantha, 17 years old:
“I pass on what I have learned from here to my brother and sister and also my neighbours and I share the information with my friends”
25. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Min Srey Mom, 14 years old:
“And I share the information with my friends.”
26. Med shot, above girls departing session together.
27. Wide shot, Monk Khun Khat arriving at village house.
28. Various shots, Khun Khat being greeted by Cheng Sophea (34), HIV positive, and her son Seung Panha (11)
29. Close shot, husband’s photo with incense sticks foreground
30. Med shot, monk talking to mother and son in the house
31. Wide shot, Cheng Sophea leaving with garbage cart on rounds to collect recyclable waste
32. Various shots, Cheng Sophea counting money and giving it to boy
33. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Cheng Sophea, Mother, HIV positive:
“It is not a good job, but I have no choice, and it means we can get some money to support us.”
34. Med shot, walking shot, Cheng Sophea accompanied by UNICEF staff
35. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Cheng Sophea, Mother, HIV positive:
“Before I started in the programme, I used to think I was the only one suffering. And I would get angry and hit my son. But the programme has helped me carry on with my life.”
36. SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Seung Pahna, Son:
“There are still days when she does not feel good, but now she won’t hit me anymore.”
37. Various shots, Monk talking to Cheng Sophea and her son at their house.
38. SOUNDBITE (English) Ulrike Gilbert, UNICEF HIV Specialist:
“So that has been instrumental in helping to reduce stigma and discrimination because even after ten years into the epidemic in Cambodia, stigma and discrimination is prevailing. So monks have played a significant role to try to shift that, and I think there’s a lot of lessons we can learn in terms of broadening the scope or applying faith based responses to other development challenges women and children face.”
39. Various shots, Cheng Sophea and son sorting through medical documents and paperwork
40. Med shot, children at Tula Sala Temple
41. Various shots, monks giving final blessing to participants at Pagoda in Ang Popel Temple, people praying
43. Wide shot, Monk Khun Khat accompanied by UNICEF staff walking away from camera at Chamnor Temple.
At a Buddhist pagoda in the heart of rural Cambodia, local monks use their spiritual practices to support vulnerable families, especially those affected by HIV and AIDS.
People like Ken Chanthy and her husband, both HIV positive, regularly attend meditation sessions.
At home, they are raising their children, who are HIV negative.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ken Chanthy, Mother:
“Before these sessions, we were stressed and ashamed. We wouldn’t want to see anyone and felt discriminated against. But now we are lot more positive.”
They take ARV drugs daily to help keep the disease under control.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ken Chanthy, Mother:
“Apart from monks leading meditation sessions, officials from the Government also tell us about taking our ARV’s exactly on time. We know our lives depend on it.”
It’s all part of the Buddhist Leadership Initiative – a UNICEF-supported programme that enlists the considerable help and resources of pagodas in this devoutly Buddhist country.
SOUNDBITE (English), Ulrike Gilbert , UNICEF HIV Specialist :
“From UNICEF’s point of view, the support monks provide to families affected by HIV is critically important because they address the spiritual needs of a Buddhist people as well as they help to mobilize material support for affected families. The vast majority of these families are impoverished and live well below the poverty line.”
As part of the effort, Venerable Monk Khun Khat, received special training to support people living with HIV and AIDS, combining it with the central Buddhist practice of compassion and helping those in need.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Khun Khat, Monk:
“Buddhism teaches that we can’t live in isolation. Even if you have difficulties or challenges, you have to live in the society.”
Today, Khun Khat is visiting a neighbouring pagoda where children are meeting.
They are all vulnerable in one way or another. Some are HIV positive. Others are from AIDS-affected households. Some are struggling with other issues. All these children need support and guidance.
And Khun Khat can draw on his own experiences of losing both parents at age 12.
At the end of these sessions material help such as school supplies and money is handed out, which supports children both materially and spiritually.
The government also plays a key role in linking communities with a range of services.
SOUNDBITE (English) Sam Sorpheann, Director, Provincial Department, Cult & Religion:
“The material and the spiritual must go along hand in hand. You cannot just give money without education and advice. And they need to take away something inside, with education from us, and spiritual guidance from the monks.”
As the session ends, the children leave with valuable lessons to share with their communities.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Ung Chantha, 17 years old:
“I pass on what I have learned from here to my brother and sister and also my neighbours
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Min Srey Mom, 14 years old:
“And I share the information with my friends.”
Taking their teachings to people’s homes is a valuable part of the monks’ work.
Cheng Sophea has received particular help from Khun Khat for a number of years.
She was diagnosed with HIV in 2002, and her husband died of AIDS in 2003.
Cheng Sophea is bringing up their son on her own.
Sophea makes a living from the small recycling business she runs in her neighbourhood.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Cheng Sophea, Mother:
“It is not a good job, but I have no choice and it means we can get some money to support us.”
And with the help of her mediation practice, she has learned to cope with her anger.
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Cheng Sophea, Mother:
“Before I started in the programme I used to think I was the only one suffering. And I would get angry and hit my son. But the programme has helped me carry on with my life.”
SOUNDBITE (Khmer) Seung Pahna, Son:
“There are still days when she does not feel good, but now she won’t hit me anymore.”
Beyond helping this one family, the monks’ home visits have a wider impact on the wider rural community.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ulrike Gilbert, UNICEF HIV Specialist:
“So that has been instrumental in helping to reduce stigma and discrimination because even after 10 years into the epidemic in Cambodia, stigma and discrimination is prevailing. So monks have played a significant role to try to shift that, and I think there’s a lot of lessons we can learn in terms of broadening the scope or applying faith-based responses to other development challenges women and children face.”
The impact for these families is clear.
Early exposure to his mother’s life of medical tests and strict drug regimens has made Sophea’s son want to become a medical assistant.
While the future is uncertain, support for communities from local monks is replacing ignorance and fear, giving families tools to rebuild their lives.
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