Bangkok--30 Oct--Midas PR
Fr Joe Maier, co-founder and chairman of the Human Development Foundation-Mercy Centre speaks on:
“Street Children in Thailand”
On Tuesday November 4th 2008, 12noon-2pm
At Rotary Club Bangkapi weekly luncheon,
Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel (BTS: Rajdamri)
Members and Nonmembers: Baht 430 (includes a three-course International lunch and presentation)
About Father Joe Maier: Father Joe Maier, C.Ss.R., is the co-founder and chairman of the Human Development Foundation in Klong Toey, Bangkok. Father Joseph Maier has lived among the poor in Thailand and Laos since 1967. He settled in Bangkok in the early '70s, where, joined by Sister Maria Chantavorodom, he served as the priest to a small Catholic parish in the slaughterhouse neighborhood of Klong Toey. Together with Sr. Maria, he started the Human Development Foundation for their poor neighbors of all religions.
Both Father Joe and Sister Maria have initiated several street children outreach programs, outreach health clinic (the first ever in Bangkok's slums), and a shelter for street children.
In the early nineties, when AIDS began to become prevalent in Bangkok's slum communities, HDF pioneered the AIDS awareness programme and education, beginning to address the most pressing needs of afflicted children and adults.
In 1994, along with Sister Maria, he opened Bangkok's first free AIDS hospice and became the Founding Member of Asian Coalition for Housing Rights.
He also established a prison visitation program for the Archdiocese of Bangkok and has been a Prison Chaplain at Bang Kwang and Klong Prem Yat Yao men and women's prisons.
As of today, in 2008, there are twenty-nine Mercy Centre Kindergartens with four thousand slum children going to school.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and has been recognized for many of his noble achievements.
In 2004, he received the Lifetime achievement award by Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand in the field of protection of mothers and children. He has also been bestowed with the country’s prestigious Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, Fifth Class award in 1985.
Father Joe has a Masters Degree in Urban Development and Slum Improvement from the Asian Institute of Technology and holds advanced degrees in Theological Studies and Urban Planning as well as an honorary doctorate in Social Administration from Thammasat University.
He still lives in Klong Toey where his work here first began.
For reservation or further queries, contact Karin Frick Lohitnavy at [email protected] or 086-0442145