UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS

About Me

My name is Thongdeng Silakoune and I have been working for UNICEF for 15 years. I am dedicated to helping children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and to promoting the prevention of HIV/AIDS amongst young people.

I was born on a remote island in the Mekong Basin in Southern Lao PDR.  My family were rice farmers and my island was so small and remote, that not only didn't we have electricity, but we also had no shops, no market, and no schools.  When we were hungry we went to fish.  When we wanted to have some entertainment we played traditional instruments. It has not been easy but I have worked my way to where I am now, working for UNICEF. I am passionate about helping children. Because I have experienced a hard life in remote places, I understand how life is so hard for many of the children and mothers needing help. I know what their communities are missing and I dream to help the remote communities so that they can care for their own people.

Shortly after finishing university, I joined UNICEF doing work on malaria and iodine deficiency disorder.  But then, in 1996 I was offered the chance to work on UNICEF's HIV prevention programs. I have been dedicated to preventing the spread of HIV in Lao PDR and caring for those who are infected and affected ever since. I listen and talk with young people who are affected or infected by HIV. I teach the young about prevention and also teach other people how to teach prevention to the young. I facilitate volunteer groups and do individual outreach as part of UNCIEF funded care and support programs for children infected and affected with HIV.

Our big job is to maintain the HIV-free status of pregnant women so that no newborn children are infected with HIV. And if the women are already infected, we need to help them prepare for their life, prepare for the medicines they will take and how to protect themselves from then on.

Thank you for supporting us and helping us to continue our good work. I believe children are the central issue of the HIV/AIDS crisis. By putting them at the centre of the response we will deal with many aspects of the epidemic. And we must make sure all the vulnerable and orphaned children are looked after. If a child needs treatment they can not take themselves to get it - they need a caregiver. Your help can make the life of children better; you can make our work make a difference, so please continue to support us with regular contributions.

I would like to tell you in my blog about what I have been doing with UNICEF and who I have been meeting.