An independent local relief organisation

BaanChivitMai, which means “home for new life”, is an independent local relief organisation in Thailand that has saved several hundred of children and youth from a life in prostitution and drug dealing.

The ministry which started in 1989 is run in Bangkok and Chiang Rai, in the farthest north of Thailand. Through BaanChivitMai's ministry, exposed children and youth are provided with a place to stay and the possibility to go to school. BaanChivitMai also run a home for HIV-infected children, and they go to the mountain villages in northern Thailand to inform the people about HIV/AIDS.

BaanChivitMai Foundation, a local foundation, has the overall responsibility for the ministry. The foundation is registered in ChiangRai and several of the city's prominent people are members of the board.

The work that BaanChivitMai does is founded upon the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and a Christian outlook. This permeates all of the foundation's ministries. Restoring the human dignity of children and other exposed groups of people is one of the ministry's foundation stones.

Strong connections to Sweden

Eva Olofsson

There are strong connections between BaanChivitMai and Sweden. There are a few Swedish organisations but mostly individuals from Scandinavia, that donate money regularly to the ministry.

Eva Olofsson who participated in the founding of the organisation has handed over her responsibilities to Madeleine and Inge Ekelyck. They are now responsible for keeping in touch with the donors and to some extent they also travel around informing about the ministry. Two to three times a year, they visit the project to be an active part of the ministry and to support the staff. Inge is also a member of the BaanChivitMai board.

When the Swedish Royal Couple made an official state visit to Thailand in 2003, they made a visit to BaanChivitMai.