Bangkok Post - July 31, 2003
Chompoo Trakullertsathien

Yet, don't underestimate its value. Those who donate to "Help Me and the Elephants, Please" will see their contribution doubled, to help support HIV children and abused elephants nationwide.

For its new charity campaign, Kasikorn Bank will add one baht to every baht donated by the public, to meet its total target of 100 million baht (50 million baht from public donations, and another 50 million from the bank in matching funds).

Banthoon Lamsam, president of Kasikorn Bank, said both Aids victims and injured elephants needed urgent help from the public. He said that, in the past, there had been joint efforts between the public and the private sectors to fight these uphill battles, but further help was still required.

"Aids has become a critical problem in our society. The number of those infected with this deadly disease is ever-increasing. Many Aids victims endure their sufferings alone. And as for injured elephants, they receive no proper treatment. Many die prematurely. Everyone can lend a helping hand to alleviate these helpless sufferers," he said.

Following on last year's success with its initial charity campaign, called "Help Me, Please", the bank decided to extend its support to abused elephants and re-named the project to "Help Me and the Elephants, Please".

The campaign aims to help seven HIV-related organisations and three elephant-concerned foundations. These organisations must be officially registered with the appropriate authorities and have a commitment to social improvement. HIV charitable organisations must have a hostel to house HIV victims. They must educate patients and provide medical treatment. Elephant-care foundations must have a good record of providing effective and long-term care for injured and sick elephants.

Banthoon said that currently there are approximately 150 organisations and foundations working to help solve the Aids problem, both educating people and taking care of Aids patients, yet the number of HIV-infected children was on the rise.

According to a Ministry of Public Health report in 2002, there were about 289,000 HIV-infected children, from infants to 10 to 15 years old. Statistics show that 5,000 HIV-infected kids are born annually.

Many unfortunate toddlers become orphans within a few months of birth. Most live with little support from family. Those who are lucky enough to be raised by their family have little access to costly medicine that would prolong their lives.

"What we want to do is to revise this unfortunate situation," he said.

The funds raised will support the seven foundations to provide necessities for HIV-infected children, from accommodations to food, clothes, medical supplies.

The same charitable principles are used by the three foundations that help injured and sick elephants, he said.

"We often hear tragic news about elephants. Those in show business are abused and maltreated by their keepers. Some are forced to work hard by illegally hauling logs in the wild. They fall ill and eventually die. Some fall prey to landmines. And the tragedy goes on."

The number of elephants forced into hard labour is estimated at 1,800, he said, noting that they were often tortured by their keepers.

About 1,200 elephants are estimated to be working in tourist businesses, such as taking tourists on treks. Some 200 elephants are strays, roaming cities while their owners beg for money. While walking city streets, he said, pachyderms can easily create accidents or be hit by passing vehicles.

Elephants in tourist businesses are often trained to perform different tricks, like climbing on oil tanks and doing somersaults. Accidents are certainly possible.

Also, young elephants at many resorts are used to attract tourists. Separated from their mothers, they have a 50 percent survival rate, he said. If they survive, tortured and abused elephants are sent to elephant hospitals when they become sick or handicapped. But a shortage of funds for medical supplies in these hospitals translate in shorter lives for such animals.

"We hope the public will pool their resources to lengthen these elephants' lives," he said. "Their chance of survival depends on us."

Info for donations

Those who want to support the "Help Me and the Elephants, Please" project can donate cash or present a cheque payable to "Help Me and the Elephants, Please Project" at any branch of Kasikorn Bank. Or you can send a cheque payable to "Help Me and the Elephants Please Project" to P.O. Box 8, Rajaburana, Bangkok, 10140. You can also donate via Kasikorn Bank ATMs nationwide with a TFB Credit Card, or via e-Internet Banking if you are a member, or via e-phone banking on 02-88-8888. You can also make donations through K Banks Credit Card or any VISA or Mastercard by filling in the attached form and mailing it to P.O. Box 8, Rajaburana, Bangkok, 10140, or via e-commerce at www.KASIKORNBANK.com.

The seven foundations that work on behalf of HIV-infected children and the three elephant foundations involved with the project launched by Kasikorn Bank are:

- Support the Children Foundation (Tel: 053-21-4795/6, fax: 053-40-8424)

- St. Camillus Foundation of Thailand (Rayong province) (Tel: 038-68-5480, 038-69-1480, fax: 038-68-7480)

- Baan Chivitmai (Eden Home) (Tel: 053-77-4145/6, fax: 053-77-4151)

- House of Mercy Foundation (Tel: 043-33-4262)

- Full Gospel Assemblies Foundation (Agapa Home) (Tel/fax: 053-80-0946)

- Human Development Foundation (Mercy Centre) (Tel: 02-671-5313, fax: 02-672-4532)

- Children's Rights Foundation (Baan Gerda) (Tel/fax: 036-42-6535) FOR THE ELEPHANTS:

- Elephant and Wildlife Kasetsart University Foundation (Tel: 034-35-1901 ext 201_3)

- Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand (Tel: 02-653-7431/2, fax: 02-653-7432 press 0)

- Friends of the Asian Elephant (Tel: 02-945-7124_6)

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