In 2000, Karl Morsbach, formerly Managing Director of Henkel in Thailand, and his wife Tassanee founded the village known as ‘Baan Gerda’. Their mission was to provide a new home for children afflicted with HIV. Today more than 70 children live in the village and those who have lived there from day one are about to begin a new phase in their lives. They have the opportunity to study in the provincial capital of Lopburi or undertake an apprenticeship in one of the state training centers.

Moreover, ‘Baan Gerda’ offers music therapy with great success. The children’s enthusiasm and progress were such that their teacher, the American musician Bruce Gaston, decided to compose an opera for them. When the conductor of Bangkok Opera became aware of the children during a performance he decided to get involved. The première of the opera is scheduled for mid-March 2010.