Photography is intrinsic to Somkid Chaijitvanit, a woman determined to live a fulfilling and humane life. It enables the 58-year-old to travel, interact with people, and capture moments to share them with others. On top of that, taking pictures is her main outlet for spreading kindness and compassion to others through her philanthropic project called ArtCare.
“I’m not good at drawing. But photography allows me to capture what’s around me. It’s always been such an eye-opening experience, enabling me to connect with others and understand them better. So, I can add just a little enrichment to their lives,” she says.
Art is good medicine
An elderly woman embrace a new hobby: flower photography.
After quitting a job as a photographer for a leading English newspaper in Thailand, Somkid spent much of her time volunteering with the late leading Thai Buddhist nun at a dhamma learning center to document religious and dhamma talks events.
She often accompanied the nun to state-run hospitals to give support to terminally ill patients in their last moments. That was the main source of inspiration for the ‘ArtCare’. Launched in 2009, it is intended to empower people, especially the sick and the elderly.
“We all need support and help sometimes to get through a very difficult time in life,” says Somkid.
To give comfort to visitors and patients, she decided to give collections of her photos, mostly of nature, to hospitals to use them to improve their interior spaces.
“White, cold, sterile walls of hospitals can make them feel anxious and stressed. With nature scenes and landscape artworks, they feel soothed and relaxed. Art is good for the soul,” she says.
She has also been giving free photography classes to hospital staff to teach them to take good photos with their smartphones. The photos taken by participants are used to deck out hospitals’ facilities, creating a more inviting and less sterile atmosphere.
With nature scenes and landscape artworks, patient feel soothed and relaxed.
“I teach them the basics of photography. I don’t train them to become professionals or win contests. I let them think about the kind of pictures they want to see when they are unwell. It should be something simple with not too many details, like images of nature, flowers and plants” Somkid says.
Since the launch of the project, she has worked with ten hospitals, the first of which was Bangkok’s Phramongkutklao Hospital. Others include Hua Talay Hospital in Nakhon Ratchasima, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and the Thai Red Cross AIDS and Infectious Diseases Research Center (Anonymous Clinic) in Bangkok.
Happy homes for older adults
With strong support from Luang Pi Ko (Phra Chit Chittasangwaro), a founder of Suan Rom Yen in Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima and Thai VI, Somkid commenced working with Social Welfare Development Centers for Older Persons (SWDCOP) in 2022 to uplift the spirits of those in senior living facilities.
The project started at the Nakhon Phanom center and then extended to cover all centers in provinces across Thailand, of which there are now 12.
“To reside in a nursing home, the seniors need to adapt to a new environment. It can be both physically and mentally demanding. Some of them have health issues and feel anxious. Many feel lonely and isolated because of a lack of family and friends,” she says adding that seniors in the centers are of various educational and socio-economic backgrounds, abilities and ages.
Here too, she has provided complimentary classes to the centers’ caregivers and also older adults who are still active. She has taken small groups of older participants on field trips to places suited to photography. On these outdoor classroom days, one participant is accompanied by one caregiver to ensure comfort and safety. Ten smartphones are available for students to use as a learning tool.
“Many seniors signed up. They were curious to learn and that is good for them. In class, they smiled and laughed as they took turns to take their photos, which is a lot of fun. Seeing they are happy makes me happier,” Somkid says.
As the project’s photo editor, she works to improve the quality of photos taken by the classes’ participants and then prints them. The prints cover empty spaces in the centers’ care facilities.
“We wanted to bring nature inside their rooms, decorate them with flowers and natural landscapes to create a welcoming environment. That can help improve their mood and health,” she says.
Selecting photos is one of the project’s toughest tasks, Somkid notes. She works to ensure that all photos taken by participants are used to promote inclusiveness.
“Everyone’s work is equally important. We want them to feel included, valued and respected. They are delighted to see their photo prints on the walls. They point to their picture with pride. I love to see people succeed and the joy people get when they reach a goal,” she says.
Somkid and volunteers consistently refresh the centers’ care facilities with new colors to improve their appearance. Inside, they added whimsy to the rooms, painted the walls, and created the sky and clouds on the ceiling.
“We wanted to create a feeling like they are being outside to make them feel refreshed. The sky we created may be not the most beautiful but it’s a product of our efforts and hard work,” she says, adding that many older adults residing in the centers have limited mobility and some are bedridden. “They are stuck in bed, looking up at the ceiling or at a wall and become depressed.”
Besides the classes, Somkid also provides photographic portraits to many older persons in the centers. She has printed them on quality paper and framed them.
“I wanted the framed portrait to be like a gift. Many of them never had a decent portrait of themselves. They told me they would use them as mourning portraits at their funerals,” she says.
Truly making a difference
The ArtCare project makes a positive impact on not only people in need but also caregivers and volunteers who are involved in it.
Ramrung Worawat, director general of the Department of Older Persons says the project’s activities help facilitate the department’s operations.
“Centers blessed with nature artworks and images of flowers make older adults happy, improve the quality of their lives and make them live longer,” she said.
Suthirat Tochonnabot, head of SWDCOP in Buriram said the project’s work helps create a calm and relaxing environment, while building a bond between the elderly and their caregivers.
“The field trips help the elderly to stay engaged and also gives them the opportunity to connect with the world around them. The center’s residents who didn’t take part in the trips are also happy looking at beautiful photo prints on the walls. The project’s activities also allowed caregivers to work closely together,” she said.
Wanrawee Akkanit, a retired nurse, who volunteered to help improve the environment at the SWDCOP in Pathum Thani said helping others makes her life better.
“Giving is very rewarding. It also helps heal me,” she said.
Seksakda Kaewso, a military officer, said he was more than happy to be part of the team that provided meaningful services to older adults.
“Volunteering to help enhance center’s appearance gives me unconditional happiness,” said entrepreneur Nuttanit Piraakkararoj.
Sasikanya Phrapalee, a caregiver at the SWDCOP in Pathum Thani and a participant in the photography class said photography not only allows her to express herself but also helps improve her mental health.
“It creates a distraction for me and takes me away from my stress,” she said adding caregiving can be overwhelming and stressful.
Kindness – the key to my happiness
Somkid (wearing a black shirt) teaches an older adult to take a good photo using a smart phone.
Somkid realizes the importance of humanity and has a passion for helping others. Even though she has only been able to run the project on and off over the past 16 years due to shortages of funds and resources, she continues to give and be kind to people.
“I love doing little kindnesses for others. It makes me happy and feel good. It’s what we’re supposed to do. A small act of kindness can make a big impact,” she says.
She noted that she enjoys working with older adults as they drive her to be more compassionate and humane.
“Talking to them is fun. If you listen to them attentively, you will find life lessons hidden in their stories.
“I’m really into older adults and empowering them. One day, I will be old too. It’s a thing that I can contribute to a better world. Giving to them truly makes me appreciate life,” Somkid says.
