I have just been down south reviewing the progress of our projects
and checking out new proposals. I was accompanied by friend and colleague,
Therese Beauvais, and “our man on site”, Khun Samran. It is great to
see how much has been done to clean up and rebuild the hardest hit areas,
and so wonderful to see smiling and hopeful faces again. The aid organizations
and the Thai government are to be complimented for all they have accomplished!
We went to the Nam Khem School to complete the interviews with students
we have selected for our sponsorships. We were greeted by a vastly improved
school, and lots of activity. Happily our school bus program is working
well, and is very much appreciated by students, and teachers alike.
I am pleased to report that some of the over 300 students that attend
the school will be moving back into their newly rebuilt houses in the
village, and will no longer need to commute from the temporary camps.
We hope that by the beginning of the next school year, in May, we will
need to transport even fewer students.
 Students on one of our much needed school buses |
Three new children have been added to our sponsorship
list, which we have identified as being good candidates for our
funds. The lively conversations, we had with the children, were
amazing, knowing the losses they are coping with. All the students
are with caring relatives, and looking forward to a promising future.
Darling kids one and all! |
| A profile of the students that you can support is attached. We have changed the program from scholarship to sponsorship. The Thai Government is waiving fees for all elementary students attending government schools in the Tsunami hit areas. There is still an expense for books, uniforms, and supplies however. High School students are not helped in this government plan, so need money for tuition. The sponsorship fund covers some of the expenses that are now being carried by the extended family to support these children. |  Rattana family at school |
 Kathy and Samran present uniforms and boks to the students of Nok Na School |
 Thrilled with the new books |
We took new school uniforms and a set of Time Life books to the 40 student, island school, Nok Na School. The kids were most appreciative of the uniforms, but the excitement was about the colorful books. Their teacher was equally thrilled, and we had a great visit. A request was made for basketball hoops for their sport area, which we will look into.
 Island of Koh Prathong, Andaman Sea |
Our boat trip to the Sea Gypsy Island of Koh Prathong,
where our fishing boat project is located, was a eautiful 45 minute
journey. Upon arrival we saw that our first boat is almost completed.
It will be finished in approx 10 days. The decisions had been made
to give the boat building job to the local builders to help with
the revitalization of the island village. Many of the boat builders
were killed in the Tsunami, |
| and there is only one team still able to build boats. Our MINOR
1 boat is fabulous! The three boat builders have done an incredible
job, and we are pleased at its progress. We had a great meeting
with the five fishermen that are to receive our boats. They are
enthusiastically awaiting the completion of the boats, and getting
back to supporting their families. Koh Prathong has a delicious
second source of income from their cashew nut trees, and we enjoyed
the snacks as we |
 The five expectant fishermen with MINOR 1 |
 Life jackets and books for the students of Prathong Island school |
went to the Koh Prathong School. We presented the students with
life jackets for their safety and security, and also a set of Time
Life books. They are such great kids!!! The school is in the process
of getting a much needed water tank improvement. They are relying
on rationed bottled water at the moment. We will follow this project,
and see if they need any further funding. They are doing their own
work to make the money go further, and their diligence is admirable. |
On my last visit, three weeks ago, I was faced with such trauma in the faces of the surviving adults, that it was difficult to get much response on job rebuilding ideas. People are just now getting their heads back to thinking about their future livelihoods, and we have received some wonderful proposals. We will be giving the money from a rotating fund. It is an interest free loan, and the recipients decided realistically how much per month they can repay. This way we can continue to support worthwhile projects, and the borrowers are not being given a hand out, but realize that they have a responsibility to the organization, and retain their dignity and work ethic.
We stopped and had lunch at the noodleshop that Khun Sudawan has started
in Bang Moung. She has found space in the front of her relative’s house
on the sidewalk and is doing a steady business selling noodles and curried
chicken rice. The food was very tasty!!!. She has started without our
monetary help, but with the impending rainy season, and the VERY basic
beginning that she has made, we have agreed to fund her noodle shop
improvements with a donation of Baht 40,000 ($1000), for shelter from
the sun and rain for her patrons, some tables and chairs, and cooking
supplies, and refrigeration facilities. We met her sons and sister who
are helping out, and were most impressed with the whole family.
 Sudawan’s noodle shop |
Khun Wittiyaporn has rented a shop and purchased second hand computers with a loan from his “uncle”. He has rebuilt the old computers and installed a high speed internet service. This is the only place of its kind in Bang Moung and he has a good potential for success with his “computer shop”. He is a whiz at repairs etc., and has an empty floor upstairs where there is a possibility of teaching a computer class. We have agreed to his request for Baht 55,000 ($1375), to build some shelving to sell computer supplies, repair and repaint his rented shop, |
 Wittiyaporn’s fledgling internet store |
so as to attract customers, and buy a stock of computer
supplies for sale and repairs. We admire this young man’s enthusiasm. We did not have time to visit the woodworking shop of Khun Anucha. |
Samran has spoken with him, and has been to visit his start-up work shop. On his recommendation we have agreed to Baht 50,000 ($1250) for him to replace lost tools, and get his workshop up and running. There is a big demand for furniture etc., as homes are rebuilt and small guest houses start anew. We will check on his progress on our next visit.
Khun Arun is a college educated 25 year old, who has returned to his home village of Kura Buri. His father was killed and his mother is unable to support his two younger sisters and other relatives now living with them. Khun Arun’s uncles were fishermen, but their boats were destroyed. They have requested the funds to restart their fishing business so as to support the whole family. Khun Arun is a terrific young man with big dreams, and is a great asset to his struggling family. We have agreed to fund this fledgling business for Baht 170,000 ($4250).
Khun Sayan is still living in the camp with his extended family. Their
houses were all destroyed in the village of Baan Nam Khem. They had
no title deeds to the land where their houses were built, so are not
entitled to rebuild there. Most of the elder members of the family are
uneasy about returning to the village anyway, as so many family members
 Driver, Sayan |
were killed there. They are planning to move to a
small piece of land near by the camp. Khun Sayan is a driver by
trade, but now has no vehicle. We have agreed to fund his vehicle
for Baht 275,000 ($7000). He will use it as a school bus for the
children who have gone to live with relatives far off the main road,
and find it very difficult to get to school on a daily basis. The
”truck” will also be used to go to the wholesale market to purchase
food and other products that can be retailed in and around the camps
and new neighborhoods. |
We found a few new worthwhile projects during our visit that we will be looking into further.
 Site of devastated Khao Lak Anantara Hotel |
The site of our destroyed “Anantara Coco Palms Hotel” in Khao Lak will now be cleared, and we have no plans to rebuild for at least the next year. The main lobby building is still structurally sound, and we are looking into starting up a small business training course at this site. It will also act as a meeting place for those who need to interact with others trying to get back on their feet. We plan to teach English, computer, and management skills. Also we hope to arrange for speakers to inspire future entrepreneurs. |
There is a Mogon Sea Gypsy village near Khao Lak that is an amazing
example of community self help. Their entire village was swept away.
There are 70 families left that need homes. The men of the town, mostly
fishermen, have been taught the basic skills of house building and fifteen
houses have already been built by the community. Baht 150,000 ($3750)
is the cost of the materials for a new house for one family. There is
a lottery system to see who gets the next funded home, and everyone
pitches in to help with the building. The village headman is very dedicated,
and his leadership shows in the entire population. They also need new
boats, and that is an ongoing part of the project. Place has been set
aside for the building of a Mogon Sea Gypsy Community Center. The idea
is to provide a place for their village meetings, and a learning center
where the children can be taught their unique heritage and language.
I think this is a very good project to support, but it will take one
large sum of money. I am looking for a sponsor for this whole project.
 Sea Gypsy housing project |
Another worthy project is in the town
of Kuek Kuk, near Khao Lak. Very energetic, Khun Phen, has started
a support group for the ladies in the area that have lost their
husbands. These ladies have never worked outside their homes, and
now are faced with raising their children alone. They have no idea
where to begin. Khun Phen would like to expand on her support group
and start a more formal vocational program. For the building and
the staff she needs approx. B700,000. This needs further research,
but on the surface appears to be a very sound proposal. |
Many thanks to all of you for your generous support. The recipients
of your donations are extremely thankful, and I feel that we have chosen
some very grass roots, direct-help projects. For the moment, things
are quite OK for the survivors, and their families.
I worry about the long term outcome, and want to try and get as much
self support in place as possible immediately. The large charity funds
and the Thai government are still supporting the Tsunami victims, but
there will soon come a time, when the freebies are gone.|
An exciting bit of news attached to our effort is the release of Roger
Whittaker’s song, “Two Hundred Thousand Souls”. Roger and his wife,
Natalie, were in Thailand when the Tsunami hit. He was inspired to write
and sing a very moving ballad. Our MINOR Recovery fund will be channel
for proceeds from this production. We thank you Roger and Natalie!!!
Thank you all, Kathy Heinecke