Phuket

cooperspooky · #1 31-12-2005, 01:06

Since I was only bringing one piece of luggage I loaded up a second one with coloring books and toys to bring to an orphanage. The problem was when I got to Patong I had a hard time finding out who to give them too. I ended up talking to a Thai bar owner who brought me to a school in Kamala that was rebuilt after it was demolished. It was an interesting afternoon. They have pics up on a chalk board of what the school used to look like before and after and some of the rebuilding effort. One of the facts I learned was how "lucky" it was that the tsunami happened on a day when the kids weren't in school. I'm not sure how the kids get taught because there were no desks or chairs. Everyone was on the floor. What these places seem to need is money not toys but oh well. I thought I was an idiot for bringing toys when I could have just bought them in Patong cheaper but I was surprised at how expensive the toys were and what little selection they had at Ocean Plaza. If I had to do it over again I would just take a taxi down to a fishing villiage and walk around and pass them out. I did that once pre-tsunami and couldn't believe the living conditions that people and children were in.

butterflyblonde · #2 31-12-2005, 01:12

Better still, shop in Bangkok.

Lord_Farquard · #3 31-12-2005, 02:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperspooky

I'm not sure how the kids get taught because there were no desks or chairs. Everyone was on the floor. What these places seem to need is money not toys but oh well.

Perhaps one of the orphanages could be "adopted" by the BM's and a fund established to help get them back on their feet.
Let the "flames" begin.

Happy New Year

dizbuster · #4 31-12-2005, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord_Farquard

Perhaps one of the orphanages could be "adopted" by the BM's and a fund established to help get them back on their feet.
Let the "flames" begin.

Happy New Year

This sort of thing was discussed here at some length just after the tsunami happened. The end result was that it was generally agreed that there would be too many problems setting up the fund, naming trustees etc. Here's the thread http://www.phuket-info.com/forums/ge...hlight=tsunami

flysas · #5 31-12-2005, 16:10

donations can be made to Patong Beach rotary club they meet at the aloha hotel every tuesday night, they support the child watch phuket and currently run two orphanages in phuket town

Lord_Farquard · #6 31-12-2005, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by flysas

donations can be made to Patong Beach rotary club they meet at the aloha hotel every tuesday night, they support the child watch phuket and currently run two orphanages in phuket town

It would be nice to try and find something more local, you know, community supporting community.

thanks

syeatman · #7 31-12-2005, 23:06

You could also try these guys, they are local and good friends of mine - the chairman is a very well known local Thai hotelier who lost several resorts in the Tsunami.

I spent the last 3 weeks before Xmas helping them distribute collection boxes to just under 400 hotels in Phuket/Khao Lak/BKK/Samui/Krabi/Chiang Mai and more. You may well have seen the collection bucket that has been left in MTB for the past few days. Nicke very kindly offered to keep the bucket and attempt to fill it up even after we were supposed to only be leaving it there until the end of Boxing Day night.

The funds this year are going to several well established charities located in Phuket/Khao Lak/Phi Phi and Trang.

It would be a very good idea to help locally in Phuket, but after visiting Khao Lak recently it did make me realise how badly they were hit, and how important it was not to completely focus on Phuket, who in the scheme of things were not that badly affected.

The website is www.tsunamiday.org They have a donate online (through Paypal) setup and the benefit is that you will be able to see the actual people your money went to as there will be follow up stories and images from the locations that recieved the donations.

From reading the other thread quoted above it seems alot of the concerns were about actually setting up the trust in the first place. Well this is already setup and running with a Thai Chairman, so in theory the main problems are out of the way.

If anyone is interested in taking something further, please let me know and I can arrange something with the trustees.

Also, if you do have some spare pennies knocking around please do visit the website and donate what you can. It will be much appreciated, especially by the people it will ultimately help.

www.tsunamiday.org

landofsmiles · #8 01-01-2006, 00:39

You can read my After Tsunami reports here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/conten..._feature.shtml

there's 21 plus 2 Photo galleries here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/conten..._gallery.shtml

and here:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/conten..._gallery.shtml

The new school at Kalim between Patong and Kamala should be completed soon. You can take things there. I'm back in Patong next week and will be taking stuff up to Baan Nam Khem north of Khao Lak again. There are still people up there living in temporary shelters.

POOM, and his mother in Bang Muang Camp

bolty007 · #9 23-06-2007, 16:21

I saw your post and it got me thinking, I am in a position with my work to be able to supply the Chairs, desks, etc for these people, I don't suppose you know or could find out where the orphanage is that you went to? I would really like to communicate with them or a rep so I could see what they really need?, Many thanks...

landofsmiles · #10 23-06-2007, 20:43

My post was 18 months ago. The schools at Kalim and Kamala have been rebuilt and reequipped now.

There's a Special Needs school over the hill in Kathu if you have some stuff to give or you could contact someone like Phuket Childwatch that looks after orphans and abused children.

Building 3, 3rdFloor, Phuket Campus, Kathu Tel. (76) 202559

Phuket Childwatch>>>

barfly · #11 24-06-2007, 15:02

Is the Tsunami Day Trust still running?

Crustasian · #12 24-06-2007, 19:05

Several members of the Phuket Hash are still working with the orphanages in Koh Lak and go there on a regular basis.They can be contacted by calling into the Ban Rim Klong restaurant on the main street Kamala. (run by Alan)

soicowboy · #13 26-06-2007, 08:07

Kun Phraesrithong (ON) in Phang Nga runs a wonderful childerens home,and is always in need of help , it is a good vist and nice way to spend an afternoon ,to stop buy Lotus and make a trip up the coast.
While toys ,candy and trinkets sound good she will usally insist on practical items ie; bulk food ,baby items , diapers and such, not very glamorous.
There is no shortage of childeren centers in Thailand.

The Thailand Childerens Home just outside of Korat would like to get clean running water and an kitchen that is not a shack, will work on this upon my return in november, but if anyone has any ideas or help I'm ready to listen.
If anyone would like more info on Phang Nga ,PM me

Simbo · #14 27-06-2007, 09:47

I'm up north in the realy poor areas 2 to 3 times a year now and am quite happy to run a load of old clothes, etc up to people who really need it. These are areas that the charity organisations can't be bothered driving their expensive landcruisers into. The clothes can be left with village head men, baptist pastors, etc to ensure they get where they are needed. I took a block of A4 paper and pencils to a school in March ( total cost about 250baht) and they were over the moon- when you don't have a lot a little makes the difference.