 Registered Charity No. 1113496 |
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History of the TsunamiThe Tsunami struck the region of Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka on the 26th of December 2004. The result of the Tsunami saw unprecedented death and destruction across the region with the death toll estimated at 250,000 people. The impact of the Tsunami reached across the world and captured the hearts of many. The Tsunami remained the lead story for many weeks due to the impact that this would have stretching far and wide. On the 28th of December 2004, Police and other Forensic Specialists travelled to Thailand to assist with the international response. Police were deployed to Thailand to commence the gruesome task of identifying the 4606 victims who died in the southern region of Thailand. International representation consisted of approximately 500 police and other specialists from 40 countries who were also deployed to Thailand. Police were deployed to assist the Thai’s in what would become the worlds largest ever Disaster Victim Identification response. Personal ExperienceI have toured in Thailand on a three occasions working at a site called Tha Cha Chai which is a purpose built mortuary. During my deployments I became aware of the needs of a number of Thai children who had been orphaned as a result of the Tsunami. Many of the children had lost both parents and now found themselves with nobody to care for them. Many of the children also lost members of their extended families. The children not only lost their parents, many lost siblings and their previous homes and villages were also destroyed. The children, many of them below the age of ten had lost a sense of their previous lives and had no one to care for them. Peter Baines deployed to Thailand in early January and was fortunate enough to tour Thailand on three occasions spending almost three months abroad. His role was that of the Australian Disaster Victim Identification Commander which involved the overall responsibility for all the Australian’s deployed overseas. On his most recent tour not only was he the leader of the Australian team, but also an international team responsible for the management of a site at Tha Cha Chai. Peter and I resolved after returning from Thailand that whilst we believed the work we were doing in identifying victims and returning them to their loved ones was significant, we both believed that we were able to contribute more. We both believed that we could contribute in a meaningful way to the lives of the many children who had now been orphaned by the Tsunami. During my time abroad I was fortunate enough to meet many of the wonderful Thai people who were working to rebuild their lives. I toured throughout the devastated areas and saw first hand the destruction that had beset these people. I witnessed them attempting to rebuild their lives and recreate a future for the younger generation. I also witnessed the limitations to which many of them were confronted with. I left the country in August of 2005, committed to returning to the UK and working to build a future for the children orphaned by the disaster. Hands Across the Water"Hands Across the Water" is a joint enterprise between Peter and myself and represents our commitment to continue to lend a hand to the people of Thailand, in particular the children. Hands Across the Water is the name we have given to our fund raising efforts. "Hands Across the Water" is symbolic of the joint effort of Peter and his support team from Australia, the support team I have in the UK and our combined effort in building the Orphanage in Thailand. Although each is separated by significant distance it is our intention of lending a helping hand to improve the lives of those least capable of fending for themselves…the children. About Gill and PeterPeter and I are both Police officers. I have been a police officer with Thames Valley Police since 1980. I have been a Sergeant in charge of the Specialist Search and Recovery Team since 1996 and am responsible for all hazardous searches including victim recovery.I have toured Thailand on three occasions and worked at the body holding site as the Body Release Officer. The role that I performed was one that was responsible for the release of bodies to the families or their representatives. Peter has been a member of the New South Wales Police since 1986 and worked within the Forensic Services Group since 1990. He is currently a Detective Inspector of Police and work as the Operations Co-ordinator for the Forensic Services Group. He has previously toured Bali in response to the Bombings and as previously indicated, worked in Thailand on three separate occasions having the honour of leading the Australian and International Teams. Area from which the children comeThe orphanage that we are committed to building is in the Taqua Pa region of Thailand. This is the area that is located north of Phuket Island. The Khao Lak area of the Taqua Pa region was previously a resort area where a number of villages existed to support the tourist industry. Many of the Thai’s worked within the many international resorts or support industries that existed in the area. Many of the children who are now orphans lost their parents whilst they were working within the resorts at the time of the Tsunami. It is a paradox that the size of many of the large international resorts employed so many local Thai’s, that this very size makes recovery a very slow process that is going to take several years to restore the area to the tourist hub that it once was. Until the large international resorts again commence trading many of the locals, so dependent upon them for their livelihood will have no income. Ages and duration that the children will live at the OrphanageThere are 54 children who currently reside at the orphanage on a permanent basis. When the second orphanage is opened in December 2008, this number will rise to 64 which will be the total amount of children who will live there. These children lost both of their parents within the Tsunami and many also lost their extended families and now have no one to care for them or options outside of the Orphanage. Of these children they range in age from 3 years to 17 and they will reside at the Orphanage until they reach the age of 18 years. During the day there are an additional 200 children who attend the centre who themselves have lost either their father or other close relatives. Many of the children who attend the Orphanage also lost siblings. It is a further tragedy of the effects of the Tsunami that the orphanage has been touched by suicide with a 13 year old boy who had lost both his parents taking his life. The orphanage has also taken in further children whose sole parent has committed suicide in the months following the tsunami. Management of the OrphanageThe Orphanage is currently and will continue to operate under the auspice of the Duang Prateep Foundation. The Orphanage has been fortunate to secure the services and operate under the Directorship of Rotjana (Roseanna) Phraesrithong. Roseanna at the time of the Tsunami worked for the Duang Prateep Foundation in Bangkok but has since agreed to remain as the Director of the Orphanage at Baan Pru-teaw. Duang Prateep FoundationThe Duang Prateep Foundation was founded in 1978 by Prateep Ungsongtham Hata. In 1968 Prateep Ungsongtham Hata opened an informal school and in 1978 was awarded a Magsaysay Award for public service. As part of the award Prateep Ungsongtham Hata received prize money which she used to establish the Duang Prateep Foundation. The foundation commenced with 5 staff and has grown to its current position where it has 100 full time staff with many part time helpers and volunteers. The origins of the foundation were about providing housing for children who had come from poverty areas of Bangkok. The foundation provided assistance in schooling and aid projects for the many children and families it worked with. The Duang Prateep Foundation currently provides assistance in the following areas:
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata
Further information about the Duang Prateep Foundation can be obtained from their website. Percentage of Funds Received going to the OrphanageBoth Peter and I are committed to ensuring all money raised goes towards the Orphanage. We are both endeavouring to identify means and methods that will eliminate any administrative fees and where that is not possible will seek sponsorship specifically to cover these costs, thus ensuring those contributing to Hands Across the Water funds can have confidence that 100% of their donation will go to the construction of the Duang Prateep Foundation. Further InformationGill Williams e: gill@handsacrossthewater.org.uk p: 07970145108 |