Hands On Thailand
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Bang Tao Recovery Project Summary
March 31, 2005
Three months after the tsunami, a newly formed ad hoc group of primarily Western volunteers celebrated the completion of their first recovery project in Bang Tao, Phuket, Thailand. In twelve weeks, the Hands On Thailand Team, working with local businesses and local government offices, was able to take the devastated village forward to a functioning community again.
Hands On Thailand had its beginning hours after the tsunami when its co-founder, Michael Cegielski, was on-site in Bang Tao to inspect the damage. He returned a few days later, after working as the disaster recovery manager at the Phuket International Hospital, to begin restoring Bang Tao. With only two other men and 50,000 baht in committed donations from the Laguna Resort. Hands On Thailand selected ground zero at the back of the Andaman Seaview Resort and began shoveling, piling, and burning debris. In twelve weeks, the project was done!
While other projects were stopped by bureaucracy and red tape, Hands On Thailand volunteers started working immediately due to good cooperation with the local government and village leaders. By the sixth week, Bang Tao had 80 volunteers on site, along with 25 Thai nationals. Teams were formed, along with a loose management structure which allowed work projects and purchases to be done. Everyone focused on the vision for the economic recovery of Bang Tao.
In just twelve weeks, 7.9 million baht (over $200,000 USD) was raised for Bang Tao. From local cash donations to corporate sponsors, funds were given week after week with the excitement that the donors could actually see their money put to work almost immediately! Our bookkeepers and accountants tracked all donations and purchases and submitted them to independent auditors for audits.
In short fashion, we accomplished the following:
-11 homes completely rebuilt
-65 homes repaired
-26 longtail fishing boats repaired and their nets replaced
-25 new boats purchased
-11 wells repaired
-62 refrigerators, 45 stoves, 134 mattresses purchased for local residents
-150 kitchens equipped with appliances and cookery
-3km x 0.5km area of beachfront cleared of all debris
-2km of “grey water” canal cleared of all debris
-2 bridges repaired, along with 0.5km of potted roads
Hands On Thailand has been blessed with a wonderful network of supporters and volunteers who have made this project so successful. As we go forward to help in other tsunami projects, we invite all of our network participants to continue to partner with us to aid these survivors.
Sincerely,
Mike Cegielski
Director
Hands On Thailand