tsunami survivor project

Although our focus was primarily intended to be hiltribes, we, like the rest of the world, were moved to do something in the aftermath of the Tsunami on Dec 26th 2004.

In February, we visited the areas in Thailand worst affected by the tsunami - at Khao Lak, 80 km north of Phuket.

Working in conjunction with TsunamiVolunteer.net, we toured camps where over 10,000 people, whose homes and livelihood were destroyed by the tsunami, are now living. Among the projects set up to give employment were handicraft projects producing such things as batik panels, plastic strip woven handbags and weaving. However, there was no real outlet for the products once they were made.

We helped set up a crafts shop located next to a famous tsunami landmark, a police boat which was washed 3 km inland by the wave. Now 12 camps are selling their products and the shop is an established part of the recovering tourist industry.

We also arranged for some camps to send their products to the monthly Bangkok handicraft fairs organised by Thaicraft.

More information can be found here.

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