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Hands Across the Water Australia was founded by Peter Baines in October 2005, following his work in Thailand in response to the Boxing Day Tsunami.
During his time in Thailand Peter worked with Gill Williams from the UK Police who introduced him to the needs of a number of Thai children who lost both parents and were living in a tent. Sadly, many had also lost members of their extended families and their homes and villages were destroyed.
Peter wanted to contribute in a more meaningful way to the lives of the many children who had been orphaned by the Tsunami and it was through this belief that with Gill, Hands Across the Water was born. |
 | Hands' first project was to fund the construction of a home for the orphaned children of the badly damaged Ban Nam Khem region of Phuket (near the Khao Lak resort area) which was opened in August 2006.
Since the opening of the first orphanage (Baan Tharn Namchai) in 2006 Hands Across the Water has raised over $1,700,000 AUD, built a second orphanage and purchased a rubber plantation to ensure a sustainable and regular income stream. The Board has also recently approved construction of a community centre at Ban Nam Khem which will service the needs of the broader community.
It has now been four years since the Tsunami and what Peter has discovered is that the fight for normality in the lives of these children is only just beginning!
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| the orphanages |
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The first orphanage (Baan Tharn Namchai) was built in August 2006 and construction of the second orphanage (Hands Across the Water) was completed in December 2008.
Both orphanages are in the Khao Lak area of Thailand, two hours north of Phuket Island. The Khao Lak area was the hardest hit region in Thailand by the Tsunami. It was previously a popular resort area which supported many villages through the tourism industry.
Many of the children who are now orphans lost their parents, who were working within the resorts at the time of the Tsunami. Paradoxically, the size of many of the large international resorts that employed so many local Thais made recovery a very slow process. It will take 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, have no income.
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Raising funds for the construction of the first orphanage began in October 2005 as the end goal for Hands Across the Water. What quickly became evident to Peter is that the fight for normality in the lives of the children was clearly not going to end with putting a roof over their heads. |
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Both orphanages are bright, clean, airy and very welcoming. They have become homes to the 65 children who now live there. There remain some fairly basic needs that are still unmet and Hands recognises the need to continue supporting these children well into the future so that they can be comfortable, secure and simply have what every little kid deserves.
The orphanages are headed up by a full time Director, Rotjana Phraesrithong and staffed by approximately 20 staff members along with many part-time carers and volunteer social workers who have all been impacted by the Tsunami in some way. Rotjana and the team welcome assistance at any time and encourage visitors to the region to drop in, take a look and lend a hand.
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the children
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There are 65 children who currently reside at Baan Tharn Namchai and the Hands Across the Water orphanages. Many lost both of their parents and siblings during the Tsunami. A number of these children also lost their extended families and now have no one to care for them - no option outside the Orphanage. The children range in age from 6 months to 15 years and they will reside at the Orphanage until they reach 18 years of age.
During the day there are an additional 100 children who, from time to time, attend the centre to utilise the facilities. They too have lost either a mother, father or close relative.
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The challenges for the children extend beyond finding a new home. The children currently deal with, and will deal with for a long time, psychological disorders such as PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), separation anxiety, survivor guilt and aqua phobia (fear of water). The saddest part of all is that these children, whose lives prior to the Tsunami revolved around and were supported by the sea, now live in fear of water. When the monsoon rains come, these children now run and hide in fear. What might be seen as a luxury upon first observation, but is high on the orphanage's wish list, is a swimming pool - not to escape the desperate heat of the area, but as a way of re-introducing the children to water again. It is vital that the children once again learn to love the water, which for generations has supported the families of the Khao Lak region.
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