Project 6: School sponsorship for 21 orphans
CHF 17,000

One of our representatives in Thailand, who was himself affected by the tsunami (he was one of the backers of the Hotel Le Meridien in Khao Lak which was severely damaged by the tsunami shortly before the planned official opening in January 2005) drew our attention to a project which had been launched by the Mayor of Khao Lak. This project looks after 21 orphans. The children are under his care and he ensures that they are well looked after. Luckily, all of the children were eventually placed with relations or other Thai families. The Phuket Direct Fund has participated in this project by paying the school fees of all 21 of these orphaned children for the next 12 months.

In November 2005 a Swiss delegation led by Thomas Russenberger visited the Mayor of Khao Lak. The delegation met some of the orphans in need and deposited 17,000 Swiss francs into a special account, which can only be accessed by the mayor, on behalf of the Phuket Direct Fund. This sum of money will be used to pay the monthly school fees of 21 orphans during 2006.

Thomas Hauser, one of the initiators of the Phuket Direct Fund, spoke with Thomas Russenberger, Vice- Chairman of the Phuket Direct Fund.

Mr Russenberger, how did this meeting with the  Mayor of Khao Lak come about?
The committee of the Phuket Direct Fund learned from our representative Nigel Tovey that the tsunami had left many children orphaned in Khao Lak and that they were struggling to survive. Nigel asked the Phuket Direct Fund to provide financial support. He experienced the catastrophe and its dreadful consequences for the native population himself at first hand. The Hotel Le Meridien, which was intended to provide a livelihood for many inhabitants of Khao Lak, was practically destroyed by the tsunami shortly beforeit was due to open. Fortunately, the Le Meridien Group decided to reconstruct the hotel immediately and hence to provide a livelihood and some hope for the future for some hundreds of local employees.

How did you find out about the 21 orphans?
Our contact person in Khao Lak is the mayor. He knew many children who had lost one or both parents. First he ensured that all of the children who had lost both parents were placed with other Thai families or relations. Since these families and the families of children who had lost one parent were themselves badly affected by the catastrophe, he realized that they would need financial support. For him the biggest financial challenge was to ensure the funding of their school fees.

How did the Swiss delegation's trip come about?
I was able to combine my visit to Khao Lak with a business trip.  My wife Karina accompanied me in a private capacity. As well as bringing her own luggage Karina also brought a suitcase packed full of children's shoes which were generously donated by Vögele Shoes. My daughter, who had to remain at home and attend school as usual, got together with her friends to collect an entire case full of soft toys which are now a source of real delight to many children in Khao Lak.

How was the donation of 17,000 Swiss francs handed over?
The Swiss delegation, together with Nigel Tovey and his wife Loren who had made all the preparations with the interpreter, was received by the Mayor of Khao Lak and a large group of children. After greetings had been exchanged we presented the children with the soft toys and the shoes. We were overwhelmed by the joy of the children. We were particularly affected by a five-year-old girl who had lost both her parents and now lives with her grandmother. The gleam of delight in her eyes told us that the soft toy from Switzerland had already become her most precious friend. After the official greeting and the handover of the documents I accompanied the mayor to the Siam Bank, where we opened a special account for the school fees and deposited the sum of 504,000 Thai baht. The mayor and I agreed that the Phuket Direct Fund will be kept informed about the payment of the children's school fees.

What impression did the visit make on you?
For me and my companions it was a moving and enriching experience to visit the site of such a massive catastrophe, to look into the eyes of those directly affected, and to find that despite their suffering they were full of confidence, hope and joy. They were really moving moments. They remind me, now that I'm back home in Switzerland, that we shouldn't take our everyday concerns so seriously and that sometimes we should be prepared to be happy with less.

Video:



How Karin Berger helps children.
One year after the Tsunami-Catastrophe, the Miss Switzerland Organist travels to Khao Lak with money and presents.

Source: SF/ glanz & gloria / 22.12.2005