Rotary Phuket Rotary Club of Tongkah, Phuket, Thailand

The Greater Huntsville Rotary Club, Alabama, USA
together with several schools in Huntsville and rotary clubs in many countries
raised fund for Tsunami victims relief in Kamala Village,
Kathu district, Phuket, Thailand. (Full story)

	A Full Story
	Draft Project
	Message from Huntsville
	Picture from Huntsville
	RC Tongkah Sub-committee for Tsunami Recovery Project
	Donors
	Kamala’s information (www.kamala-beach.com)
	Pictures from Kamala
	The Greater Huntsville
	Project result

Read more The Tsunami Recovery Projects

A full Story

Before leaving Thailand, Mr. Glenn Watson, Rotarian, Tsunami’s victim during his vacation in Kamala, Phuket, have asked Khun Apha Detkaew and Mel Newton (owner of the Club Resort in Kamala) to coordinate the relief project with Rotary Club in Phuket for severely damage Kamala community. Khun Apha, later, contacted RTN Weera H Chantanawong, Rotary Club of Tongkah, Phuket to inform about Mr. Watson’s intention. P.P. Chaisak Kaoysomboon was assigned by Rotary Club of Tongkah to be the coordinator with Mr. Watson to start the Kamala relief project. Initially Mr. Watson, with The Greater Huntsville Rotary Club donated and transferred US$10,000 to RC Tongkah’s account and setup fund raising with Greater Huntsville Rotary Club and several schools in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

Jan. 27	P.P. Chaisak, RTN Weera and Khun Apha visited, surveyed and discussed with severely damage victims in Kamala community to find out suffer and need of these people and have chance to present What Rotary means to help all these people in long term and more sustainable relief.

	Mr. Klein from Germany was introduced by RTN Karl from Sweden during Rotary Club of Tongkah’s weekly meeting, donated Euro 1,600 to help disaster victims especially education. This donation was from fellow Rotarians, Rotary Club of Lebach Waden, Germany and his son in law, Thomas Thul (The Apollo Hotel, Germany)

Jan. 29	P.P. Chaisak and his family brought gifts to children in Kamala community and met Mr. Preecha, principal of Kamala Primary School, where school buildings were completely destroyed and lost several school teachers and students. Mr Preecha does agree and will coordinate with Rotary Club of Tongkah for school renovation, teaching and learning equipments and scholarship for some students.

Feb. 1	The 1st meeting of sub-committee " Post Tsunami rehabilitation project" P.Dr.Sanguan, PE.Charin, ADG.Suthta, PDG.Prasert, PP.Chaisak, PP.Dr.Toranis, RTN.Weera, RTN.Dr.Prawit, RTN.Tavorn have met at Central Festival to discuss about the fund raising and project to relieve Tsunami-affected Phuket people, focusing at Bann Kamala. There are several rotarians, clubs, ordinary people already donated ten of thousands US Dollars and requested RC Tongkah to supervise financing all the projects. There were several conclusion during the meeting; There is no RC Tongkah Family rally this May so PE Charin can lead this subcommittee and his admin staffs will have plenty of time running the incoming projects. PP.Chaisak presented the new content about the scope of the incoming projects and name of coordinators including some detail about the request of help from Kamala villagers. PP.Toranis presented the project to fix and rebuilt the fishermen long tail boats at Bann Rawai. P.Dr.Sanguan briefed about the "Celebrate Rotary 100 years" festival at Central Festival during 18-23 Feb. 2005.

Feb. 3	As a guest speaker of RC Tongkah, Mr.Preecha, a principal of Kamala School has stated the needs of his student and classified those who effected by the Tsunami into 3 groups. The 1st group of 5 student were lost their mother/family, 2nd group of 21 student were lost their home and learning tools, the 3rd group of 23 student were lost their learning tools. At this moment, there have many organization involving in building a new school, renovate teacher’s houses, supply PCs and other equipment. Our fellow Rotarian Karl, from Sweden and Mr,Klien from Germany are pleased to funding a scholarship to the student. Some of the list will be submitted to RC Tongkah within this week. Mr.Preecha is also pleased to joint a ‘Pan-Pal’ for his student to exchange mail, email with student from several schools in Huntsville. List of student to be submit later. An English native teacher is also need for this school.

Feb. 8	The 2nd meeting of sub-committee at The Metropole Hotel (PE Charin Thumrongkietkul, PP Chaisak Koaysomboon, PP Dr.Chukiet Thitadilok, RTN Weera H.Chantanawong, RTN Tavorn Jirapatanasophon and RTN Dr Prasit Goaysiripong ) The sub-committee has review list of requirement from 39 families in the Kamala community (mostly in Moo3, Kamala sub-district, Kathu, Phuket) and has first allocate budget into 2 parts : The first priority will be given to those who need tools and equipment to be used for their career with the total amount of BHT370,000 for 20 families. Secondly to renovate their home-shop-and other building for a total of BHT350,000 for 9 units. The budget allocation for education is also approved for an amount of Bht.200,000- where still waiting for detail submit from the school. RC Tongkah will bring all stuff to Kamala by Saturday Feb. 12th, 2005 with a ROTARY logo printed on. The main sign with a full detail of this project will setup right in front of The Club Hotel, Kamala.

^ return to top

Draft Project

Before leaving Thailand, Mr. Glenn Watson, Rotarian, Tsunami's victim during his vacation in Kamala, Phuket, have asked Khun Apha Detkaew and Mel Newton (owner of the Club Resort in Kamala) to coordinate the relief project with Rotary Club in Phuket for severely damage Kamala community. Khun Apha, later, contacted RTN Weera H Chantanawong, Rotary Club of Tongkah, Phuket to inform about Mr. Watson's intention. P.P. Chaisak Kaoysomboon was assigned by Rotary Club of Tongkah to be the coordinator with Mr. Watson to start the Kamala relief project. Initially Mr. Watson, with The Greater Huntsville Rotary Club donated and transferred US$10,000 to RC Tongkah's account and setup fund raising with Greater Huntsville Rotary Club and several schools in Huntsville, Alabama, USA.

RC Tongkah Sub-committee for Tsunami Recovery Project has formed to working closely with the effected communities in the humanitarian project. Some of Rotarian from Tongkah have visited, surveyed and discussed with severely damage victims in Kamala community to find out suffer and need of these people and have chance to present What Rotary means to help all these people in long term and more sustainable relief. Together with additional support and donation from other rotary clubs, our fellow Rotarians and our friends, the sub-committee has decided the project in 3 categories

1. Vocational services :
a. Supporting tools/equipment for the victims to strengthen their careers
b. Renovation home, shop, restaurant and repair office automation.

2. Education and Friendship :
     a. Provide scholarship to student
     b. Supporting student and teacher a school uniform
     c. Create a 'World of Understanding Project' with a Pen-Pal program between student from Phuket and several schools in Huntsville

3. Health Services :
a. Water purification (Reverse Osmosis System)
b. Provide medicine to community and school

This on-going project has also received more contribution and cooperation from many rotarians and rotary clubs in Bangkok and other countries, university, school and friends. The total donation has rise up over 1.0 million baht as on February 24th, 2005 and many more to come.

In addition, this project has created the awareness of Rotary and rotary’s objective in the community. Sign of number with a rotary emblem to be placed right in front of the house of 39 families.