It’s always an exciting time here in the office when a new client comes on board – be it beauty products or health food, clothing or travel. Sparking particular interest this week among our Stormettes has been our new charity client Hands Across the Water.
For those of you that do not recognise this charity, it is based in Thailand and deals with the orphans left behind from the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami . We have all had the privilege of meeting the co-founder, Peter Baines, and to say it was inspirational is an understatement. Here is his story….
Peter worked as a forensic crime scene investigator for the 2002 Bali bombings and then eventually on to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Thailand. It was here that he realised the sheer devastation imposed by the natural disaster. Working alongside Gill Williams, a member of the UK police force, they decided to take matters into their own hands. What they discovered were groups of children who had been orphaned and/or homeless living in tents…these children were as young as four years old. The Duang Prateep Foundation provided accommodation for the children with the help of a woman, Khun Rotjana who cared for them. Gill and Peter realised that these people needed help, love and hope back in their lives and that is where Hands Across the Water began.
Both Gill and Peter returned home and began raising funds for the charity….now…seven years later, Hands Across The Water have built two orphanages, a community and health care centre, a rubber plantation plant, they support Suthasinee Noiin Foundation (a home for over 115 children who have been affected by HIV) and organise an annual bike ride that brings awareness to the issues and helps support the cause. Every cent made goes directly to Hands Across The Water and every cent is continually changing the lives of these beautiful children who ask for so little but need so much. Hands Across the Water represents how in the depth of disaster, there is still hope and all it takes is offering a hand…
Signed,
Rochelle and the Stormettes
