Tsunami Victims Rehabilitation Project

Project Number: 22-0510-67

Project Period: 2006-2010

Project Holder: Heifer International Thailand
Since 1974, Heifer Thailand has been working to end hunger and poverty in Thailand through the gift of livestock and training.  To date, Heifer Thailand has assisted over 20,000 families in more than 1,600 villages in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos to become self-reliant.  Families have been "Passing on the Gifts" through sharing animals’ offspring or repaying loans to other needy families.

Heifer Thailand has collaborated with local, national, international, governmental organizations (GOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to distribute animals and provide training.  These organizations include Livestock Development Department, Social Development, Human Security Department, provincial and district offices, universities, Royal Project Foundation, grassroots groups and village administrative bodies in northern Thailand.  Currently, it has programs in eight official leprosy colonies throughout Thailand including the provinces of Sakol- nakorn, Amnart Chareon, Surin, Khon Khean, Roi-Et, Chantaburi, Chiang Rai, and Nan.

Heifer Thailand has hundreds of successful cattle, water buffalo, fish, goat, sheep, honeybee, swine, poultry, elephant, and animal-based environmental projects.  In 1993 it was acknowledged by the Princess Prem Memorial Foundation and honored with the Princess Prem Award for its outstanding accomplishments in rural development in Thailand. The Ministry of Interior made the nomination.

Heifer Thailand will partner with Royal Project Foundation, Chiang Mai University, local government offices in Pang Nga and Phuket provinces, and local community groups to implement this project.   

Project Profile:

The tsunami catastrophe in 2004 caused great devastation to thousands of families in the southern provinces of Thailand and neighboring countries in Asia.  Pra Tong Island in Pang Nga province has about 300 affected fishermen families who need urgent assistance to restore their livelihood.  

Heifer Thailand will provide grants to local government offices and NGO partners to implement this project. The project will provide livestock, mangrove trees, fishing equipment and training to families to help revitalize their income.  The communities will be able to achieve self-sufficiency. The participating families will learn value-based planning and management, Heifer’s cornerstones, gender equity, and environmentally-sound practices.

Project areas: Phang-nga, Krabi, Ranong provinces, THAILAND

Local Conditions:

The tsunami catastrophe caused by a severe earthquake struck southwestern coastal areas of Thailand and many other Asian countries on 26 December 2004. It caused great loss of life and destruction to buildings, infrastructure and housing. It affected the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people.  In Thailand, the tsunami hit six southern provinces which resulted in more than 5,300 fatalities.  Another 8,000 were injured and 3,700 are still missing.  The tidal wave also caused more than 430 children to become orphans.
Each family used to have around 200 squid nets which cost about $5 each. After the tidal waves, all squid trawl nets were gone. This affected the livelihood of the fishermen severely. Although the government said that it will provide 100 squid nets per household, the villagers still do not know when they will receive these tools to make a living. In the meantime, they consume only dry food such as instant noodles and canned foods from donations because there is no source of fresh food. Heifer Thailand and potential partner organizations will work together to support these tsunami victims with the implementation of a long-term development plan.

Opportunities for Assistance:

Heifer Thailand will provide $500 to 300 affected families each to buy fishing equipment. Twenty families who have lost their fishing boats will receive extra money to purchase fishing boats. Some of them will receive funds to renovate their fishing boats and houses destroyed by the tidal waves. This project will also provide 40 dairy goats, 50 meat goats, 120 rabbits, and 30,000 trees to these families. A community multi-purpose building will be built for community activities.

Project Goal:

Rebuild the livelihood of participating families affected by tsunami.

Objectives:

• 80% of participating families will earn an annual income of US$2,000 by the end of 2008.
• To organized participants into strong self-help groups
• To plant 30,000 mangroves to improve the environment

Passing on the Gifts:

Each participating family will sign a Passing on the Gift contract with Heifer Thailand and/or project partner. 50% of the pass-on from the families who receive original animals will be retained by the community to support community development. The other 50% will be passed on to other families. The families who receive pass-ons will pass on 100% to other families in keeping with Heifer’s traditional passing on the gift. Families who receive animals will pass on at least one offspring to a neighboring family. However, if local situations warrant, the method of POG will be reconsidered and decided between Heifer Thailand and target communities.

Participating families will pass on their knowledge, skills and experience to neighboring communities.

Funding source: Heifer Project International