The Krabi Relief Fund has been in operation for ten years in the Krabi province of Thailand. It is the only government-approved charitable organization for that area helping the underprivileged children of Krabi province. Since the disaster on 26 December 2004, the Foundation has had a large task facing it. There are over 100 children from the province who lost one or both of their parents - 50-60 or them from Phi Phi Island alone. This means that they have little or no means of support.
The Foundation's first task has been to work closely with the Phi Phi Island elementary school. That school, with a student population of 180, was destroyed, although, fortunately, the wave hit on a Sunday, when the school was closed. Together with the help of volunteers, the Foundation has begun sponsoring a weekly Phi Phi Island school reunion for family and friends. The response has been overwhelming, and the children have enjoyed the music, activities and games organized by the Helping Hands Group.
As part of this continuing work, The Krabi Relief Fund has organized the program to provide scholarship monies to children who lost parents, family and means of support in the Tsunami. This sponsorship will provide tuition, room and board, and funds for basic necessities for one of the 100+ children between the ages of 4-16 who have been registered for this program.
Updates
Krabi Relief Update Autumn 2007
Published on August 1st, 2007
Peeawut and Piyawoot
Peeyawut is age 13 and in the mid-term of 7th grade at the Phi Phi island school. He enjoys mathematics and art and recently won a drawing competition in Krabi Province for technical design. He wants to continue his education in either art or architecture and go to a full university. Peeyawut enjoys the Foundation activities and hopes there are art classes at the new Community Center. His health is good.
Piyawoot is in the mid-term break from his 4th grade at his school on Sriboya Island. His older brother, Peeyawut, lives on Phi Phi Island with his father, while Piyawoot continues to live with his grandparents. He still seems sad about the loss of his mother.
Piyawoot likes to study Thai language and math at school. He also likes art and hopes the new Community Center will have art classes. He continues to play soccer and is in good health. He enjoyed the two-day Foundation Camp this year, as he could spend two days camping with his brother.
Wunweelai
Wunweelai is now three years old and in her first year of nursery school. She is an outgoing, playful child, who likes to play with dolls and listen to music. She often has a cold during the rainy season, but otherwise is in good health.
Wunweelai’s house is in need of some repairs to the toilet and the kitchen is in poor condition and needs to be upgraded.
Matanee and Natiyah Natiyah
Natiyah was unable to attend the Foundation Camp as she had a cold. In general, her health has been good, but during rainy season she sometimes gets a cold.
Natiyah is now two years old and will enter nursery school on Koh Yaou Island when school re-opens in November. She needs warm clothes for the rainy season, long pants and long-sleeved shirts.
Matanee continues her studies at Kho Yaou Island. Currently she is in mid-term of her 9th grade, and next year she will attend high school in Krabi Town. She has many interests in school; she enjoys Thai language and art. More recently, she has developed a liking for drawing and architecture. She has also started using the computer for her studies. Matanee says she is in need of clothes to keep her warm and dry during the rainy season, including a rain jacket, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Matanee is very happy when she attends the Foundation activities. She w
Saithep
Saithep is still attending polytechnic school in Bangkok where he continues to study electronics. He is part of a work-study program in which he works after school as a trainee in an electronics shop. He returns to Phi Phi Island during the school break, but his father has not kept a stable job since the tsunami. He visits his older brothers and sisters on the island, who look after him as his father can not offer much support. Saithep still enjoys playing guitar in his spare time. His health is improved.
Sawawuth and Waruth
Sarawuth continues his studies in trade school and plays soccer on the school team.. He recently played for his school team in a tournament in Phuket. His mother is still sick and will go to the Foundation medical clinic for further observation. Otherwise everything is fine at home and Sarawuth hopes the Foundation can continue to sponsor his education.
Waruth, age 14, is in the mid-term of his 8th grade year at school in Krabi Town. He does well at school, with a mid-term grade of 3 out of 4. He has many interests: English language, art, and more recently computers. He told us he just learned how to use the Microsoft Power Point program. Waruth says he hasn’t decided what he wants to do when he grows up. His is also a good athlete and currently playing soccer on the school team. His health is good.
Krabi Relief Fund Update
Published on May 1st, 2007
We have just received an update on the Tsunami orphans that we are supporting through Krabi Relief.
Knowing that their school year commences in 2 weeks, we were interested to find out about the activities that Krabi is organizing for the children and are pleased to see that a great deal of effort is continuing to go into providing the children with structured activities and everyday school rituals which will help ease these children back into believing that their everyday world can be safe and secure.
Robert Reynolds, Director of Sriphong Phukaoluan Foundation advised that
"...The Foundation Day is tomorrow. We have been extremely busy setting up a two-day camp with overnight facilities for over 80 of the children. This camp will have learning programs organized by the Krabi Board of Education, physical activities run by Tex Rock Climbing School and two day trips, one to a national park, the other to a botanical gardens. In addition, the school year starts in 2 weeks, so we have had to purchase nearly 200 sets of school uniforms and shoes for the children."