Area of Focus: Tsunami Reconstruction
Partnership agency: Population and Community Development Association
Those who survived the 2004 tsunami are thankful to be spared, but many face the uphill task of getting back on their feet – especially if they are located in little-known vicinities with limited relief assistance. Ban Taling Chan/2 in the Nuaklong district in Krabi, Thailand, was one such ‘forgotten’ village until the Population and Community Development Association (PDA, www.pda.or.th), Thailand’s leading NGO, stepped in with its partners.
Ban Taling Chan/2, with a total population of 1,774, was one of the most heavily affected communities in the 80 that the PDA worked with. The Lien Foundation gave financial aid to sponsor the activities of this village, which included:
- Provision of school lunches, educational scholarships, books and clothes
- Restoration of former livelihood, and income-generating activities
- Establishment of community-owned micro-credit funds for income generation
- Implementation of sustainable environmental and aquacultural practices
- Provision of water, sanitation and waste management services
- Empowerment of villagers in managing and controlling their own activities, with special emphasis on youth and women.
With capacity building and self-sufficiency forming the basis of the rehabilitation programmes, the villagers are expected to play a key role in the long-term sustainability of the activities. By adopting a community approach, the focus is clear – empower the people so they have the ability to help themselves; equip them with relevant tools so they can work towards sustainable economic growth. The success of such an approach can be seen at www.pda.or.th/cbers.
These programmes are clearly of benefit to the fishermen, farmers, labourers and other poor villagers as they face enormous challenges in rebuilding their lives. With minimal savings and little access to credit, the relief and rehabilitation assistance give them a much-needed lifeline – away from a future mired in spiralling debt.
For Lien Foundation, it is another opportunity to help those in dire need – not just financially, but be involved in a meaningful project which enhances the long-term growth and well-being of a community through empowerment, and education.
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