Untitled Document

18th – 20th March 2005

First trip back since tsunami – meetings (see below)
and data collection for PSA website.

KR Mansions – Krabi
PP Villas – Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi School contact Ms Sukdee – School Principal
Hi Phi Phi contact Apichat Lanlongsa (La) (via Ralph Toll)
Reef Clean Up Mission contact Andrew Hewett – The Adventure Club

Education Service Office, Krabi Town

Ms Sukdee, Khaw (student), LS, BM, AB

180 students ranging from kindergarten to Grade 9 who all lived on the island. 6 Government paid teachers, 3 extra teachers funded by parents. Located on Hat Hin Khom beach (south side). Post tsunami, 10 students are now orphaned and 9 students died.

Canteen destroyed and teacher living block badly damaged. Ground floor classrooms washed out destroying learning resources and damaging desks/chairs but structure appears sound. Upper classroom’s untouched. Contents of ground floor rooms piled up on basketball court. (Proposal to clear this space for recreation by LS but La suggested it may be used to repair long tail boats and act as a carpentry yard)

Now relocated in schools around Krabi. Orphans have been provided with money from Thai government (2,500 baht) which will be sufficient until the start of Term 3. (Term 1 will commence after Song Kraen). Ms Sukdee is monitoring the administration of her students from the ESO in Krabi, but not teaching.

Being right on the beach the consensus is that if the school returns it will need to be relocated up on the hill.

Estimated at around 11,000,000 Baht, but final figure would be higher due to shipping costs. (Subsequently found out that many orgs. have pledged money to the new school).

Are stalling in making the decision as to how the island will be rebuilt. Therefore, the school regeneration is temporarily on hold.

“ The essence is teaching, the venue is not important”

How can the PSA help?

* Liase with Ms Sukdee over the forthcoming months. There may be a potential to sponsor students in term 3 should the government cease their money pay-outs.

* The school has never had a playground. We can earmark money for this through a donation to the Phi Phi Island School Donation Fund.

* Provide fund for sports materials which the school is lacking.

Wait until the outcome of the school has been decided.

18th – 20th March 2005

Khlong Hin, based in the town was a makeshift refugee camp at first and post tsunami it supported 300-400 people from Phi Phi. It houses the Hi Phi Phi Office, is the centre of operations in Krabi and has set up the Millie and Tia Sunflower Nursery (see later).

Current Scenario:

The land that the town was built on belongs to four landowners. The explosion of tourism in Thailand combined with the exposure from the film ‘The Beach’ lead to Phi Phi becoming saturated with opportunist businesses set up by both Thais and Farangs (foreigners), many of them illegally. Very few of these would have had any kind of insurance; the result – many lost everything they owned or had saved. Besides the superstitious nature of Thai culture, many inhabitants have little to go back for.

Their Role The principle aim of hi phi phi is to get the local island men back to Phi Phi and to provide them with work.

The benefits of this are:

1. It helps to clean the island - getting rid of the debris will help the environment of the island get back to a level of equilibrium.

2. It provides employment, an incentive and wages to inhabitants who otherwise would struggle to find work elsewhere allowing them to get back to a sustainable standard of living.

3. Getting the locals back will make it harder for the government to move them on should it come up with extravagant affluent plans for the island .

There are 20 hi phi phi men at present working on the island. They are paid by the day and earn 300 baht (£4.00). They work a few days and commute back to the displacement camp to see their families and take the wages home. On Phi Phi they are housed in free accommodation although the conditions are extremely crammed. La goes back and forth to the island with provisions whilst meals are cooked by wives of some of the men. (See photos of the hi phi phi team).

The aim is to get 50 men back working on the island. La believes there are still 3 months clearing up to do. The removal of large piles of structural debris allows access and displays great progress but closer inspection of the sand (the new surface of what was streets and pathways), shows that there is so much small scale debris which also needs to be cleaned. This is a mammoth task and will require an extensive ‘combing’ process which could take many months.

How can the PSA help?

* Provide money for funding the workmen. The phrase “Donate for Wages” was coined. This is essential to their progress. However, it is not only the cleaners that require paying, Thai office workers and admin staff are all as important.

19th – 20th March 2005

Adventure Club / Carlito’s on Koh Phi Phi

Andrew runs ‘The Adventure Club’ on Phi Phi – primarily a diving organisation which also offers island tours. Prem used Andrew to organise a camp week for grade 10 last year. Another is planned in May this year. He is from the UK but married to a Thai lady named Je. He is very clearly respected by the locals and other Farangs on the island and sits on the committee of the island board regarding the tsunami. He tried to set up his own fund account but was refused because he is not a Thai national.

Andrew has assembled a team of 35 divers who dive two times a day to collect debris from the sea bottom and reef. In 4 weeks they have brought up 40 tonnes. There is still much more to clean up – there are complete bungalows under water, as the wave from the north side washed right across and through the town depositing any debris out to sea where it eventually sank.

Scenario: Andrew has advertised his ‘set-up’ and received a lot of interest from fellow divers who are willing to come and help. Thus far the team has managed with the equipment salvaged from the 26th December but the increased demand will necessitate the need for more equipment.

How can the PSA help?

VISIT TO KOH PHI PHI
Date:	18th – 20th March 2005
Present:	Lucas, Beck, Alice
Purpose:	First trip back since tsunami – meetings (see below) and data collection for PSA website.
Accomodation:	KR Mansions – Krabi PP Villas – Koh Phi Phi
MEETINGS
Koh Phi Phi School contact Ms Sukdee – School Principal Hi Phi Phi contact Apichat Lanlongsa (La) (via Ralph Toll) Reef Clean Up Mission contact Andrew Hewett – The Adventure Club

KOH PHI PHI SCHOOL
Date:	18th March 2005
Location:	Education Service Office, Krabi Town
Present:	Ms Sukdee, Khaw (student), LS, BM, AB
Context:	180 students ranging from kindergarten to Grade 9 who all lived on the island. 6 Government paid teachers, 3 extra teachers funded by parents. Located on Hat Hin Khom beach (south side). Post tsunami, 10 students are now orphaned and 9 students died.
Current:	Canteen destroyed and teacher living block badly damaged. Ground floor classrooms washed out destroying learning resources and damaging desks/chairs but structure appears sound. Upper classroom’s untouched. Contents of ground floor rooms piled up on basketball court. (Proposal to clear this space for recreation by LS but La suggested it may be used to repair long tail boats and act as a carpentry yard)
Buildings:
Students:	Now relocated in schools around Krabi. Orphans have been provided with money from Thai government (2,500 baht) which will be sufficient until the start of Term 3. (Term 1 will commence after Song Kraen). Ms Sukdee is monitoring the administration of her students from the ESO in Krabi, but not teaching.
Location:	Being right on the beach the consensus is that if the school returns it will need to be relocated up on the hill.
Cost:	Estimated at around 11,000,000 Baht, but final figure would be higher due to shipping costs. (Subsequently found out that many orgs. have pledged money to the new school).
Government:	Are stalling in making the decision as to how the island will be rebuilt. Therefore, the school regeneration is temporarily on hold.
Statement:	“ The essence is teaching, the venue is not important”
How can the PSA help?	* Liase with Ms Sukdee over the forthcoming months. There may be a potential to sponsor students in term 3 should the government cease their money pay-outs.
	* The school has never had a playground. We can earmark money for this through a donation to the Phi Phi Island School Donation Fund.
	* Provide fund for sports materials which the school is lacking.
Action:	Wait until the outcome of the school has been decided.

HI PHI PHI
Date:	18th – 20th March 2005
Location:	Hi Phi Phi Office, Krabi / Displacement Camps, Krabi / Hi Phi Phi Office, Koh Phi Phi
Context:	Hi Phi Phi was initially set up by Emiel, a Dutch resident who lived on the island in the past as a dive instructor. Through the charity ‘Chance for All’ he set up HiPhiPhi.com with his friend La. La has lived on the island for almost 14 years. He was a dive master and then became general manager of a hotel on Long Beach, Koh Phi Phi. Hi Phi Phi is one of four land based organisations working to clear the debris. However, it is the only one using the local inhabitants – the other rely on Farangs volunteering. Displacement There are two, both located at/on the grounds of Muslim Mosques Camps because the land/accommodation has been given rent free for 1-3 years. Camps house inhabitants of Koh Phi Phi.
Camp 1:	Khlong Hin, based in the town was a makeshift refugee camp at first and post tsunami it supported 300-400 people from Phi Phi. It houses the Hi Phi Phi Office, is the centre of operations in Krabi and has set up the Millie and Tia Sunflower Nursery (see later).
Camp 2:	Tsunami Refugee camp for Phi Phi, based on the out skirts of town. It houses 25 families in three new constructed ‘stable- like’ buildings. The notice board displays pictures of the island post tsunami and explains that 10% of donations are saved and will be equally split amongst the community. (We delivered water to the camp, donated 3000 baht and signed the visitor book. La said that money would sustain them for 2 weeks)! Sunflower Nursery Originally set up by Kay and Aek and now run by Alana (from the UK). Alana lost her sister and two nieces – hence the name Millie and Tia Sunflower Nursey. Still recieving donatons for toys and materials – potential contact for Ben and his work’s charity re: funding /placement? The nursery employs x3 teachers and x1 cook.
Current Scenario:	The land that the town was built on belongs to four landowners. The explosion of tourism in Thailand combined with the exposure from the film ‘The Beach’ lead to Phi Phi becoming saturated with opportunist businesses set up by both Thais and Farangs (foreigners), many of them illegally. Very few of these would have had any kind of insurance; the result – many lost everything they owned or had saved. Besides the superstitious nature of Thai culture, many inhabitants have little to go back for.
	Their Role The principle aim of hi phi phi is to get the local island men back to Phi Phi and to provide them with work.
The benefits of this are:	1. It helps to clean the island - getting rid of the debris will help the environment of the island get back to a level of equilibrium.
	2. It provides employment, an incentive and wages to inhabitants who otherwise would struggle to find work elsewhere allowing them to get back to a sustainable standard of living.
	3. Getting the locals back will make it harder for the government to move them on should it come up with extravagant affluent plans for the island .
	There are 20 hi phi phi men at present working on the island. They are paid by the day and earn 300 baht (£4.00). They work a few days and commute back to the displacement camp to see their families and take the wages home. On Phi Phi they are housed in free accommodation although the conditions are extremely crammed. La goes back and forth to the island with provisions whilst meals are cooked by wives of some of the men. (See photos of the hi phi phi team).
	The aim is to get 50 men back working on the island. La believes there are still 3 months clearing up to do. The removal of large piles of structural debris allows access and displays great progress but closer inspection of the sand (the new surface of what was streets and pathways), shows that there is so much small scale debris which also needs to be cleaned. This is a mammoth task and will require an extensive ‘combing’ process which could take many months.
How can the PSA help?	* Provide money for funding the workmen. The phrase “Donate for Wages” was coined. This is essential to their progress. However, it is not only the cleaners that require paying, Thai office workers and admin staff are all as important.
Action:	Pay money into the ‘Chance 4 All’ section of the hi phi phi website, specifying the sub-section ‘Community’ for our donation. (The other sections are ‘School’ and ‘Orphans’). This is a registered charity and consequently money will be able to be monitored and closely watched. As a registered charity it will also have to account for it’s books, again providing reassurance! It was decided to pay money in monthly installments – this provided La with assurance of a sustained and regular income for the team and again allows the P S A time to monitor how the money is spent. Pledging a large ‘one off’ payment could make us vulnerable. It was agreed that each monthly installment be 500,000 Baht (£7,000 approx), with four donations planned. * Hi Phi Phi will also use the money to keep buying tools and equipment to aid their clean up. La can keep us informed of their purchases should it be required. (Hands on Thailand have provided thousands of dollars of tools which now operates on a ‘sign out’ basis from the island tool shed). * Provide funds to aid the reconstruction and mending of long tailed boats, essential to the fishing community on the island. Celebrate March 23rd 2005, almost 3 months after the tsunami the P S A wired it’s first donation to Hi Phi Phi. 24/03/2005 - Awaiting confirmation of it’s arrival.

ANDREW HEWETT
Date:	19th – 20th March 2005
Location:	Adventure Club / Carlito’s on Koh Phi Phi
Context:	Andrew runs ‘The Adventure Club’ on Phi Phi – primarily a diving organisation which also offers island tours. Prem used Andrew to organise a camp week for grade 10 last year. Another is planned in May this year. He is from the UK but married to a Thai lady named Je. He is very clearly respected by the locals and other Farangs on the island and sits on the committee of the island board regarding the tsunami. He tried to set up his own fund account but was refused because he is not a Thai national.
Statement:	Despite the irresistible land and seascape on Phi Phi a huge draw for the tourists is the coral reef surrounding the island and the abundance of marine life associated with it. An extensive quick and thorough clean up is essential to minimise the impact of the tsunami debris and to re-establish the balance of the reef ecosystem. Andrew will not open up his business until this is has been achieved Upon meeting Andrew on the Saturday I collected Piers’s rucksack and my passport. Both had been found and he looked after them.
His Role:	Andrew has assembled a team of 35 divers who dive two times a day to collect debris from the sea bottom and reef. In 4 weeks they have brought up 40 tonnes. There is still much more to clean up – there are complete bungalows under water, as the wave from the north side washed right across and through the town depositing any debris out to sea where it eventually sank.
Current:	Scenario: Andrew has advertised his ‘set-up’ and received a lot of interest from fellow divers who are willing to come and help. Thus far the team has managed with the equipment salvaged from the 26th December but the increased demand will necessitate the need for more equipment.
How can the PSA help?	* Provide funding for the purchasing of new equipment to speed up the clean up. * Provide funding for the day to day cost of diving – (oxygen, fuel etc).
Action:	Pay money into the Bank of Ayudhya on Phuket. This is an account set up by Andrew for the reef clean up mission. It was decided to make the first payment 700,000 baht (£10,000), with the potential to provide monthly instalments depending on need and funds. Andrew will keep us updated on where / how the money will be spent. LS requested underwater photographs of the debris on the reef. These can then be loaded onto HYPERLINK "http://www.pierssimonappeal.org" www.pierssimonappeal.org so donors can see the team in action. I will collect these on my April 2nd trip.