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ATW's Vision
Our vision is to bring prosperity, happiness, and self-sufficiency
to children devastated by the 2004 tsunami. To this aim, the organization
has identified the R-35 school in Phang Nga province. Through ATW,
students (many of whom were orphaned by the tsunami) are provided
day-to-day essentials such as shoes, clothing, school supplies,
and toiletries. Additionally, special projects have included travel
to Bangkok for needed dental and medical care for tsunami-related
injuries and birth defects.
- Download
.pdf version of
our mission statement...
Current Status
Five years after the tsunami, we are still on the ground. It is
a regular part of our program to visit the school, to meet with
the children, talk to their teachers, and learn about the individual
needs of each child.
Thus, on a recent visit to the school, a staff employee confirmed
that new buildings aren't the only things these children can't live
without. "In the beginning a lot of visitors came. But now,
ISB is the only school that still comes down to visit." It's
5 years after the Tsunami tragedy; many of these children need to
know they have not been forgotten and that people still care.
Accountability
After The Wave is accountable to its members, sponsors, and the
children we support. Our annual meeting is the key event by which
we examine our vision statement in light of the actions taken over
the course of the year, including how funds were spent in support
of the organization and the children in Khao Lak. Though a small
percentage of all donations may be used to offset operational expenses,
we minimize this and apply no more than 10% of donations to cover
costs. In time we expect to be able to lower this amount even more.
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Background
The R-35 school, located in the village of
Bang Sak about 100 km north of Phuket, was devastated by the 2004
tsunami. The school buildings were destroyed, a number of children
and parents died, and many more were left homeless. Rescuing the
school and community became a massive endeavor. The International
School Bangkok community raised funds and helped rebuild the school
to create a learning environment well beyond the one that previously
existed. At the same time, faculty and other associates recognized
the need for long-term continuous support of the students. To this
aim, ATW was founded in 2004.
Future Growth
Many of the children at the school are orphans as a result of the
tsunami, and ATW currently sponsors 112 students between the ages
of four and eighteen. ATW's role is to liaise with R-35 faculty
to identify students requiring support, establish sponsorships,
provide the necessary funds, maintain an information database, provide
friendship visits to Bang Sak by ISB students, and to monitor expenditures.
As the school has grown, however, so has the project. The school
now has 900 students. Further growth is expected as economic recovery
in the area has been slow. New children are continually being included
in the project.
Should you have any questions or require further details, please
contact us by email.
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