The December 26, 2004 tragedy will leave deep and indelible marks in our lives. Throughout the world, victims are now bound by a common experience.

Baan CASA (“ baan” means house in Thai language) could be Chloe’s, Appoline’s, Soizic’s and Arthur’s house.

Baan CASA, a non-profit making association was created to help under-privileged children from South Thailand. They live in an area badly affected by the Tsunami, which devastated their lives as well as in ours.

May the Baan CASA charity help, even slightly, to restore a smile on their face. Doing so, in memory of those who are gone and whom we miss dearly, is a way of keeping them alive through the smiles of these Thai children

This quote from Martin Gray as a motto, Baan CASA, was born to help all those affected by the Tsunami to overcome their grief as well as all the daily life problems resulting from these tragic events.

More than one year later, the Phang Na district coast ( North of Phuket) still bears the tragedy deep marks. Khao lak was indeed deeply affected. Today, the whole area has great difficulties to recover because of the numerous casualties, the housing destruction and an economic life still in slow moving.

Baan CASA chose to focus on the Phang Na Province badly hit by the tsunami.

I went back to Khao Lak regularly since December 2004. I met these traumatized children, who lost members of the family or closed ones from their community or school. The teachers I met all agree that the main task to tackle was to restore a smile on their face.

As a start, we were already able to help punctually by giving books or organizing day-trips. To day we want to help more by improving their environment.

Today we want to go further. We chose to help two schools. Although they were not destroyed, they are run down and no public funding is available for improvement. That is why we decided to take action in order to improve significantly the environment of those traumatized children.

2 projects for Baan CASA :

=> PROJECT N°1 : A new canteen in the Wat Kommaneeyakhet School, located roughly 2 kilometers away from the sea, close to the Sofitel Magic Lagoon Resort in Khao Lak.

The buildings far enough from the seaside were not destroyed. Yet the pupils were not at school on this fatal Sunday and many died. Many more lost one or several members of their family, and friends.

The present canteen is in bad shape : water leaks during monsoon, exiguity

Today they are 395 pupils in the Wat Kommaneeyakhet School, which has 13 classes for 11 grades, from kindergarden to primary level. The present canteen is in bad shape : water leaks during monsoon, exiguity. The maximum capacity of 100 pupils makes it compulsory to organize 3 cumbersome services. The school requested some public funds for renovation and extension, but it has not been selected as a priority by local authorities.

Baan CASA is committed to finance the construction of a new canteen, following the example of the Ban Nam Khen School.

Making a donation

=> PROJECT N°2 : 3 new classrooms in the Bangwan Moo School, located up North close to Takuapa.

There are only 6 small classrooms. They have to cater for traditional teaching as well specific activities such as music, computing, teachers’ rooms, and nursery. An NGO helped build a child care center, 100 meters away from the main school. It takes in children whose families have been affected by the Tsunami as well as those whom parents are working. In the short term, we can forecast an increasing number of children attending Ban Bang Wan Moo School.

The new building should be finished in few weeks.

These projects have been custom-tailored in association with local authorities in order to answer exactly the needs of the two schools.

Alongside these structural projects we would like to develop educational projects with the help of the schools staff.

For example, we already have bought schoolbooks and funded school trips to the Takuapa Museum and to the Nangmanora natural parks.

One of the trips financed by our association

We want to help to rebuild the life of a traumatized community

Last year, a lot of you offered donation to help the local population hit by the Tsunami in Thailand. At that time I did not know what to do with your offers it and I could not accept your money. Today, you can help these people : your donation will allow these 2 projects to become a reality and make a visible difference in the daily lives of the children.

One year later, naturally, the media focus has moved to other tragedies, as well the NGO priorities. Baan CASA aims to help the children and their teachers in the long term, through a concrete fieldwork.

A lot has to be done and all together with the people from Khao lak, we can make it happen.

Making a donation

Thanks message from children