Departure Dates During 2005

May 1st - Lead team departed to make preparations in Khao Lak, Thailand for arrival of first large group
May 5th - First group departed for Khao Lak
May 17th - Second group departed for Khao Lak
June 6th - Third group departed for Khao Lak
June 20th - Fourth group departed for Khao Lak
July 8th - Fifth group departed for Khao Lak
July 11th - Sixth group departed for Khao Lak
July 14th - Assessment team of community professionals departed for Khao Lak
July 18th - Eighth group departed for Khao Lak
August 1st - Final group departed for Khao Lak
September - Last of Wave volunteers returned to USA

Wave of Hope volunteers gather at the Wave of Hope reunion on October 29th 2005 to share pictures and stories, as well as to hear updates and a report on the project.

  Wave of Hope volunteers with Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, and enthusiastic supporter of our village rebuilding and grassroots economy efforts in Thailand after the 12/26 tsunami

Testimonials

"Thaikea" is the Tsunami spinoff name for a great project, integrating the big Swedish furniture company with Thailand’s economic problems after 12/26. After the Tsunami there were lots of coffins donated for the victims and their families. Many of the coffins that were donated are much too large for the Thai people and, thus, are not needed. This dilemma turned into a useful resource when one volunteer suggested recycling the coffin wood. In a make shift wood shop Thaikea volunteers dismantle coffins and use the wood to make furniture for local schools that were affected and orphanages. The large boards are converted into benches, stools, and shelving for temporary schools in the survivor camps of the Kao Lak area. When each order is completed, volunteers load up and distribute the furniture to schools. Other volunteers work to make simple house furniture for the new houses being built. Still others are training Thai villagers how to use the tools in order to make their own wood products. Thaikea is an exciting mix of power tools (jigsaw, drills, circular saw, sander etc.) and creativity. Seeing the project from start to finish is a really wonderful experience. It's taxing but, worth it.

- Kate Kelly

Project Pictures

The local schoolchildren surround the bookshelves, tables and benches made and delivered by the Thaikea project.	Wave of Hope volunteers gather along the beach.	In the intermediate stages of completion, one of the soon to be finished long-tail boat sits and waits for priming and painting at the Cape Pakarang Boatshed
Volunteers look on and cover their ears as fireworks precede the launching of the first boat rebuilt after the tsunami	It's all fun and games at Laem Pom Village as the women are busy shoveling sand for foundations.	Wave of Hope volunteers teaching english at Bang Sak School.
Wave members along with Tsunami Volunteer Centre volunteers getting suited up with snorkeling and diving gear before they dive in to the ocean to collect debris.	Seeing the remnants of what once was at a hotel along the Khao Lak beach.	Wave volunteers assist a villager in the construction of his house at Bang Sak.
Wave of Hope volunteers crafting the trade of brick laying at Tap Tawan.	Wave of Hope volunteers delivering hygiene kits to the Ba Nam Kem Survivors Camp.	Volunteers sure aren't afraid to get their hands dirty at Thaikea.