Justice and Human Rights Thailand Project #33686

EMPOWERING THE POOR WITH EDUCATION AND SKILLS

by Hand to Hand Foundation

Project Report | Mar 6, 2019
Progress of furnishing houses

By Margaret Grainger | Vice President

Completed chairs with table and shoe rack.

Our project has taken an exciting turn in an unexpected direction. A company was discarding 150 wooden pallets and we offered to take them away for free. Now we had to work out what to do with them!

Firstly two men from the slums sat for many weeks taking each one apart and stacking the timber. Then after looking at some pictures they used a hammer and nails to make some simple stools. Fortunately a volunteer offered his skills and he began to teach them some more skills. Next came some simple tables, then chairs and now they are building some very stylish, strong and versitile pieces which include closed in cupboards, shoe racks and much more.

Although the wood is free the nails, screws, varnish, sandpaper and tools are not. We have invested in a sander and the clever handymen have turned a donated saw into a table saw. All of these pieces are being used to furnish the homes we built and benefit the people living there.

In order to continue the project we need more donations to buy more eqipment and consumables such as varnish sand sandpaper.

Thank you for your support. We are excited that we are now not only funishing new homes but creating jobs, developing skills and raising the self esteem for the poor and unskilled labourors.

Completed table for use in the community areas.

Single Chair with shoe rack

Using a home made table saw.

Table with storage

The salvaged timber from the pallets.

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Dec 5, 2018
New homes and new lives!!!

By Margie Grainger | Vice President, Hand to Hand Foundation

Khun Yai enjoying rice out of her new cooker

A big thanks to everyone who has given to this project. The homes are now completely finished and we have families living in them. Here is the story of how a new house has created a new life for one lady.

Khun Yai is 62 years old and she has been poor all of her life. She grew up in the slums and then began to work on construction sites at an early age. With no place to call home, she has lived her life on the street or in simple huts made out of recycled wood and tin. In Thailand if you do not have a registered house address you cannot have access to schooling, government health care or other benefits. Her hard working life has left her in a lot of pain in her legs, arms and back rendering her unable to work.

Now that she is in her new house she has a house registration book which means she can now access 600 baht (about $20 US) per month from the governmnet. She can also go to the doctor for 30 baht ($1US) which means she has access to medicine as well.

The furniture in her home means that now she can sleep in a bed and she no longer has to try and get up and down from the floor to sleep. She has a toilet in her house and he has bowls that are not chipped and broken to eat out of. There are shelves to put things on and she is taking great pride in keeping her place neat and beautiful. In her words; "I am so thankful for all of this. I often wondered 'why am I alive?', just to suffer. Now I am glad to be alive!!!"

We have washing machines and she is so excited about using them and she does the washing of everybody who lives there for free. Hanging it out is a struggle at times but she does it. The work is good physical therapy for her and she knows that she has purpose, she is worthy and she just loves to help.

Thank you to everyone who gave. This is just one lady out of so many that your generosity has helped!

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Sep 10, 2018
Progress of furnishing houses

By Margaret Grainger | Vice President

Main Living Room

Wow what an exciting 2 months it has been purchasing all of the essential items that people will need when they move into their brand new units. Unfortunately due to a builder’s dispute and heavy monsoonal rains our 8 units will not be completed for another few weeks. Therefore all of the big items that we have already purchased are still at the shop!!! We will be sending out an additional report later once everything is installed and the families have moved in, so keep a watch on this space.

We have been able to get some incredible discounts including 8 fridges for 60, 000 baht instead of 88, 000 baht!!! We have purchased all of the items for the kitchen including cupboards, tables and sinks and also some essential home appliances such as hot water kettles and rice cookers. We have been able to purchase dining tables and chairs, bedding, eating and cooking utensils and 2 wall fans for every home. More pictures of these to come in an additional report in November!

I would love to introduce you to some of the families who will be moving in.

Pan is a 5 year old deaf child who lives in the slum with her sister, mother and father. We have been able to get her education in a special school and her sister into a regular school. Pan is very susceptible to eye and ear infections and the unhygienic conditions she is living in makes this worse. They are so excited to be moving into one of these houses.

Pooh was living with his grandma and father under a bridge in Pattaya. They had no money and Pooh was not attending school. Pooh was going to be put into government care due to his circumstances and separated from his family. We built them a shack on our property out of metal and scrap timber so they had somewhere to live immediately. They have watched these units being built. When they move in, it will be the first time that the grandma has ever slept in a bed.

Simple things we take for granted are massive for these families. Thank you so much for all of your support. If it wasn't for your help, these people would be moving into empty shells and having to make do with whatever they have. We will be updating again in November with more updates and photos.

Front View of the Building

Pan's Family

Where Pan lives now

Pooh and his dad

Where Pooh lives now

Kitchen sink

Essential items shopping

Links:

Hand to hand Foundation

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