Two years ago, on December 26 th 2004, the West Coast of Thailand was overwhelmed by the Indian Ocean tsunami. Like people all over the world, members of Rotary Club of Koh Samui were shocked and appalled by the tragic event, especially when it involved the country of their adoption. Immediate relief was sent to our associated club in Phuket, but the then President, ‘Big’ Paul Hawkins, was determined to do more. On 15 th January 2005, after only ten days of planning, the Tsunami Aid Concert took place in the Night Plaza in Chaweng, raising over a million baht in that one night. President Paul took to the stage to announce the total sum, and pledged that ROCKS would ‘Adopt a Village’ on the West coast and use the money raised to help the community reshape their shattered lives.
Little did President Paul know that the concert was merely the ‘start of something big’! When details of the Concert and its outcome were posted on the Club’s website, money began to pour in from all over the world; from organizations and from individuals. Eventually ROCKS took in nearly 8.5 million baht to help the battered communities of the West Coast.

The initial search for a village to adopt led President Paul Hawkins and his successor Paul Watson to the island of Koh Pratong in the Phang Nga district, and particularly to the village of Tung Dap. This small community had been overwhelmed by the wave, tragically losing some of their numbers, and by then was housed on the mainland. Paul and Paul met up with an organization, North Andaman Tsunami Relief (NATR), which was already working in the area, and an agreement was reached for mutual support. ROCKS would provide funds and oversee projects initiated by NATR. This symbiotic relationship has worked together for the last two years, regenerating and revitalizing communities right across the Phang Nga district as the funds swelled in ROCKS Tsunami Bank Account.

ROCKS worked in collaboration with Rotary International’ Matching Grants Scheme’ to generate more funds from Foundation coffers. Rotary Club of Tahoe City in California initiated such a scheme, providing over 1 million baht, which enabled the construction of a water tower in Tung Dap, incorporating an escape platform for the villagers in the event of another tsunami, thereby giving them security and peace of mind. A sister club, Rotary Club of Tormohun, Devon in England, provided money that enabled to large new well to be dug to feed the tower. Rotary Clubs from Houston, Texas visited the area in August 2005, to see for themselves the work being done by ROCKS and NATR. They noted that much of the initial regeneration work had been completed, and that ROCKS were committed to providing funds for the education of the children in the entire area for another eighteen months. A new concept was being mooted by NATR; the creation of a community centre that would be a focal point for all the surrounding villages to receive education in English, computing and handicrafts.

The concept of the centre was born out of smaller projects, where villagers were reluctant to return to the sea after their traumatic ordeal, and were seeking a different way of life. Training and Education Centre, TREC, was launched in January 2006, with money provided by the Rotary Clubs of Houston and Texas. The Centre has evolved during 2006, and now incorporates education and training for villagers who wish to be involved in tourism. Noting the delicate ecological balance in the area, ‘eco-tourism’ is deemed the way forward. ‘ACE’ experts, or Adventure and Community based Ecotourism, are developing thanks to TREC, and recently held their first seminar in Kuraburi.

The end of December 2006 saw ROCKS two year commitment to Tsunami Relief come to an end. The funds received have been dispensed, save a last installment to TREC; the majority channeled through NATR, but also a generous donation to The Human Development Foundation (who also run the Mercy centre) for their Tsunami Relief work. ROCKS members can consider that with their support and commitment, ‘big’ Paul Hawkin’s pledge to the beleaguered folk of Phang Nga has been fulfilled.

In January 2007, a group of Moken sea gypsies accompanied by some NATR members came to Koh Samui to say their ‘goodbyes’ and ‘thank yous’ to ROCKS. That evening they shared a Fellowship evening with Rotarians and their spouses and guests. The visitors delighted their hosts by performing traditional Moken music and dance, accompanied by a single drum.

The next day, they attended a Rotary meeting, where NATR made a presentation, showing all that had been achieved. This was followed by short speeches of thanks from Moken guests; a young lady who had initiated a recycling campaign with Tung Dap schoolchildren; the school teacher who had come from another part of Thailand to help the Tung Dap school to flourish once more; and finally a villager who simply wanted to say how her life had been transformed by ROCKS and NATR

For the Moken people, it was the first time that they had journeyed away from the region of Kuraburi, and they were fascinated by the difference between their peaceful island of Koh Pratong, and the bustle of Koh Samui. While they all enjoyed their, they agreed to a person that they did not want their idyllic island of Koh Pratong to follow the same frenetic route of development.

ROCKS members said goodbye to their visitors, aware that it would be the last time they would meet, but comfortable that they had truly made a difference to lives that had been shattered two years earlier.