Spending time in Thailand is always food for my soul. I have just touched down from a whirlwind 7 days on the ground visiting our homes and preparing for Peter Baines OAM Run to Remember this December. One thing that really stood out to me on this trip, and that I have been reflecting on deeply, is the incredible young women, from babies to young adults, who are growing up in our homes and have bright futures ahead of them. Spending just a week with these girls was truly inspiring and reminded me that the work we do matters.
At Hands Across the Water, we believe in creating growth opportunities in leadership and personal development. Our number one goal is to create brighter futures for all the kids who come through our homes, and in the 19 years of our operations, that has never wavered.
I was lucky enough to see Am return home from a one-month stay in Phuket, where she had completed her tour guide licence course. On the morning I flew out, she bounded into the office with a massive smile on her face, full of stories to tell and a hug so tight I could feel her genuine appreciation for the opportunity.
You see, Am grew up as a child in Home Hug after having a pretty grim start to her life. She was quiet and reserved but had strong values. She very quickly became a role model to whom the younger kids looked up. She finished school and went on to university to study Business English, and just before COVID-19, she had secured an internship with a hotel in Bangkok where she could learn customer service and practice her English.
But that path was not meant to be for Am. Within weeks of her scheduled departure, the country and the world shut down, shutting down opportunities for employment in the near future. She remained at Home Hug and stepped in to help with the younger children and the homeschooling that would take place for the next 3 years. This was a challenging time for Am, as she had to adapt to a new role and put her career plans on hold. During this time, she showed remarkable resilience and dedication, qualities we value and nurture at Hands.
As the borders reopened and our plans at Hands were changing, we were seeing opportunities for Am that went beyond the internship in Bangkok. With Hands Experiences Thailand in full swing, we identified an opportunity to develop a tourism traineeship and offered that to Am. This program, which is designed to provide hands-on experience and training in the tourism industry, was a perfect fit for Am. After much consideration we got a resounding yes and she moved her life down to Baan Nam Khem in Takua-pa where she would learn the ropes on how to be a tour guide. Part of that traineeship was the commitment to put her through the tour guide training, and so this December, she will officially receive her tour guide licence, all within the space of 8 months working for Hands Experiences Thailand.
Proud is an understatement of how I feel when I see Am and her growth. She reminds me of an event assistant I hired many moons ago who said yes to a 4-month contract role in a new city with no guarantee of where that would lead her. Today, she is the International Head of Events for Harcourts, and I couldn't be more proud of her journey. Shout out to you Teagan Seccombe 😉 This is just one example of the many women I have seen grow and succeed, and it's a testament to the potential of women in leadership roles. I only hope that more women will come after these strong women, and it is an absolute privilege to play a small part in guiding and supporting them on their career journey. The one trait I have seen in these young female leaders is initiative, determination, and willingness to get in there and give it a red hot go. I admire these women I now call friends and will continue supporting them as they venture through life.
It dawned on me during this last trip to Thailand as I spent time with the kids at Home Hug that the next generation is starting to come through the ranks. I have known these kids for 13 years, since they were toddlers playing in the playground at Home Hug; today, they are strong women who are growing up to become future leaders in Thailand. I couldn't help but feel like a proud Mum, embarrassingly exclaiming about how tall they had all grown. Yep, I've become that person! Of course, I will continue to follow their journey and help them in any way I can to build a bright future for themselves. Who knows what that looks like, but I hope they know that I'm always here to help.
I also feel proud of the women in my team at Hands – those who step up to the challenge and grow daily in their roles. We have Airene Bongon, who started with Hands 10 years ago as an administrator and ride coordinator. She has since gone through an events course and is working her way up to be a damn fine event manager, picking up my finicky attention to detail skills! Early this year we welcomed Amanda Reeves, who stepped out of corporate EA roles to take on an operations role. And Nong Nicha who is working alongside her husband Nunn in the creation and growth of Hands Experiences Thailand. These roles will challenge and grow these strong women, and as always, I am here to support them on that journey to be the best version they can be.
Watching these women take the lead in their careers, teams, and organisations is incredible. Supporting them as they navigate life's choices and work hard to be the best they can be is a source of immense pride. It takes commitment and perseverance, and these two alone can have such an impact on future careers. Nurturing the leadership skills of these women can and will transform the organisations that they choose to work for, and, as a leader, I feel a deep sense of pride in playing a part in this journey.
And finally, let's not forget about the youngest girls who have a bright future ahead of them. Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting baby Annie at BTN, and she is a delightful young star. Just like all the girls in our homes, she has captured my heart. My promise: to be here to help in any way I can to ensure Annie has a bright future. This is what we do at Hands. Even though our origins stem from the Boxing Day Tsunami almost 20 years ago, there is still a great need in Thailand to support vulnerable children who deserve a bright future.
Investing in the growth and leadership of women is not just a choice; it's a necessity. It not only transforms individual lives but strengthens entire organisations. By creating opportunities for women to step up, take initiative, and lead, we contribute to building a more inclusive, dynamic, and resilient workforce. Empowered women are key drivers of change, and nurturing their potential is a commitment to a brighter future for all.
If you'd like to take a young woman under your wing and help them build a brighter future, then please get in touch and I'd be happy to share our child sponsorship program with you. We have some beautiful young girls and women, in need of some extra support, to ensure they get the best opportunities at life.
P.S Shout out to the incredible mentors I have had along the way as well - Jules E. Green Eugene Varricchio Natalie Feehan Lia Pacquola Jessica Christie Kay Spencer
