For nearly 20 years, Hands Across the Water has sought to provide equal value to those that support the work that we do as much as those that benefit from the support that we generate. The value that has flowed back to those that provide financial support to the charity has been in witnessing the growth and development of the children in a safe and happy environment, but it has also been in the participation in meaningful shared experiences that have enriched their lives.
This is our journey.
Hands started out supporting 34 children in the small community of Khao Lak and due to the increased demand of our services and through the generosity of our community and valued partners has expanded its reach to care for 350 children across 7 projects in Thailand. Hands has gone from employing one staff member to providing employment to over 60 people across Thailand.
2009
17 individuals from Australia joined Brigid Gibsons crazy idea to cycle 800km from Bangkok to Khao Lak raising $10,000 each to support the work of Hands. Today, Ride to Provide lives on with 5 rider and 250 participants taking part in the experience each year.
2009
Due to the growing demand for care in the Takua-Pa region, a second building was constructed to provide additional space for the children. This new building was funded by long-time Hands supporter NARTA.
2010
Peter Baines was introduced to Mae Thiew who was caring for HIV children up in the north east of Thailand. Children were dying on a frequent basis; Hands couldn’t walk away from that therefore made a long term commitment to provide life saving medicine and improve the standard of living that stopped kids dying.
2010
Hands deepened its relationship with the Duang Prateep Foundation through support of their New Life Project initiative in Kanchanaburi - a home for girls and young children from the slums who did not have the best start to life.
2011
A new community centre in a local fishing village was built to provide education and day care to children living in the poor region still impacted by the effects of the Tsunami. Baan Nam Khem would go on to become an additional revenue stream as well as a Tsunami refuge for the local villagers.
2011
Hands Group formed as a social enterprise to sit next to the charity to generate commercial income to cover the administration and marketing costs to ensure that 100% of donations goes to Thailand.
2012
Hands increased the support to the Duang Prateep Foundation through a second New Life Project in Chumphon caring for older boys who were in desperate need of a second chance. This partnership would take the Hands commitment to 5 projects.
2013
Baan Home Hug Surin opens as an additional property to support our kids who were ostracised from school due to their medical situation. The home which is 1.5 hours away from Home Hug provides a safe haven for the kids to stay during the week so they can go to school away from the stereotypes that the locals place on them back in their hometown. This home was funded by the efforts of the annual Business Blueprint bike ride.
2014
Craft shop opened at Baan Tharn Namchai to provide sustainable income back into the home. Funded by NARTA and their members, the craft shop provides employment to 6 local Thai women and opportunities for the kids to gain skills and future employment.
2015
PAMA House opened off the back of one man’s dream to provide food, shelter and education to the children in the Chanthaburi area. The home cares for 16 children who have been abandoned, neglected, or have no known family to care for them.
2015
Commenced a rebuilding project in the Slums of Bangkok to build one home at a time to support the poor, eldery and disabled living in the area. This program would go on to build 14 homes in partnership with corporate organisations who would fund these projects.
2016
As the kids were growing with Hands, there was an increased need to raise funds to support the kids through university. The Hands University Scholarship Program in full operation would see 47 children in university across Thailand. Game and Mook, two students from BTN graduate with Law and Marketing degrees.
2017
The English Language Program - supported by the New Zealand Hands Across the Water entity - commenced with teachers taking on long term stays in the homes to provide english lessons to the children.
2017
A new nursery opened at Baan Tharn Namchai to support the growing number of babies being left in the care of the home.
2017
Christmas Eve was a sad day for Hands and the children as our beloved Khun Rotjana lost her battle with Cancer. Leaving a big hole in the hearts and home that she had built.
2018
Game, a former student of Baan Tharn Namchai, returns to succeed his idol, his mum, Khun Rotjana. Following in her footsteps Game continues the legacy of a home filled with love and hope for the children.
2020
Opening of a new Learning Centre up at Home Hug built to provide early education for children in the area and a digital learning environment for children to learn skills for future employment. This project is funded by Seek Foundation and Digital Live.
2022
Hands Across the Water receives tax deductibility status in Thailand in July. Until now, we have been operating out of Australia and New Zealand and have raised over 730 Million Thai Baht since 2005.
2023
The social enterprise Hands Experiences Thailand is set up in Thailand to provide an income stream to cover the administration and fundraising initiatives of the foundation in Thailand.
2024
Peter Baines announces his plans for the Run to Remember to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Tsunami. The 20th Anniversary of Hands Across the Water's annual Ride to Provide is also sold out.
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Hands Across the Water Projects
Hands Across the Water runs seven homes and projects throughout Thailand supporting over 350 Thai children and their communities. While our origins date back to the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004, the need to support children who haven't been dealt the best cards in life is very much still there. We are committed for the long term and that means that all children in our care will have a brighter future and a life of choice.
Our Rides
Since 2009 Hands Across the Water (Hands) has run charity bike rides such as our annual January "Ride to Provide". Every year the money raised from these ride experiences provides critical funding to the operations of the seven homes Hands supports across Thailand, housing over 350 kids.
At Hands we work on the principle that supporting charity should be good for you, not just those receiving the money. Personally benefiting from your involvement in charity, be it physically or mentally, or both as we find in our riders' feedback, creates a profound experience that delivers impact, which will last a lifetime.
These rides provide many benefits to Hands, as well as to our riders and partner organisations including sales and relationship building with clients, broadened horizons and mindsets, and improved employee health, motivation, and engagement.
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