Charitable Initiatives in Phuket

Over the years, the charitable landscape in Phuket has witnessed a remarkable evolution, with an increasing number of individuals, businesses, and international organisations coming together to make a positive impact. From providing essential healthcare services to supporting education and social welfare, these charities play a crucial role in uplifting the lives of Phuket’s residents and preserving the island’s natural beauty.

In this article, we look at the diverse array of charities in Phuket, shedding light on the work being done and the ways in which individuals can contribute to meaningful change. From grassroots initiatives led by local communities to internationally recognised NGOs, each organisation contributes to the collective effort of building a brighter future for Phuket and its inhabitants.

Join us as we explore the heart of giving in Phuket and the profound impact that charitable initiatives has on the island’s social fabric. Together, let us discover how each act of kindness and generosity contributes to shaping a more equitable and resilient future for all who call Phuket home.

Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation: Pioneered by Tom McNamara in 2005, a year following the 2004 Asian Tsunami. Mr. McNamara was a caring local restaurateur who went to the local Thai community after the tsunami, asking how he could help them recuperate their losses from the devastation. The consensus that followed was simple; the Thai people wanted their children to learn English and understood it was the key to their children’s success. In 2006, the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation became a registered charity in the Kingdom of Thailand and a Board of Directors was implemented. Since then, many local and international supporters have been inspired by this initiative and joined to expand English education in Phuket. Five English teachers provide English education for free to over 700 underprivileged Thai children in two government schools in Phuket. These 700 students are aged 4 to 18 and learn English as well as Maths and Science in English. Over 200 of these students live in dormitories at Kamala School because they are unable to live at home or do not have a place to call home. To give these children nurturing support while living away from family, they run Coconut Club, an after-school programme that teachers and volunteers organises for the children to do arts anf crafts, play games, learn cooking and practice English. phukethasbeengoodtous.org

The Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation: In the aftermath of the the Tsunami that hit Phuket on the 26.12.04, members of the Lions Club of Phuket Andaman Sea decided to be involved in a longer term project to help the victims of the tragedy. Helping Children in need became the main objective of the Club, and the idea of creating a village slowly began to grow. The Phuket Sunshine village is a residential community constructed for less fortunate children in Phuket province. It is fully owned and directed by the Phuket Sunshine Village Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation that was set up in 2005. The Foundation received the support of thousands of donors from around the globe and was subsequently able to buy its own land in Koh Sirae, an area that was particularly hit by the disaster. The Children’s Village revolves around the desire to give children, who are either orphaned or who are no longer able to live with their natural parents, a stable environment. The Village focuses on family-based, long-term care of children. The children will experience reliable relationships and love once again, meaning that they can recover from what they have suffered, which has often been traumatic. They grow up in a stable family environment, and are supported individually until they become independent young adults or until the family situation improves drastically. phuketsunshinevillage.org

Seeds of Change: Seeds of Change Phuket (SOC) is a charitable project established in 2013 with a focus on empowering underprivileged individuals in Phuket. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty by providing education, vocational training and an ‘earn-as-you-learn’ scheme They offer opportunities to both Thai and Burmese individuals, equipping them with skills needed for employment. So far, they have taught hundreds of students, in crafts and sewing, from the Banya literacy centre in Thalang. Since 2021 they have also trained 14 local unemployed people (aged 16 to 59), in a 3-month training scheme, how to sew, all of home are now are employed either by SOC or elsewhere in Phuket.

In 2022, they formed a 10-week vocational training programme to certify students on the basics of sewing. Products made by them are now sold at locations throughout Phuket. Current ‘Eco Chic’ products include fabric elephants, dogs, beaded mask strap necklaces, handbags, cosmetic bags and totes. All proceeds help support the students and the SOC training programme – making a difference, one stitch at a time. seedsofchangephuket.com

Good Shepherd Phuket Town: Good Shepherd Phuket Town for Women and Children is a part of Good Shepherd Thailand. They provide holistic assistance for Myanmar (Burmese) migrants, including education, skills training, legal services and help. The objective of the Good Shepherd Thailand is to restore the migrants’ dignity according to the values of love, care and help of the Good Shepherd Congregation (GSC). This project aims at working with those who are affected, or at risk of being trafficked. Over the years, the activities have spread and three programmes are now open to target the different needs of the Burmese population. Burmese low-skilled migrants represent the most vulnerable segment of the population living in Phuket. Thai and Myanmar Good Shepherd Sisters have established their programme, providing legal assistance and accessibility to affordable healthcare and education for the migrants and their families.

Thanks to the Sisters’ cross border connections, Phuket GSC is in the best position to respond to the needs of these people, with the support of funding agencies and benefactors. Their families have left Myanmar to escape economic problems and unsafe living conditions. The majority came to Thailand because of its close proximity and job opportunities. In Phuket, there are more than 60,000 Burmese migrants currently living and working in very poor environments. goodshepherdphukettown.com

Asia Center Foundation: Asia Center Foundation (ACF) is a local, independent, interdenominational Christian charity registered as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) on Phuket. They provide care, education and life skills training opportunities to disadvantaged and at-risk Thai children so they will be empowered to change their futures. ACF manages different projects addressing the needs of children focusing on education, child protection, life skills development, healthcare and community outreach. Their mission is to provide a safe environment where vulnerable and at-risk Thai children will have access to education, healthcare and life skills development empowering them to change their futures. One of their many programmes is the Scholarship Programme, for children age 7 – 18 in Phuket and Phang Nga. The programme provides support and encouragement to families facing financial and social problems. The Scholarship programme so far has supported more than 700 children with scholarships during the past 19 years. During 2019, a University Fund was started to assist university students and students attending high vocational school, and in 2020 the Pre-school Education Fund was created to assist with the pre-school education expenses at Cornerstone Learning Center, ACF’s own preschool center. The annual Phuket International Rugby Tens has been the main fundraising event supporting the scholarship programme since 2005 and is still raising funds for the scholarship programme annually. asiacenterfoundation.org

Child Watch Phuket Foundation: Over the past decade, Thailand has been through tremendous development. The process affects everybody. Some are fortunate, some are not. Those who have been unlucky have not had the chance to receive what they need. Their struggles wind up leading them to let their children be involved in various forms of child labour or even in the sex industry. The situation in Phuket is no different from other provinces. This inspired a concerned group of people to form the ‘Child-Watch Phuket Association (CW)’ which focuses on helping abused children and children at risk. The association was registered under Thai law in 1998. It has been estimated that there are 2,000 children living in Phuket who are not legal residents, nor do they have access to basic education or medical services. These children are both foreign (mostly Burmese, Mon, Vietnamese and Khmer) and Thai. Some are children of itinerant construction workers; others are in prison, forced to stay with their parents who have been arrested – there is no alternative! Many work as beggars or vendors of gum, roses and cigarettes in bar entertainment areas at night. The best way to support the children and the work of Child Watch Phuket is to donate money. childwatchphuket.org

Life Home Project Foundation: The Life Home Project Foundation is a non-profit organization with the goal of preventing the spread of HIV, as well as helping HIV-infected/affected people and AIDS patients. They have been registered under Thai law from the time of their founding date in 2002 and have been continuously serving the HIV/AIDS community in Phuket since.

The Life Home Project Foundation provides HIV infected women opportunities to attend various Handicraft Workshops where they can learn to paint cards, shirts and many other items. The Bakery Workshop teaches women to bake cakes and snacks, while the Sewing Workshop trais women to produce uniforms, pillowcases and other products in demand, which were then sold. The Life Home Project Foundation also provides education for HIV affected women and their children, as well as helping HIV-positive persons and AIDS patients in the community and in hospitals.

Providing an opportunity for these people to develop their skills and feel useful again dramatically increased their self-esteem and confidence. As a result, the quality of life of many HIV-infected people has improved; most of them have been able to return to their communities and to support themselves and their families. Furthermore, access to anti-retroviral medications has meant that HIV infected individuals can now lead much healthier lives in the long term. lhpf.org

The International Veterans Association (IVA): The International Veterans Association (IVA), launched in 2011 in Phuket, is the brainchild of British expat Steve Pearce of Heroes bar in Patong. Steve, who served as the IVA’s inaugural president, is a veteran of almost 32 years of military service and security operations in some of the most hostile regions of the world. He is now a Phuket business owner and family man.

The IVA aims to provide a social and business networking opportunity, meeting regularly and hosting social get-togethers so that members can share their experiences and explore new ventures, yet among its primary purposes is to provide a ‘signpost to professional help’ for members. The IVA members are veterans or serving members of any nation’s armed forces or emergency services. The IVA is self-funding, and in no way attempts to copy or take away the work done by the other veterans’ charities and groups.With a business and social networking group for veterans, this allows the members to keep an eye on each other. Mental health issues can arise at any time in a veterans life. They aim to watch out for each other and those around us. Veteran or not, nobody seeking help will be turned away. The IVA’s official motto is In Omnia Paratus, Latin for ‘Prepared For Anything’. facebook.com/phuketveterans