Thursday, Nov. 3—Thailand

Today began as yesterday ended—in an airport. After a long flight from the United States, we arrived last night in Bangkok, Thailand, the location of Habitat for Humanity’s Asia/Pacific area office. This morning we boarded a smaller plane to head south to Phuket, an area of the country heavily damaged by last year’s deadly tsunami.

We were there to visit a community of Morgan sea gypsies in the village of Tachatchai. Although our hearts were saddened by their stories of loss from the terrible waves that destroyed lives and livelihoods nearly one year ago, today was a day of hope.

Thanks to the work of Habitat for Humanity, our partners Marriott and Cargill, countless volunteers and especially the community itself, I was privileged and honored to dedicate five new Habitat houses. This group of families came together after the tsunami to rebuild what was lost. As I was welcomed into the village and greeted with a beautiful Thai flower necklace, the community liaison officer told me that Habitat for Humanity not only helped provide the community with physical housing, but by building houses they were also building a stronger community. “We are all so thankful,” he said, “not necessarily to have new houses, but more so that we can come together with love as a community to rebuild our lives together.”

I saw this in action during my short visit. As I toured the small village I saw a crowd of neighbors busily making interlocking blocks for the new Habitat houses yet to be built. Each person has a role to play in the manufacture of these sturdy, economic blocks. And it is a way for the entire community to contribute to the rebuilding process. Young and old, they are bound by their common goal of improving their community and ensuring that their children and neighbors have safe shelters and strong futures.

I was especially touched by the story of Mr. Somwang Chiochan, a slight, 40-year-old who is developmentally challenged. He owns a tiny, two-square-meter plot of land near the edge of the water. Before the tsunami, he lived on that plot of land in a building not much bigger than a dog house, I was told. Although he was lucky enough to survive the waves, his small home was washed away. His community wanted his new home to be bigger, despite his small plot of land. So they built up! He now owns the only three-story, two-square-meter house in Tachatchai. They call it the watchtower. And his job, he said, is to watch the sea for another tsunami.

The tsunami-recovery project in Thailand is expanding from its base in Khao Lak to serve coastal communities like this one. Partnerships and cooperative ventures are allowing Habitat to build where other NGOs are not working or to provide technical expertise to existing projects. To date, we have completed more than 100 homes and several more are under construction.

Much too soon, we boarded the plane to return to Bangkok. But another honor awaited me. I spent the evening with Habitat for Humanity Thailand staff and board members and some of our valued partners. Dr. Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, the national chairperson for HFH Thailand, welcomed us all to the land of smiles and encouraged us, simply and profoundly, to come together to eliminate poverty housing from all of Thailand. Although Habitat in Thailand is a strong and growing program, he explained that if they continued to build at their current rate, it would take 1,000 years to house all those in need of simple, decent shelter in the country. We can and must do more, he implored. And I know all those in the room agreed.

The two events were vastly different: a joyful dedication in a village in southern Thailand and an elegant gathering of Habitat staff, friends and supporters at a hotel in Bangkok. But the message I took away from both events is the same: Habitat for Humanity builds homes, lives and communities. We do this by working together—hand in hand and heart to heart. Like the people in Tachatchai village, the global Habitat family has a common goal. And by building houses, we are also building a better world.

Learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s tsunami response program.

Learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s other programs in Thailand.