We love Koh Phangan
With my much anticipated and long awaited return to Thailand, I would like to raise some money in an effort to help out my beautiful Island community, Koh Phangan.
When George suddenly became ill back in 2018 -- there was no question -- the entire community banded together to raise as much money as they could to help us pay for George's medical bills and get him to the UK for further treatments. Over the years there were several fundraising events held, raising thousands of dollars for us. All from a community that didn't have much to give to begin with. I am forever indebted to every single one them for their incredible show of solidarity, love, support, compassion and generosity for our man George.
Businesses donated prizes, food, drinks, and locations; artists donated live entertainment, whilst our friends and other community members stood out in the markets with collection buckets, and even sold themselves off as dates in auctions to raise money for us!
When I think about the sheer beauty of these people and everything they have done... my heart skips a beat, and I feel extremely compelled to give back in their greatest times of need.
There are two local charities on the island that desperately need our help RIGHT NOW! Both charities are running extremely low on donations and are not sure how much long they will be able to operate.
Thailand has been hit extremely hard by the effects of the Covid -19 pandemic and subsequent strict border closures of the country and surrounding nations.
Thailand’s economy is expected to lose 1.3 trillion baht (nearly $40 billion USD) - almost all of it in the tourist sector - due to the initial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The central bank has forecast the economy to contract 5.3% this year, which would be the weakest performance since 1998, when the Thailand was ravaged by the Asian financial crisis.
Koh Phangan is nearly a ghost town these days. Especially the beach town of Haad Rin, infamously known around the world for its monthly Full Moon Party's. The current situation has caused a rise in unemployment, shuttered businesses, and loss of livelihoods. For the 11 thousand people on Koh Phangan who (for the majority) already live below the poverty line, things are looking even grimmer during these times.
With no savings, no income, and no light at the end of the tunnel, things have gotten very dark for many families and young children living in the supposed, "land of smiles."
According to Thailand’s Department of Mental Health, the suicide rate has increased by 22 percent in the first six months of 2020, compared to the same period in the previous year.
Millions of Thais have lost their jobs. More than 500,000 workers have been laid-off in 2020, and the Tourism Council of Thailand said that the country could see a million more jobless tourism workers in the first quarter of 2021.
I personally know at least a dozen locals that are living off nothing more than about 5-10 dollars a day.
There is also a massive Burmese migrant worker community on the island that are not eligible for any sort of government support.
With the current genocide and humanitarian crisis now happening in Myanmar, none of these poor families even have a country to return home to. They were living in closets before the pandemic... think about how much worse the situation has gotten for these incredibly, vulnerable, marginalized and oppressed people.
ISLAND AID:
Island aid is a local community charity that was launched in April 2020 to try and help the community in whatever means possible survive the catastrophic effects of the pandemic. They hold weekly food banks, clothing drives, and do whatever else is necessary and needed by the community!
Here is a post from them:
"We are a locally run fundraising platform & community group of women who are committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of the Thai and Burmese community during the Covid-19 Crisis. We know how special Koh Phangan is to so many of us & we all have so many different reasons for loving this beautiful Paradise Perhaps you got Married here, fell in love, created long life friendships, retired, reconnected with old friends, started business ventures, gave birth to your children here, or simply rocked every party the Island has to offer! OR maybe its your dream to visit very soon ❤️..... Whatever the reason may be - We all love and cherish dearly this very special rock we call Koh Phangan and the Island magic changes something in each and everyone one of us. It is the people who have brought food to your table, cleaned your room, cracked open your coconuts, greeted you with a welcoming smile & massaged you with care who are now seriously struggling. So many of the Locals live hand to mouth and are fully dependent on the tourism industry. An industry that right now, is sadly almost non existent. In response, my friends and I have set up 'ISLAND AID'. An organisation designed to support the most vulnerable members of our community. An increasing proportion of our local community is waking up each day unsure of where their next meal is coming from. They can no longer afford to buy essential items and as a result, their nutrition, health and survival is in danger. The beautiful 'Land of Smiles' right now isnt what it used to be, but together we can all support those who need it most so your paradise can flourish once again. Every donation big or small can go a long way and if possible, PLEASE donate if you can It really really does make a difference. We are all volunteers and 100% of the funds go directly back into the Thai & Burmese community. Thank you Phangan Lovers. Give with love and generosity."
https://island-aid.raisely.com/?fbclid=IwAR0zmZsrDi75QuWQQP1L8OVPtd1-SAWCYEH3KK1ULcuIo40DxcGWChsj3jM
PHANGAN ANIMAL CARE FOR STRAYS (PACS) :
The second charity is Phangan Animal Care for Strays (PACS). This is a charity George and I both have worked very closely with in the past. They help take care of the sick and injured stray animals on the island, and since the pandemic has hit, these animals need even more help than ever! Relying completely on donations made by tourists, the hard-working, volunteers and staff have been stretched to their absolute limits and left digging deep into empty pockets.
Here is the "about us" from their website:
Phangan Animal Care For Strays Foundation is a non-profit organization operating on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand. We are an animal hospital that provides life-saving medical treatment, vaccinations, and sterilizations to stray and wild animals of Koh Phangan. We receive no government funding and rely entirely on donations and volunteers to provide these vital services to the animals of the island.
PACS was founded in 2001. Back then, there were no veterinary services available on the island at all, and pet owners had to go to a neighboring island, Koh Samui, in order to get treatment for their animals. This meant that caring for the health of pets was very expensive for locals. Also, at that time, the primary method of stray population control was government-sanctioned culling, which meant that there was a huge population of stray dogs and cats on the island. For these reasons, in the past our clinic treated both owned and stray animals in return for a donation. Now that there are several clinics for owned animals, we can focus our efforts purely on animals with no owner. It is our mission to reduce the suffering of stray and wild animals on Koh Phangan.
If you would like to donate directly to either on of these fundraisers they are able to take donations directly through their websites! There is also a lot more great information on their websites of how your donations will directly benefit the island and community as a whole.
Gofundme and Facebook charities are not available in Thailand yet, so any money that is raised here will be divided up equally between the two charities and given to them in cash -- in person -- when I arrive on the island next month. It will all be documented and you can hold me 100% responsible for making sure the funds go into exactly the right hands.
FOR EVERY 5 DOLLARS DONATED I WILL WALK 1,000 STEPS around Koh Phangan whilst documenting our beautiful Island home and the devastating effects of the pandemic (which I will share in updates here and on FB).
Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity! The community needs you!