Beyond Recovery: Destroyed Thai Fishing Village Thrives Post JDC/PDA Intervention

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." – Chinese Proverb

When the December 2004 tsunamis hit the eight-acre fishing village of Bang Pat in Thailand’s Phang Nga Province, the tidal waves took with them the fishing boats and equipment that were the villagers’ only source of livelihood and contact with the outside world.

"Everything disappeared; we were left only with our lives," said local fisherman Khun Wahara.

JDC and its local Thai partner, Population and Community Development Association (PDA), adopted the village, providing a continuum of assistance in all areas of community rebuilding, including an income regeneration program; support for children’s education; and a Boat Bank, which supplied loans to villagers to fix what remained of their boats and purchase new ones. The aim was to help the 300-person community not only survive the aftermath of the disaster but to put the community on the path to longer-term self-sufficiency.

To that end, the JDC/PDA partnership and local residents launched a Village Bank with seed money—a savings account in which every member of the village is a shareholder. Villagers continue to make monthly contributions to the bank and can then borrow from this fund to rebuild and expand their businesses as well as further community development projects. Elected locals—an equal number of men and women—were trained to manage the affairs of the bank.

"Representing the villagers of Bang Pat, I would like to thank JDC for providing all of its support through PDA," said Darin Waharak, the Village Bank Committee Chairwoman. "The multiple programs like loans for income generation activities, educational support packages, and school lunches have dramatically improved our lives, which were almost destroyed by the Tsunami. The Village Bank that was set up got us to start saving and think ahead to the future. With this bank, we will now have with us forever a revolving fund that can support us whenever we are in need."

Seizing the newfound possibilities that have resulted from the JDC/PDA partnership, two women from Bang Pat each took loans from the Village Bank to open convenience stores, making available to the villagers daily sundries such as food, candy, cleaning materials, personal hygiene items, small toys, and stationery. At the back of one of the stores is a "homestay"—one of two such projects in the village, also built with funds from the bank. These homestays provide clean lodging and amenities for young international volunteers to live and work in the environment of a small fishing village—planting trees, doing ecotourism, and helping the villagers with their fishing.

"The support boosted our morale, making us want to stand up and rebuild our lives, and we are doing this tirelessly," Ms. Waharak added. "We in Bang Pat feel that someone from outside actually cares about us, and are doing everything to improve our livelihoods."

Bang Pat residents have used the Boat Bank to purchase dozens of boats to expand their trade, and at the same time have accumulated considerable savings for the community at large—tangible outcomes that further support the efficacy of the JDC/PDA "adopted village" model, as well as the resilience of the local community.

Since its founding in 1914, JDC has extended humanitarian aid to tens of thousands of victims of earthquakes, floods, and war—always with the aim of restoring dignity and independence. In the case of the Tsunami, JDC's relief efforts benefited greatly from the strategic planning and long-term commitment of Eli Eliezri, JDC NonSectarian Program Director, Thailand. Eliezri not only led JDC's programs in the affected area, but he also coordinated the local partnerships, like the collaboration with PDA.

According to Will Recant, JDC Assistant Executive Vice President who is responsible for the organization’s non-sectarian initiatives, these values and JDC’s local partnerships largely account for the success of JDC’s International Development Program efforts, including its Tsunami-related programs in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Thailand. "In all of our disaster relief and development projects, the ultimate goal is to help build self-sustaining local communities. Three years after the devastation and destruction wrought by the waves of the Tsunami, Bang Pat stands stronger than ever."

Acknowledging JDC for its three-year-old "strong partnership to recover the livelihood of the tsunami-affected villagers in Southern Thailand," Senator Mechai Viravaidya, Founder and Chairman of PDA, stated this month: "While PDA was firmly rooted in the area from the beginning, JDC has been developing a good relationship with the villagers from the tsunami-affected villages more than any PDA partner has ever done. It is a relationship that is heartfelt, strong, and mutual. PDA hence would like to convey deep gratitude to JDC for its dedication to make things better in Southern Thailand. We hope that our friendship shall continue in many years to come."

December 2007