Hands Across The Water, Bike Thailand, Volunteer Thailand, Travel Thailand, Trek Thailand, Hands Renovation Task Force Thailand, Teach English Thailand

Hands Across The Water, Bike Thailand, Volunteer Thailand, Travel Thailand, Trek Thailand, Hands Renovation Task Force Thailand, Teach English Thailand


If you are planning on travelling in Thailand, have you heard of the great work that the Hands Across the Water charity does there? Do you remember that Tsunami that happened on Boxing Day in 2004 that impacted Thailand and other parts of South Asia? If not, the Hands Across the Water Charity was founded by Peter Baines OAM, a forensic specialist who was sent to Thailand as part of the Australian contingent that was charged with the task of leading the international identification effort of the 5395 bodies that were recovered in Thailand.

It wasn’t the enormity of the tragedy that spurred Peter to do something.  He had previously worked in Bali after the 2002 bombings and saw plenty of death and destruction there.  No,it wasn’t the death that inspired him but the hope and the opportunity to do something for a small group of kids living in the grounds of that temple in a tent at Bang Muang.  

“I couldn’t change what had happened, but I felt I could change what happens next” – Peter Baines OAM

Hands Across the Water started in 2005 and as Peter acknowledges, it was a naive belief that if they built a home for the kids living in a tent then problems would be over. Oh, how wrong he was.

It was only upon opening the first home in 2007, that the real challenge and the need for a long-term commitment was realised.  In the years that followed, Hands grew and expanded its reach well beyond those initial 32 kids.  Operating across all points of the compass in Thailand the job now is equally important as it was back when it started.  They now have 7 projects across Thailand and over 350+ children in their care. 

The work has changed, they’ve learnt along the way, they’ve not always got it right, had some highs and lows, but their greatest victory is that, thanks to the wonderful support they’ve received from tens of thousands of donors, they’ve ensured the kids have a better quality of life because of their presence.

In 2011, I was on an expat assignment in Dubai and came back to Melbourne, Australia in August as my mother unfortunately had terminal cancer and was in hospital. I had wandered into a book-store in need of a good read and saw a book with a little Thai child on the cover. Having worked and lived in Thailand previously, I immediately recognised it as a book about Thailand. I had been away from Australia for some years, I wasn’t aware of the charity or Peter Baines. In the book Peter told of his life so far, his forensic police work and vivid stories about the devastating Tsunami, life and death, loss and survival. Till that point, I hadn’t read too many books in my life that had made me cry.” Hands Across the Water by Peter Baines” did. On reading, Peter told me about the charity start-up and the bike riding experiences of 800 klms through Thailand which have evolved from 2009. Through these Thailand bike rides funds are raised for the kids, so that they can have choices in life. On return to Dubai and on completion of Peter’s book, I discussed doing a future Thailand ride with my wife. I didn’t get a chance to do my first ride until January 2014 but since then I’ve completed 5 more rides and my wife has completed two. We never stop continuing to grow as people and doing the rides has allowed me to help change the lives of beautiful children and meet some incredible giving people along the way.

You can go to the website https://www.handsacrossthewater.org.auand make contact with Hands to get a monthly newsletter, check Thailand Travel experiences, join a Thailand Bike Ride, Thailand Trek or do a Hands Renovation Taskforce. These are fantastic ways to give, provide and travel in Thailand. Hands have an English Education program. You’ll find the Hands English Program Handbook and can download the application form herehttps://www.handsacrossthewater.org.au/hands-english-program

Hands Across the Water is an enduring charity providing life experiences for participants while helping others. Check out Hands Across the Water if you are considering experiencing Thailand.

#Travel Thailand #TEFL Thailand #Volunteer Thailand #Hands Thailand