Hands Across the Water was foundered by Peter Baines, a former Detective Inspector of the NSW Police who was deployed from Australia to Thailand to assist with the identification of the victims who died following the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004. Peter spent 3 months leading international forensic teams in Thailand and felt compelled to assist the children left on their own.

The Hands team operate on a number of principles and values which include: Do not operate from nor impose a religious or political view point; Respect the culture of those who work with; Do not spend donors money on administration or fund raising; and The Directors of Hands do not receive payment in any form and cover all of their own expenses including travel costs.

The original goal in forming Hands was to raise enough money to support the construction of a home for 32 children who had all lost their parents or whom had been rendered incapable of caring for their children. A founding non-negotiable principle of those running Hands was that “100% of all donations would be spent on the projects and not one cent of donors money would be used for administration or fundraising”.

The 32 children Peter first met

Baan Tharn Namchai, built by Hands and opened in August of 2006 Packing up the tents - clear message we are leaving Baan Tharn Namchai, built by Hands and opened in August of 2006

In 2008 Hands invested $400,000 AUD or 12 million Baht and purchased a rubber plantation which would provide sustainable income, employment and ownership to the local community.

The number of children continued to grow at Baan Tharn Namchai and Peter and the Hands team made a commitment to support the children and the community long term. It was Peter’s view that with “long term commitment comes long term results”

The Hands team made a decision that another building was required to reduce the overcrowding that had occurred. In January of 2009, a second home was opened

As they grow... so do we 10

One of our jobs...is to make the kids smile again

Peter receives many requests to assist different communities throughout the world and each is considered carefully. Peter knows that we can’t help everyone, but he believes we “can all help someone”

In March of 2010, Peter travelled to Yasothon to meet Khun Thew, the director of an orphanage for children with HIV or whom have lost their parents to HIV Peter was compelled after his visit to bring resources, and the helping Hands from Australia to this community of north east Thailand. Shortly thereafter Peter and Khun Thew started a partnership which would bring hope and happiness along with better health care to many children in this area.

We started changing and importantly saving lives at Home Hug as well

In January of 2009, Peter led a team of 17 riders from Bangkok to Khao Lak. A distance of 800kms which was ridden in 8 days. During the first ride the team raised $200,000 AUD or 6 million Baht,

In January 2010, Peter returned to Thailand with 34 riders and again rode from Bangkok to Khao Lak over eight days. During the second ride the team raised almost $380,000 AUD or 11.4 million Baht.

On the back of the success of the two previous rides the demand had grown such that Peter would lead two rides in January of 2011. Both the rides covered the same distance and were separated by a couple of days rest. There was 57 riders in total. During the third and fourth ride the team raised over $500,000 AUD or 15 million Baht.

In January Peter returns to Thailand and will lead a ride from Nong Khai to Yasothon, following the Mekong River a route that will cover close to 800kms and this will be completed in 8 days. After three days rest Peter will lead another group of riders along the 800km route from Bangkok to Khao Lak arriving on the 24th of January 2012.

Hands really does understand the value of long term commitment and also the value of education. In January of 2011, they opened their latest project at a cost of $1.5 million AUD or 45 million Baht at Baan Nam Khem. The centre provides services to the community.

A unique aspect of the new building that Hands funded and constructed is that the roof has been designed at a height of 17 metres above ground level. The roof has also been engineered to hold 1000 people standing on it at any one time. It serves as a tsunami refuge area for local community and was used following the Japan tsunami on the 11th of March 2011.

The new centre operates as a vocational training centre, child care centre and the provision of medical services for those who otherwise may go without. The centre will serve as the cornerstone for growth of services that Hands provides to the community in the area with a focus on education.

Just because time continues to pass since the tsunami, doesn’t mean their parents have come back - of course they never will.

Continue to support the projects we currently have in place; Our focus for 2012 Continue to support the projects we currently have in place; Increase our focus on creating sustainable income generating operations; Establish the centre for children “Healing Hands” at Chantaburi and commence operations; Increase opportunities for our supporters to be engaged in our activities both domestically and abroad; and Enrich the lives of all of those involved in Hands Across the Water.

Hands currently operates facilities in Khao Lak in the south of Thailand, Yasothon in the north east and meets all the recurrent costs for a facility in Kanchanaburi. In 2012 will begin operations of a new facility in Chantaburi in the south east for children currently in horrendous situations of sexual and physical abuse. Across the various facilities Hands supports several hundred children and employs close to 80 Thai staff.

Since the formation of Hands Across the Water in 2005, over $5million AUD or 150 million Baht has been raised for the children of Thailand. Hands Across the Water received Deductible Gift Recipient status from the Australian Tax Office in 2008.

Contact details for Hands Across the Water: team@handsacrossthewater.org.au handsacrossthewater.org.au Contact details for Peter Baines: peter@peterbaines.com.au + 61 (0) 438 145219