Xango Goodness

Thailand: Rebuilding a Village after The Tsunami

Right after the devastating tsunami of December 2004 XanGo searched for a meaningful project to help the people of Thailand. XanGo Founder Gordon Morton found the project when he met with a German-based charitable organization called Farang Jai Dee, meaning “foreigner with a good heart”. Together, the two organizations put into motion the goal of re-building a Thai fishing village decimated by the tsunami. This particular group of villagers were from a small island outside of Kao Lak and were not recognized by the Thai government as legal residents. XanGo and Farang Jai Dee purchased land near a Buddhist temple where the villagers were residing in a tent city and began reconstruction of a new community.  Displaced families were hired to assist in the construction of their new homes, giving them a direct hand in rebuilding the community.  A school was added to the village for the first time along with a community center.  In addition to construction, the XanGo/Farang Jai Dee partnership taught villagers other new trades such as how to build fishing boats and items to sell to tourists. The project was completed and families moved into their new homes in October 2005.  The rebuilt village was officially inaugurated on May 8, 2006.