Thirteen Thachatchai Families In Thailand Receive House Keys Thanks to AIA
Tsunami-rebuilding Program Continues To Deliver
THACHATCHAI, 22nd June 2006: Thirteen tsunami-affected families from the village of Thachatchai in Thailand’s Phuket island province received keys to new homes today.
Like a dream”: homeowners Montha Sa-ngansak, her husband Jaran, and their son, Kanokpol outside of their new Habitat home
An unforgettable experience: AIG chief operating officer Gerry Wyndorf, from the USA (left) hands the symbolic key to Habitat homeowner Jaran Sa-ngansak along with Thomas White, AIA Thailand executive vice-president and general manager, and Sutti Rajitrangson, AIA Thailand senior vice-president for administration
With project management and construction co-ordination from Habitat for Humanity, the houses were built by homeowners, skilled laborers and more than 140 volunteers from American International Assurance Company, Ltd. Thailand (AIA).
“Your community has given us an experience we will never forget by letting us help you rebuild,” Thomas White, AIA Thailand executive vice-president and general manager, told villagers. “We will continue to work with you until the project is done.”
By the end of July, 36 new houses will be completed and another will be repaired. The 36 houses along with a community center are second phase of the Thachatchai reconstruction. In the first phase, 55 houses were built and eight repaired in another area of the village. Funding for construction of the 36 houses was provided by the AIG Disaster Relief Fund. AIA Thailand is a member of American International Group, Inc. (AIG).
AIG chief operating officer Gerry Wyndorf, from the USA, and Sutti Rajitrangson, AIA Thailand senior vice-president for administration, were also on hand for the house dedications.
“This house looks like a dream,” said Montha Sa-ngansak. Montha, her husband Jaran, and their two children lived in a 4 m. by 8 m. house made of wood and sheet metal that was destroyed by the tsunami. Since then they have stayed with her mother. Now they are very proud to have their own house that is sturdy and secure