Volunteering

July 2006 Update

The Tsunami Volunteer Center (TVC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in the Phang-Nga region, the southern province of Thailand that was devastated by the December, 2004 tsunami. 78% of all deaths that occurred in Thailand occurred in the Phang-Nga province and 80% of the coastal area suffered damage (over 200km in total). The TVC supports the long-term recovery of the tsunami-affected coastal communities through projects including housing construction, education, environmental restoration, small business development and vocational training.

The TVC relies on volunteers to complete many of its projects.

Due to the decrease in people visiting Thailand in the off-peak season (May-November) and the dwindling media coverage that is given to the effects of the tsunami, there has been a drop in the number of people arriving to volunteer.

Refer to www.tsunamivolunteer.net for more information.

January 2005

At this stage, immediate volunteer needs appear to have been met and surpassed. Long term assistance will of course be needed for rebuilding. Please see Mark Jacobs' comments on The Need-to-Help versus the Need-for-Help in the Ethosphere forums.

Also see InterAction's comments on volunteering.

In exploring opportunities to volunteer, a good place to start is World Volunteer Web. Also check out their "news" section for stories about what volunteers have been doing.

CharityFocus is a volunteer run, nonprofit organization that partners with charities in South India. Two of their members (who are also members of ET) arrived in Chennai in Tamil Nadu on Jan 1. They will be working under the auspicies of Direct Relief International and with the local entities in Tamil Nadu.

Their blogs are well worth reading:
Mark Jacobs' blog
Yoo-Mi Lee's blog

AIDIndia seems to be taking medical and general volunteers.

IndiServe is another good resource for India.

Refer to the ProPoor blog for additional information. This blog continues to grow and also includes information on other ways to help.

If you have any comments or further information to share, please post to the Earthquake/Tsunami thread in the Ethosphere forums.