How we came to be

No one remembers exactly. When Klaus, family, friends and guests and employees realised that, except for the initial fear and potential financial loss, they had been extremely lucky. They knew that they had to help those whose luck had not lasted.

The first measures were to donate blood, food and other goods for the homeless people and help with interpreting at the victims' camp. Soon, the first requests for assistance in the search for missing persons came and the first donations also started coming in, without us asking for anything. When we came to truly understand the full scale of the disaster, our hearts went out to the orphans and the fishermen who lost their homes and boats. During our search for missing persons, we visited an orphans' camp in Khao Lak. The kids were being so well looked after that we did not see any reason to intervene.

On the next visit, to Baan Nam Kem and the school close by, Klaus, Prob and Dao discovered that the horror had reached its culmination here. Practically the entire village had been erased. Of the 7,000 inhabitants, only 2,000 had survived. The temple and the school of Ban Bang Muang had been converted into temporary camps for the orphans and homeless. The faces of the adults showed despair and the children moved as if in a nightmare. In this village where there is no tourism,there was initial media interest, but nothing like the popular holiday areas of Khao Lak and Koh Phi Phi. our decision to do more than just search for missed persons was born.

The first basic database was created and we began searching for sponsors for the orphans. Simone, who returned to Phuket to say farewell to her friends who became Tsunami victims joined us with all her international connections and energy. Detlev, who wanted to do his dive instructor course postponed his course to throw his power and knowledge into the effort, Chune and Michael Breeger left their safe home in Sattahip and drove down to Phuket to join us. And Dao and Sai, Poseidon employees got unlimited holidays to help the team - Poseidon CrusAIDers was born.

Our cry for help brought good advice and financial help from friends and strangers. And suddenly Julia Mehira, Tanja Braun and Mary Lopez joined the team as overseas members contributing their special knowledge and powerful skills. Many temporary helpers assist (and still do) in the large workload by translating the so many documents required to make everything work.

We are still searching for missing persons. The Thai authorities and foreign identification teams help as much as they can and their work has been exceptional in the circumstances.

Taking care of the orphans and preparing sponsorships takes up a large part of our activities. Our database contains over sixty orphans, of which over fifty already have sponsors. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of children in need.

At Baan Nam Kem and within Phuket, we have assisted over forty fishing families that have lost their home and/or boat. We have bought boats, engines, fishing gear or have repaired damaged boats and engines for more than 28 families. There is a continous requirement for boats and new cases are being brought to our attention on a daily basis.

Thanks to the enormous generosity of The Evason Phuket Resort (www.sixsenses.com/evason-phuket) and, due largely to its General Manager, Alasdair Junor, Ban Bang Muang School will now get a new Self-Learning Centre (building, library, computers and furniture), new toilets and changing rooms as well as a new school truck. In addition, through Alasdair's contacts, a school link has being created with Rivermount College in Australia (www.rivermountcollege.net) to help the students of Ban Bang Muang School. Poseidon CrusAIDers and the Evason are now linked up and is known as the "Friends of BBM School".