About The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund (LWTF)
Having survived the tsunami, suffered personal bereavement, and witnessed the
devastation first hand, Nigel Willgrass and his family wanted to ensure that something positive come out of Louise's death.
They realised that the best way to do this was to help the Thai children and
their families in Phuket to rebuild their lives. The community lost everything, just as they had lost Louise,
and so The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund (LWTF) was created.
From the outset, the trustees of the LWTF knew they needed to raise a
lot of money quickly, to make an immediate difference on the ground. They set about raising funds by holding various
fundraising events, and donations were gratefully received from many individuals, clubs, schools, local charities,
business and small groups nationwide. In the first three month alone, the fund received a cash injection of over £300,000, and
it has continued to receive a steady flow of further funding ever since.
The Willgrass family and the fund's trustees have personally
thanked everyone who has made a donation, and they are enormously grateful for the support and good wishes they have received.
They are also grateful to the media for having helped to raise public awareness, not only in terms of the work and goals of the
fund, but also for highlighting the plight of the Thai children in Phuket.
The Objectives of the LWTF
The objectives of the fund are to achieve the following:
- to re-build as many of the existing schools in Phuket as soon as possible
- to provide shelter for the homeless and orphaned Thai children who lost their parents
- to support the children of the families who lost their main breadwinner, so they can continue to receive an education
- to design and build a brand new school in the Phuket region, in memory of Louise Willgrass and all the other British victims of the Asian tsunami.
In addition to the above, the LWTF hope to provide books and desks where needed,
and to re-equip the schools in general with any other teaching supplies required.
The trustees are also keen to develop exchange links between the new Thai school (when it is completed), and those
schools in the UK which have contributed money to the fund.
The Work of the LWTF
The Louise Willgrass Tsunami Fund (LWTF) was formed in 2005, and during this time, the trustees have been in regular contact with the British Foreign Office
and the Thai education authorities in Phuket. The reason for this is two fold: firstly, to obtain their support for the work of the LWTF in the area,
and secondly to seek advice on how to make the best use of the money, and bring about the most significant benefits.
Having listened to what the authorities had to say, it was agreed that the
funds raised by the LWTF be used primarily for building and re-equipping schools for Thai children.
Permission was also sought to build a completely new school, together with an accommodation wing for the children left
orphaned, not only in memory of Louise but as a tribute to all other UK victims of the disaster.
When the new school is established, the LWTF will continue to raise money to pay for its maintenance and general upkeep.
In order to identify key re-construction projects in the area, the LWTF have two trustees who are based full-time in Phuket.
This has been of enormous value. Not only does it allow the LWTF to effectively target funds to the schools and children most in need, but it facilitates effective communication between the
trustees back in the UK and those who are working on the ground in Phuket.
Regular progress checks can be made, and decisions can be taken quickly as and when necessary.
For more information, please visit our Achievements page and read our Latest News section.
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