ABOUT HANDS
Hands Across the Water is an international charity started after the devastating effects of the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 left hundreds of children without families to care for them. The charity's original intent was to build a home for these children of Thailand, but upon opening the first home at Baan Tharn Namchai in the Khao Lak region of Thailand, it became clear that far more support was needed and this was merely the start of the journey.
In the first five years, the charity saw rapid growth, building various homes and centres to provide housing and shared facilities across the communities. By 2011, it had expanded to directly fund several centres across Thailand, including a home for children infected with HIV. In particular, this support helped to bring an end to the HIV-related deaths that had affected the centre for over two decades, prior to the charity's involvement.
From very early on, Hands Across the Water, today known simply as Hands, sought to engage with its donors and supporters on a deeper level than just seeking donations. Through its regular fundraising bike rides, the charity aims to create a value exchange where donors feel more connected to the cause, rather than just a relationship built on philanthropy and generosity. This approach allows Hands to offer a high level of transparency by showing donors how funds are raised and used, and also how this benefits the operation of the homes the charity supports.
At a governance level, the charity ...