(Lodging and Self-sustaining)
A Srikoraphum in Surin Province (Northern Thailand), Moes Onlus completed the construction of a dwelling and also of a proposed self-help for a family of 10 people in Hua Pairat are “mom & dad.”
The construction consists of a small pillar structure and the “infill concrete blocks”, has a footprint of 50 square meters and is located on two floors: the ground floor, in which there are the kitchen facilities and a open space for daily activities including those of working, and the first floor, that has two large rooms suitable to accommodate the family for the night on traditional mats.
The project will include the construction of a small farming of fish, pigs and chickens, a small vegetable garden, to enable self-sufficiency of the entire family group.
In defining the project, in verifying the documents, permits and progress of the works we were able to enjoy the valuable experience Chauvalit Yingyune, which gave his willingness to Moses and so the opportunity to “be close” to the places.
The construction of small building began in May 2006, and in July was conducted the roofing completion and a portion of the facade. From September 2006, the family moved in the house, which has been completed during the next months.
History
Patrizia Saccaggi & Francesco Baietti, two of the Founding members of Moses Onlus, were rescued by Hua and Pairat, miraculously saved from the big wave of the Tsunamy
Humble and generous, the two Thai people, welcomed the two survivors as brothers by giving them a first cloth to cover themselves, drinking water, but especially a smile, with which go back to smile and live again.
Together they conquered the hill up to Ban Sak Area, together they waited for the help until late at night, together they trembled and now are living.
A bond made of looks and smiles, but the orphans of a conventional language, a link to the poor among the poor, but rich of the greater good, the Life. A new bond has been tried, liked and found and not without difficulty, in March 2005.
The extreme poverty besetting in which was found the family of Hua and Pairat was incredible. They were living into the forest, in a running-down shack, between animals and discomfort, without any means, without any help, forgotten by all.
The poor came from the most disadvantaged province of Thailand: the North-East.
The tsunami had deprived them of their humble works: laborer him, peddler she.
In the first months after the destruction, the hope was nearly to the zero still for a native of the area, relying on the few remaining relatives.
Recalling on how Hua did its utmost for the few survivors with his generosity, we wanted to better understand the situation and, with a lot of shame and shyness, so is the Thai people, we learned of their ancient origins, their desire to return home where would have been possible to sleep without the fear of the big wave.
We tried at first to be useful to them in the modest needs of daily life as they had done with us, but it was not enough, there were before, 10 pairs of eyes to remember.
Reading a nice design of the king, who had studied the issue of self-sustainment of the poor in Thailand, we decided to intervene.
The project was to bring them at home, giving them a house, a house that was not just a roof, but a place where daily feed the animals, animals that fertilizing the grass, could permit them to cultivate vegetables and fresh food. A simple cycle where nothing is wasted and where everyone’s life becomes life for other lives, more immediately, in simplicity.
In October 2006, Hua and Pairat finished the house and subsequently, added some pigs, and also some fish, in a way that nothing could be wasted.
Plowing the soil will not be difficult … there the earth is generous and the vegetables will not fail.
A small company is coming true and living there, in the great plain of Surin where drought alternate at flooding, a poor family will begin again to live with a little more of dignity and hope and where our small friends will be also good at school, despite the many problems.
