Our impact Hands Homes Baan Nam Khem Community Centre and Tsunami Refuge Date Founded 8th April 2011 Story of the beginning In addition to being a residential building, Baan Nam Khem also opened as a Baan Than Namchai kindergarten to support education for underprivileged children and encourage children to develop well suitable for age and alleviate the burden of parents in raising children in the community. The main activity is the Montessori Kindergarten program. This system of education is both a philosophy of child development and rationale for guiding such growth. There is also an integration program to develop academic skills in the children for example speaking, reading and listening, writing and drawing and also the following physical activities: Art Listen to the story telling Cooking Reading Sporting and outdoor activities Learning English language Daily chores Special day activity The centre doubles as a Tsunami Refuge Centre for the community that was so badly affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami. With a flat roof and a height of 17m above sea level, the centre can hold 1,000 people and gives local villagers a place to go and to feel safe in the event of a future tsunami. Home Directors Mrs Prateep Ungsongtham Hata (who founded the Duang Prateep Foundation) to become the chairperson for Baan Than Namhai and MrWatana Sittirachot to be the Secretary General and to manage the foundation. Ms. Kanjana Klomjit to be the head of education section. Number of Children 38 kids How Hands has helped The budget for teaching and learning management of Baan Than Namchai Kindergarten is supported 100% by Hands Across the Water.