Hands Across the Water – Reaching Out to Those in Need!
In 2005, Peter Baines was an Australian police officer and forensic expert who was asked to help with recovery efforts in Thailand after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. This was a tsunami that came out of the Indian Ocean and killed more than 300,000 people. When Peter went to Thailand, he was heartbroken at what he saw, and he wanted to do something about it.
In 2005, Peter decided that he would help the Thai children affected by this disaster by founding an organization called Hands Across the Water. This organization seeks to support these children of Thailand and help them rebuild their lives. Today, Hands Across the Water has raised thousands of dollars, built community centers and health centers and orphanages, and even created a rubber and palm tree plantation to help the orphanages be able to take care of themselves!
This video tells the story of Hands Across the Water in pictures!
Additional Resources:
- Here is an article that tells about Hands Across the Water and the children it helps.
- Here is another video that tells more about the wonderful progress Hands Across the Water has made.
Topics for Discussion:
- What exactly is a tsunami? What happens when one occurs?
- How do you think Peter felt when he first went to help Thailand after the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami?
Take Action:
- Visit the Hands Across the Water website to learn how you can help support this worthy cause!
- Visit the Peter Baines Consulting website to learn more about his thoughts on leadership and social responsibility.
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
