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Soka Gakkai Thailand Joins UNDP To Empower Tsunami Affected People

05 July 2005

Bangkok: Thailand association of Soka Gakkai International, a global Buddhist alliance, with 27,000 Thai families, has decided to collaborate with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in helping communities seriously affected by the Tsunami in southern Thailand.

More than 1,200 coastal families in 10 communities in Phang Nga Bay stand to benefit from this unprecedented collaboration between UNDP and Soka Gakkai Thailand (SGT). The partnership will help to create livelihood opportunities, assist in the job creation and training for the affected communities. Soka Gakkai International is one of the UN Economic and Social Commission's official NGOs, including national associations in more than 190 countries over the world, founded by President Daisaku Ikeda.

"Soka Gakkai International has been closely working with the UN organizations in responding to the global issues such as humanitarian crisis, post conflict assistance and disarmament movement," said 2 leaders of SGT, Somsak Likitjariyanon, Chairman, and Somkiat Limrossukon, General Director. "This is the first time in the history of SGT to work in partnership with UNDP. We believe that professional approach that UNDP is applying will most effectively help people in the hardest hit region."

"I was impressed by the leadership of young people in the SGT who has been well informed about the UN efforts for the Reconstruction," said Tetsuo Kondo, Senior Advisor of UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok. "Participation of Non Governmental Organization in the operations lead by UNDP will harness the sense of participation of individuals in the assistance activities. "

Included in the project will be the reconstruction of the alternative livelihood training and income generating activities such as batik, handicraft, wood-working and eco-tourism on islands affected.

SGT has agreed to provide a cash contribution of Thai Baht 500,000 to UNDP's overall Baht two hundred forty million (USD 6 million) tsunami recovery programme in Thailand.

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