Hotel staff roll up their sleeves to help local community

Staff from a luxury resort donated their time and energy to helping out a local community centre that suffered storm damage.

In a world full of bad news, it is nice to be able to report on a good news story.

Luxury hotel group Banyan Tree has sponsored hundreds of causes and projects worldwide through its Banyan Tree Global Foundation - but it staff did their bit after Banyan Tree Samui general manager Remko Kroesen learned that a tropical storm had devastated a community centre on the island.

In addition to funding the cost of reconstruction, the Australian GM and several volunteers from the hotel rolled up their sleeves and helped out with landscaping and other labour-intensive tasks.

Over a year later, construction work on the canteen at the Wat Santi Wanaram Child Development Centre has been completed, and the 103 children and their teachers can enjoy a safe environment.

“We are so grateful to Banyan Tree Samui for recognizing the importance of children’s education here in Koh Samui,” wrote Suthima Chanrak, the acting head of the centre.

“We rejoice that we will have a new canteen, not only for the children’s meals, but also a building that will act as a focal point for community activities and town hall meetings.”

It is one of a number of initiatives implemented locally by Banyan Tree Samui in recent years.

“As a 5-star resort with beautiful villas and sea views, a spa, and exquisite dining, it would be easy to forget that many of the families on Koh Samui work nearby in coconut plantations or on fishing boats, and are often unable to meet the rising costs of medical care and housing,” said Kroesen.

“That’s why we maintain an annual fund to assist those in need, and never forget how lucky we are to share their wonderful island with them.”

For more information about the rebuilding of Wat Santi Wanaram Child Development Centre, please go to: www.banyantree.com/thailand/samui/wat-santi-wanaram