Banyan Tree Samui steps in to support local community

By Zach Havard

Banyan Tree Koh Samui’s management and staff have been praised for stepping in to help the local community and rebuild an education centre after is was damaged in storms earlier this month.

Philanthropy is not a new thing for the luxury hotel group who have also sponsored hundreds of causes and projects worldwide through its’s Banyan Tree Global Foundation as well as the new ‘From Trash to Tote’ project at their Krabi hotel which helps keep local beaches clean.

The recent jump into action stemmed after Remko Kroesen, general manager at Banyan Tree Samui got in touch with local administrators on the island and offered the hotels assistance in cleaning up after the devastation caused by the storm as well as providing funding for the costs of construction.

“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.”

Staff from Banyan Tree Samui hotel volunteered to help with the rebuilding and landscaping of the site. (Supplied)

Now, 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 have a fresh new centre for lunch activities and play.

“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.”

Other initiatives implemented successfully by Banyan Tree Samui in recent years include a blood drive campaign, and the ongoing “Seedlings Mentorship” project aimed at nurturing young Samui students between the ages of 12 and 18, providing them with vocational and life skills and education, as well as offering scholarships and financial support to enable select students to continue into higher education.

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Banyan Tree Koh Samui Remko Kroesen