Coca-Cola partners with Habitat for Humanity Thailand, continuing ‘Rebuild’ efforts after the flooding crisis

• Mobilizing over 3,500 volunteers to join ‘rebuild’ activities every weekend during  January and February, to restore more than 600 houses and 25 schools in four flooded provinces – Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok
• Over 40 million Baht invested 

 

(Pathum Thani, 11 February 2012) – The Coca-Cola system in Thailand, inclusive of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd., ThaiNamthip Ltd. and Haad Thip Pcl., continues with the ‘rebuild’ phase of its sustainable flood relief program; ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Thailand. During January and February weekends, Coca-Cola employees and more than 3,500 volunteers are coming together to repair and rebuild damaged schools and houses in four flooded provinces – Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok. The program aims to restore more than 600 houses and 25 schools by the end of April 2012.   

 

Mr. Pornwut Sarasin, Vice Chairman of the Coca-Cola Foundation in Thailand and ThaiNamthip Ltd. stated that “To help the lives of flood victims return to normal, the Coca-Cola system in Thailand and Coca-Cola Foundation in the USA have pledged 40 million Baht to Habitat for Humanity Thailand to fund the ‘rebuild’ element of our sustainable flood relief program. Habitat for Humanity Thailand is part of the global network, Habitat for Humanity International, which operates in more than 100 countries and support more than two million people in need around the world. Under the ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ program framework, Habitat for Humanity Thailand has committed to bring a team of housing specialists and constructors to advise on the restoration of damaged houses and schools in four flooded provinces – Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Bangkok.”

 

“Our series of ‘rebuild’ volunteer activities takes place every weekend during January and February. We are working hard to restore a good living environment to local schools and communities as well as mobilizing over 3,500 volunteers to take part in the ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ program. We expect to renovate 600 houses and 25 schools in four flooded provinces by the end of April this year”, said Mr. Pornwut.

 

Dr. Chainarong Montienvichienchai, Chairman of Habitat for Humanity Thailand, added that “Details of our ‘rebuild’ plan under Coca-Cola’s ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ program include repairing 529 houses, rebuilding 73 houses and restoring 25 schools. Projects that qualify must; be affected by last year’s flooding; be owned by the resident or owner must grant permission to the tenant; have a household income not exceeding 15,000 Baht per month. For houses severely damaged, we will rebuild up to an area of 34-square meter, with main poles of 2.0-2.5 meters (height above the ground), in order to avoid recurring floods. For schools, we will repair classrooms, playgrounds, football fields, libraries and common rooms.”

 

Throughout February, the ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ program continues its ‘rebuild’ efforts in Pathum Thani, aiming to repair and rebuild 80 houses and 3 schools. Today, the program mobilized over 400 volunteers to rebuild 3 houses for 4 families as well as repair Wat Chinwararam School that was severely hit by flooding.

 

 

Notes to the editor

About the “Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand” program

The Coca-Cola system in Thailand, inclusive of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Ltd., ThaiNamthip Ltd. and Haad Thip Pcl., has initiated a sustainable flood relief program ‘Reunite to Relieve and Rebuild Thailand’ to help flood affected people in the short and long term. The company has been working closely with Thai Red Cross Society and Habitat for Humanity Thailand to implement a sustainable framework of ‘Relief’ and ‘Rebuilding’. Through this program, the Coca-Cola system in Thailand and Coca-Cola Foundation in USA have pledged 60 million Baht grant through cash donations, ‘Namthip’ bottled-water distribution and other relief goods donations and is mobilizing volunteer activities to help flood victims through the two partners and other organizations.

The Coca-Cola system in Thailand consists of Coca-Cola (Thailand) Limited as the brand proprietor responsible for marketing activities, and its two local bottling partners – ThaiNamthip Ltd responsible for 62 provinces of Thailand, and Haad Thip Public Company Ltd serving 14 southern provinces.  The Coca-Cola system’s portfolio of beverages in Thailand includes   Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Zero, Coca-Cola Light, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes, A&W Root Beer, Minute Maid Splash, Minute Maid Pulpy and Namthip.

 

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For more information (Media only):

 

Coca – Cola (Thailand) Ltd.

Natha Boonprasit Tel. 02-835-1443 or 081-173-2893 bnatha@coca-cola.com

 

Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand

Rachit Puttipong Tel. 02-627-3501 ext 204, 081-801-1521 rkhemsaksith@th.hillandknowlton.com

Pannarai Thaweechotikitcharoen Tel. 02-627-3501 ext 157, 081-735-7799 pthaweechotkitcharoen@th.hillandknowlton.com