GIVING BACK

Future of Leadership is a social movement to bring about meaningful change in the lives of the children that we support through Hands Across the Water.

Hands Across the Water (Hands) started as a charity in response to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, 20 years ago this December.

Peter Baines OAM was a NSW Police forensic investigator for 22 years and led the Australian and International teams for several months on deployment in Thailand in the identification of the 5,395 bodies that were recovered. On his last rotation, he met a group of children who had all lost their parents. This experience ignited his commitment to raise funds and build a home for these vulnerable children.

Today, Hands supports over 350 children across seven homes and projects in Thailand. The children who find refuge in our care do so out of necessity, often due to one of three heart-wrenching circumstances: they have no family to care for them, their family is unable to provide care, or they have been rescued from unsafe environments by the Police or Government.

At Hands, we believe every child deserves the chance to build a future filled with possibilities, opportunities, and dreams. Our mission extends beyond merely providing sustenance; we strive to help children recognise and seize the opportunities before them. Our vision is to break the cycle of poverty and create brighter futures and a life of choice for these children.

We achieve this through three core pillars:

RESCUE & NURTURE: We provide safe and loving homes for children in need, ensuring their basic needs are met with compassion and care.

IGNITE POTENTIAL: We facilitate access to high-quality education, tailoring opportunities to individual aspirations, and creating pathways that lead to meaningful employment.

EMPOWER FUTURES: We equip children with the skills and resources necessary to break the cycle of dependence, achieve financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.