Ford Thailand president John Felice (left) joins other Ford volunteers to build a Habitat house for a tsunami-affected family.

John V. Felice, president of Ford Thailand Operations, recently joined other Ford Volunteer Corps members to dig footings and mix cement for a new house for Prathana Promkaew and her two children. Prathanaโs husband died in the Dec. 26 tsunami and the familyโs home in Bang Niang on the southwest coast of Thailand was destroyed.

ใIt feels good to do something to help these families that have lost so much,ไ said Felice, as he poured a bucket of cement handed to him by a fellow volunteer. Felice said he had volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in the United States, usually for one-day builds that were also team-building exercises for a corporate group.

Since March, more than 250 Ford volunteers have spent a week working with Habitat for Humanityโs tsunami-recovery program in southern Thailand and that many more are expected to join the effort before the end of 2005. They are drawn from all areas of the company as well the ranks of Ford dealers and suppliers. The tsunami-recovery effort in Thailand is the largest project undertaken by any Ford Volunteer Corps

The volunteers have made 25,000 concrete roof tiles that are now being painted and installed. Technicians among the volunteers have used their specialized skills to provide maintenance for the tile-making equipment.

Habitat for Humanity, with help from corporate and non-profit partnerships, is building houses for tsunami-affected families in several communities in Phang Nga province, including Bang Niang, Plu Teow and Khuk Khak. Phang Nga was the area hardest hit by the waves.

Prathana Promkaew, 29, is looking forward to a safe home for her children, Kamolrat, 5, and Pattrawadee, 10 months.