Local Business Support and Development

The devastation of the tsunami extended itself beyond the loss of life and property to the local economy as well. The affected area is heavily dependant on tourism and with the destruction of resorts and the lingering paranoia of foreign tourists tsunami survivors struggled to find employment and support their families. The initial wave of volunteers and relief agencies served to temporarily boost the economy but a more sustainable economic base is also necessary to provide for the locals.

The 4kali.org Local Business Support program is a hybrid between grants and micro-credit loans which serve to assist individuals in establishing businesses which are not entirely dependant on the tourism industry; thereby providing stable incomes for families and building the local economy. This program is an essential companion to our Support-A-Child and Building projects and many times serves to elevate a family’s income so that they are no longer dependant upon us to support surviving children and embodies our motto of “helping people help themselves”.

These projects have ranged in scope from mobile food carts, laundry businesses, local restaurants, barber shops and others which provide regular income for families who were left destitute after the loss of jobs due to the tsunami.