Coconut Island: The Village Coconut Island
Located just minutes from mainland Phuket, The Village – Coconut Island is the perfect getaway holiday destination for overseas tourists and locals like Jay Leshark and his family, and they headed over to where it all started for Jay 15 years ago
After working for Sunsail Watersports Holidays teaching sailing in Turkey, Greece and Antigua Jay got a phone call back in 2007 from the owner of The Village, Coconut Island and then Jay arrived in Phuket to work at The Village in sales and marketing manager for their luxury villas.
Located on the idyllic Coconut Island or “Koh Maprao” as it is known in Thai, The Village offers true luxury and seclusion just 500m off the coast of Phuket, Thailand.
Set in a stunning position in Phang Nga Bay, the gateway to some of Thailand’s most beautiful beaches, islands, and scenery.
Jay and the kids took the short boat trip on their 24-hour water taxi service which whisked them to The Village, Coconut Island.
Discovered initially by shipwrecked explorers hundreds of years ago, Coconut Island has always retained it’s sense of mystery and adventure, and all of the elements of its resort are designed to reflect this.
They offer Jacuzzi suites, Grand Villas, and Pool Villas all have been built to cater for couples, families, groups and singles with all of the options encapsulating the privacy and luxury that has come to define The Village, Coconut Island.
While Jay was on Coconut Island, he went to visit the local village which had suffered like many other small local Thai villages, during the COVID pandemic. It was an opportunity for Jay to see the amazing work that Living Waters Phuket has done for many of the local people not only living in Phuket but also for those living in islands around Phuket.
Living Waters Phuket helped to provide portable water for 300 students at the Coconut Island School, as well as critical equipment for the school’s kitchen including a fridge, freezer, and fans.
Check out the video to see the adventures on Coconut Island as well as a walk around the local village on the island and a look into the school.
Who are Living Waters?
Living Waters Phuket is dedicated to building brighter futures for disadvantaged communities across Thailand.
They help by awarding financial grants which assist in funding essential relief projects (including sustainable food security, education requirements, renewable energy, and environmental issues) in Phuket, Koh Samui, and across Thailand.
5 Star Marine Launches Living Waters Phuket Foundation
The first united Foundation in Phuket to provide grants in support of vulnerable communities!
A Brighter Future For Phuket
Shaun Stenning, CEO of 5 Star Marine explains: “Phuket has needed a credible and well thought out Foundation for years, so I decided to set one up with 5 Star Marine being the major funding source behind Living Waters Phuket. This new Foundation can carry forward the work we completed during the Pandemic, providing Life Bags to over 360,000 families; but will also provide financial grants for other vital initiatives. Living Waters Phuket will continue on in our community, providing sustainable solutions to food security, education, and environmental issues.”
A United Foundation
This brand-new Foundation is combining the efforts of registered charities, foundations, private companies, and government organizations. Living Waters Phuket aims to provide strategic and viable aid by issuing financial grants to projects around relief and solutions for sustainable food security, education, renewable energy, and environmental issues.
The Foundation officially launched on 1st November 2021 with an unparalleled financial grant from Living Waters Phuket and 5 Star Marine for the largest single food donation to date in Phuket. This initiative consists of over 8,700 ‘Super Life Packs’ to help families in need. The execution of this initiative is a collaborative effort between Living Waters Phuket, 5 Star Marine, the Phuket Red Cross, Phuket Has Been Good To Us, and various government departments.
Over 88,700 ‘Super Life Packs’ which contain enough staple food items to feed a family of 4 people for 1 whole week will be going out this week. This effort will include a staggering 44 tonnes of rice, along with noodles, tinned fish, and nearly 9,000 liters of cooking oil and sauces.
Where It All Began…
Shaun Stenning and his 5 Star Marine team have been diligently running their ‘Life Bags’ food donation program for over 20 months; dedicating efforts towards the most vulnerable communities across Phuket and the surrounding islands with non-stop weekly funding, sourcing, packing, and delivery efforts taking place.
A Natural Extension
Living Waters Phuket formed a strategic transition from the last 20 months’ worth of relief efforts. It sits in synergy as the next stage for 5 Star Marine who founded and funded this first-of-a-kind Foundation in Phuket. The Foundation will now provide a more long-term, sustainable, and ongoing means to continue providing relief via funds for projects where the community needs the most help.
Grants and Support
Grants are currently being awarded to community groups, Not-For-Profit organizations (NFPOs), and individuals who want to bridge a gap by finding solutions to sustainable food security, education, renewable energy, and environmental issues. The independent board of advisors at Living Waters Phuket will review each grant application objectively, fairly, and impartially.
If you wish to know more about Living Waters Phuket please visit the below:
