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Claus Holst-Gydesen, the CEO of one of Germany's oldest companies, recently jetted into Thailand to preside over the opening of the newly built Chao Thai Mai School in Phang Nga province, 50 kilometres from Phuket town.

Zwilling JA Henckels AG, which was founded in 1731, is a producer of high-quality knives, scissors, kitchen gadgets, cookware and flatware. The company has become known in Thailand for its generous contributions to improving the education of Moken children in Phang Nga province.

Although the community was not directly hit by the tsunami of December 2004, many of the families suffered from economic hardship in the months that followed as tourism dropped off and the fishing industry suffered a decline from which it still has to fully recover.

Holst-Gydesen has been the CEO of Zwilling for 14 months. A father of two, the 48-year-old Danish-born executive was in Munich when the tsunami struck. Watching TV coverage of the disaster, he could not believe his eyes.

"I saw pictures of people trying to save themselves as the wave hit. It was unbelievable, I thought it was a movie," he recalls. "Then you saw people in pain - wives looking for husbands, children looking for parents. The whole world watched it and regardless of where they were, what colour of their skin or what religion they believed in, they wanted to help."

Like so many other companies and individuals, Zwilling JA Henckels AG stepped in to lend a hand. But instead of just giving money to a charitable foundation, the company wanted to create its own project that would be a source of long-term and sustainable support.

With help from Minor Co, who distributes their products in Thailand, they quickly identified where their support could best be used.

Kathy Heinecke, the wife of Minor Co's chairman and active expat volunteer, suggested the Chao Thai Mai School. It had opened almost 40 years earlier and the existing building was in poor condition with walls partially eaten away by termites. The school needed to be completely rebuilt in order to meet health and safety regulations.

Holst-Gydesen was excited to see the new building funded by Zwilling, explaining that it was the main reason why he had made his first trip to Thailand.

The newly constructed building for secondary students is painted a bright yellow and the classrooms are all furnished with brand-new desks and chairs. More importantly, this also marks the first time in its history that the community has a high school in the area.

Holst-Gydesen was warmly welcomed to the school, and presented with a jasmine garland by a young student. The governor of Phang Nga, a representative from the German Embassy and the CEO of Minor Co were also on hand for the opening.

"I'm convinced that this was the right thing to do. And the smiles of the children confirm that," he said with a smile.

And while the project will continue, the next step has yet to be decided.

"We will probably spend on some form of educational activities that will help develop the children," Holst-Gydesen added.

Juthamas Cholthavornpong

The Nation