ETC 3rd Year is in full swing!

The ETC, a non-profit training program for Thai nationals, was formed in response to the 2004 Tsunami Disaster and is now located in the worst hit area of Thailand, in KhaoLak. Our central mission begins with teaching and training young Thai people for a new career in environmental tourism, but it goes far beyond that. It is a program designed to truly empower and change lives forever and to build local Marine Conservation capability to protect Thailand's valuable coral reefs.

We provide a massive community service effort to our local area.

The first year ETC students were involved in large scale coastal clean up efforts and undersea survey work on behalf of the local environment and community. Their curriculum was a highly integrated blend of English Language Skills, Computer Skills, and Professional Dive Training. Throughout the 9 month program, a huge emphasis was placed on environmental stewardship and community leadership. The second year students have not only followed in the footsteps of their predecessors, but exceeded their accomplishments and set a new benchmark for community service.

  • They have reached out into the local schools and created mentorship programs for learning English.
  • They have worked with the Royal Thai Navy Seals to replenish a local reef with sealife.
  • They have worked hard to become the best trained emergency response crew in the local area.
  • They are spearheading a new gloabal awareness and dive industry initiative for using alternative bio-diesel fuel.
  • They have become the local experts in search and recovery and have recovered 120,000 bahts worth of lost objects.
  • They have hauled out tons of abandon fishing nets, rubbish, and tsunami debris again this year.
  • They have taught over 150 local youth to dive or snorkel and to care for the local coastal environment.

The ETC has so far provided a positive media outreach for the area to a global audience of over 620 million people, and brought several hundred visitors to the area in the past year. This year it will reach an even wider audience!

Many of our students lost their homes, jobs, and in many cases their loved ones to the oceans fury on Dec 26th. It's a most ironic show of resilience; they have learned to embrace the ocean as the key to their future. So far the ETC has produced 10 PADI dive instructors, and 31 PADI divemasters who are now employed in the dive industry and 15 more are in training now

Please have a look at our website, and as you do, please consider how you can help our mission become a permenent part of the landscape. We are so proud and grateful to have your interest and support. Enjoy.


Reid Ridgway
Managing Director
Ecotourism Training Center
ETC ANNOUNCES:


***TDEX SHOW***

The Thai Dive Expo is On!
and ETC will be there with
a special show announcement

http://www.thailanddiveexpo.com/


ETC/SMART Business Plan
wins a Global Award for it's
Social Impact Assessment!

April 18th, 2008
ETC teamed up with Thamassat University to produce a sustainable business plan to support the ETC's ongoing mission and expansion thoughout South East Asia. The business plan was entered in the Global Social Venture Competition stemming out of the reknowned Haas School of Business U.C. Berkeley, California. The plan has won the global honor for it's social implact assessment and the team received an award prize of $5000.00



XL Magazine Story


ETC featured on the
TAT website
http://www.tatnews.org/




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