Calling Phuket home is a great privilege that comes with a great deal of responsibility. For Sue Ultmann, the equation is pretty straightforward: Phuket has been good to her, and in return, she gives back to the community through the Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation (PHBGTU), where she serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Managers.

Sue moved to Thailand from Australia in 1992 after her husband Tom accepted a position at what is now known as Anantara BoPhut Resort in Samui. In 2000, the couple relocated to Phuket, which they have since called their beloved home.

Many know Sue as the Executive Manager & Marketing Director of Baan Rim Pa, one of Phuket’s most renowned and highly awarded restaurants, a position she has held since 2001. The idea of PHBGTU was born within Baan Rim Pa in 2005, during one of the darkest periods in the island’s history.

“In 2005, following the Asian Tsunami, the American owner of Baan Rim Pa, the late Tom McNamara, decided to start the PHBGTU with the goal of offering free English lessons to underprivileged local children. I have been involved with the PHBGTU since its inception. It is my passion to see the charity continue and strengthen with the support of the expatriate community,” Sue explains.

PHBGTU provides free English classes to over 700 students, aged 7-12, at Kamala School and the Chicorée Foundation Kalim School. The aim is to help disadvantaged youth become confident English speakers, thereby enabling them to secure well-paying employment. About 260 children reside at Kamala School, either because they are orphans or their families cannot take care of them full-time. PHBGTU also runs an after-school program, Coconut Club, where these children engage in arts, crafts, sports, and computing.

“In 2024, we also plan to train students to join English competitions, usually attended by students from International Schools such as Impromptu Writing and English Story Telling,” Sue shares.

PHBGTU is known for their part in various community events and unique own fundraisers, like the Melbourne Cup party, where ladies and gentlemen dress up for the occasion, and hats are a must. In 2024, an International Women’s Day Lunch for the Russian community was introduced to the foundation’s calendar for the first time.

Supporters of the foundation include Baan Rim Pa, Kata Rocks, Café del Mar, Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Chicorée Foundation, and Living Waters Foundation. Alongside these esteemed establishments, individual donors can sponsor a child’s education for ฿10,000 a year.

A thing rarely explained, is how easy it is to provide a life-changing gift through PHBGTU. ฿10,000 a year is under ฿28 per day. The amazing result of the foundation’s work is everyone having a chance to convert the price of one 7-Eleven sandwich per day into one child’s future.

“We want to encourage new members of the expatriate community to donate good used clothing and toys, but more importantly, we need financial support to continue our work. People can donate on a regular basis; they can sponsor a child for ฿10,000 per year or a teacher for ฿450,000 a year. There are many ways to assist and become part of this very special program,” Sue emphasizes.

Having spent a quarter of a century in Thailand, Sue offers some advice for those considering making Phuket their home:

“As we look around the world today and see the wars, natural disasters, and heartbreaking scenes, we can be grateful we are guests in this wonderful country, and particularly Phuket. There will always be difficulties to overcome, whether it’s language or regulations. Be patient, polite, honest, and respectful of the local people and culture. It may be very different from where you come from, but it is special. Always finish with a “smile”, it goes a long way,” Sue advises.

To learn more about PHBGTU, please visit phukethasbeengoodtous.org or email info@phukethasbeengoodtous.org.