Petra Nemcova receiving her award at the Japan Society in New York (Photo: UN)

By Brigitte Leoni

NEW YORK, November 2, 2017 - Czech model and entrepreneur Petra Nemcova was yesterday officially recognized by Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction as World Tsunami Awareness Advocate in a ceremony held at the Japan Society in New York.

“Petra Nemcova not only survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand under terrible circumstances but also found a way to continue living, sharing her experience and putting her entrepreneurial spirit at the service of people affected by disasters. We are very pleased to recognize her efforts and acknowledge the incredible work she has undertaken to increase awareness on tsunami risk” said Robert Glasser. 

On 26 December 2004, Petra Nemcova lost her fiancé Simon Atlee and suffered serious injuries when the Indian Ocean earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck in Thailand. She managed to survive holding on to a palm tree for eight hours until she was rescued by Thai civilians and airlifted to an inland hospital nearby. 

“I was blessed to survive a near death experience in 2004 and this experience has taught me a huge lesson. We cannot control nature, but we can control the actions we take,” she says. 

A few months after the Indian Ocean tsunami, Petra went back to Thailand and created “Happy Hearts Fund.” Her charity fund has now financed 165 safe and disaster resilient schools in disaster-affected communities in Peru, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Haiti, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Nepal to the benefit of over 100,000 children. 

“We make sure that our schools respect the national building codes and are able to withstand a major earthquake, tsunami, or hurricane reinforcing their structure with steel bars along vulnerable and critical joints which allow them to withstand stronger forces,” she confirms.