ShelterBox

ShelterBox exists to ensure that no one is without shelter after disaster, often working in places that others don’t. It makes sure that families who need support are reached, and enabled to take the next step in resuming their livelihoods.

By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, ShelterBox transforms despair into hope. Every disaster is different, so ShelterBox has a flexible approach listening and learning from the communities they work with to ensure the right support is provided. Aid items are stored in strategic locations around the world so that aid can get to the families who need it as quickly as possible. Relief teams can travel by foot, donkey, boat, helicopter or tuk-tuk to get to the families who need support – whatever it takes to get to the people who need support.

From Cameroon to Syria, Ukraine to Gaza, and all the way to the Philippines and the Caribbean, ShelterBox has provided shelter to over three million people so far.

ShelterBox and Rotary

ShelterBox began in 2000 as a Cornish Rotary Club’s millennium project. With the support of Rotary members and clubs around the world, ShelterBox grew to become an internationally recognised, independent disaster relief organisation. Since 2012 ShelterBox and Rotary have been official Project Partners in disaster relief. Each year, Rotary helps ShelterBox to go further, support more people and access areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Their aim, like ours, is to create positive, lasting change in communities at home and all over the world.

Rotary members and clubs across the world support ShelterBox in a variety of ways, from raising awareness and funds, to providing practical assistance on the ground during responses to a disaster. This enables ShelterBox to work more effectively and reach more communities around the world. 

For example, on the day the 2023 Morocco earthquake struck, ShelterBox and Rotary members—in Morocco and around the world—started communicating about the response. By collaborating with Rotary members on logistics and permissions, and through practical support in warehouses, ShelterBox were able to get emergency aid to the communities who had been affected before freezing winter temperatures arrived. Thanks to Rotary partners in District 9010 and The Grand Atlas Foundation, together we supported thousands of people in 22 mountain villages to survive and recover.

The relationship between Rotary and ShelterBox is pivotal, with our district providing significant funding through a variety of interesting initiatives.

Each year, Rotary helps us to go further, support more people and access areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Read what we achieved in partnership here.

ShelterBox Action Toolkit

Are you a Rotarian or club leader? Visit our Action Toolkit, a resource centre for Rotarians looking to support ShelterBox.  You’ll find a wealth of information and resources, to keep your club informed and inspire your wider community. 

Contact

Kerr Fulton-Peebles
ShelterBox Rotary District Coordinator for District 1010