Shelter Box Canada & Rotary
ShelterBox ready to respond to
New Zealand's "darkest day"New Zealand ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members are responding to the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake which hit Christchurch, New Zealand at lunchtime on 22 February.
John Leach, ShelterBox Head of Operations, said: "In this early phase of the disaster the extent of emergency shelter requirements is unclear. Any level of need will emerge in the next 24 hours."
"Nothing but praise" for ShelterBox in Pakistan
Mark Pearson, ShelterBox Field Operations Specialist, says ten large camps were established in the Khyber Pakhtunkwa area, one of which was Alexander Camp where 500 families are still living today, eight months after the floods.
'The area of the camp is situated out of the flood prone area and our tents have served extraordinarily well through Monsoon rains, soaring heat of the summer and now the bitter night time temperatures. The residents have nothing but praise for the ShelterBox tents and can sleep well with their families through the night.'
Read more about ShelterBox work in Pakistan
ShelterBox brings 'new beginning' after Brazil floods
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| Patricia Trinidade Darohosa |
SRT member Mike Greenslade (AU) spoke of Patricia. 'The residents chose well, for Patricia is a tower of strength. After having lost her husband to brain cancer six days before the flood hit, the 34 year-old mother of four showed us photos of her house before and after the ensuing mudslide struck.
'She dramatically rescued her children just before her house was completely buried and destroyed. She took refuge in a neighbour's house only to have to escape again hours later as that too was engulfed in a torrent of mud and rocks. She literally had to pull her 9 year-old daughter out of the mud to save her.
'When I commented on how strong she was she replied that she was not strong but God was strong inside her, her children needed her to be strong and the people in the camp too. She said that ShelterBox had given her a new beginning.'
ShelterBox Canada Board meets to discuss exciting future growth plans
On February 7th, members of the new ShelterBox Canada Board of Directors came together for a planning session in Toronto. Tom Henderson (ShelterBox Founder and CEO) and Lasse Petersen (International Director of ShelterBox and Canadian Board member) were in attendance from ShelterBox International Headquarters in the UK, providing strong support for ShelterBox Canada's future growth plans.
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ShelterBox Canada Board members with ShelterBox Founder and CEO Tom Henderson |
The day kicked off with a review of the amazing progress that ShelterBox Canada has made over the past several months. Donations are growing with support from individuals and Rotary clubs from coast to coast. Our team of volunteer ShelterBox Ambassadors that represent our mission in communities all across Canada is expanding rapidly.
Looking ahead to the future, ShelterBox Canada is planning for significant growth in the number of ShelterBoxes funded to help families in need across the world. Board members agreed on a number of important elements that will be critical to ensure we successfully achieve this goal, including:
- Strong engagement of donors and volunteers
- Higher levels of brand awareness
- Diversification of our revenue base
- Board governance with a focus on accountability and transparency
Overall, there was agreement in the room that the next five years will be a time of exciting growth for ShelterBox Canada.
Strong Support for ShelterBox in South Africa
Rotary
International President, Ray Klingsmith, was the guest
of honour at a conference in South Africa which saw
ShelterBox adopted as a project by Rotary Districts
throughout the region.
Representatives from
ShelterBox South Africa spoke at the annual meeting
of the Governor's Council of Southern and East Africa
where ShelterBox was suggested as the ideal project
to give all the Rotary Districts in Southern Africa the
opportunity to work together.
In ten years ShelterBox has grown from one club's adopted project to the largest Rotary Club project in the 100 year history of the organization.
International awards mark ShelterBox success
ShelterBox has recently been honoured by a series of international awards marking the success its lifesaving work.
Tom
Henderson, ShelterBox Founder and CEO, said: 'This
series of international awards is a testament to all our
supporters around the world. None of our lifesaving work
would be possible without the strength of our supporters
and donors.
'I'd like to say a huge thank you and well done to all our Response Team members, staff, volunteers, fundraisers and donors who make a real difference to families' lives around the world.'
Read more about ShelterBox Awards
Today!By supporting ShelterBox, you can help us alleviate the suffering of people all over the world who have been made homeless by natural or manmade disaster.
Click here to make a donation
Email: support@shelterboxcanada.org
Website: www.shelterboxcanada.org
National Office:
159 Jane Street, Office 2, Toronto, Ontario M6S 3Y8
Phone: 647-352-1930
Toll Free: 1-855-875-4661
