ShelterBox facts for kids

ShelterBox is a special charity that helps families around the world. It started in 2000 in Cornwall, UK. This group gives emergency shelter and other important items to people. They help families who have lost their homes because of disasters or conflicts.

ShelterBox helps after natural disasters like earthquakes, big storms (tropical cyclones), tsunamis, floods, and volcanoes. They also give aid to families forced to leave their homes because of wars. This includes places like Syria and the Lake Chad Basin.

What does ShelterBox provide? They often give out tents for temporary homes. They also provide shelter kits. These kits help people build or fix strong shelters. Other helpful items include mosquito nets, water filters, and water carriers. Solar lights, cooking sets, blankets, and mats are also given. Often, these items come packed in a strong green box.

The aid from ShelterBox is different for each disaster. It depends on what people need and where they are. ShelterBox Response Teams deliver the aid directly. They work closely with local groups and other aid agencies. They also partner with Rotary Clubs worldwide.

How ShelterBox Started

ShelterBox helped people in Kenya in 2011. This was after a long dry period and food shortages in East Africa.

The Beginning

ShelterBox was created in 2000. It was started by Tom Henderson, who was a Rotarian. He used to be a diver in the Royal Navy. Tom got the idea for ShelterBox after watching a TV show about disaster relief. He thought of a "disaster relief kit for a family." This kit would be in a box that could be sent quickly anywhere.

The first 143 ShelterBoxes were sent in 2001. They went to people affected by an earthquake in Gujarat, India. Over the next three years, the project grew a lot. By the end of 2004, nearly 2,600 boxes had been sent. This was after 16 big disasters. The charity helped many more people after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

Tom Henderson was recognized for his work. He was named a CNN Hero in 2008. This award honors everyday people who are changing the world. In 2010, he received an OBE from The Queen. This was for his great work in charity and helping others.

In 2013, Alison Wallace became the new CEO of ShelterBox. She had worked for Amnesty International before.

Major Help Efforts

One of ShelterBox's biggest responses was after the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. This earthquake was very strong. ShelterBox provided homes for 28,000 families there. This was about a quarter of all the tents given out near Port-au-Prince.

After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, ShelterBox helped about 1,600 families. They provided aid in the areas hit by the disaster.

In 2015, a powerful earthquake hit Nepal. It caused many deaths and injuries. ShelterBox helped families who lost their homes there.

In 2017, two very strong hurricanes, Irma and Maria, hit the Caribbean. ShelterBox sent aid to islands like St Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, and the British Virgin Islands.

ShelterBox has also done a lot of work in Syria. Since 2013, they have been helping families affected by the war in Syria. This is one of their largest ongoing projects.

How the Charity Has Grown

When ShelterBox first started, its main office and warehouse were in Helston, UK. Volunteers would pack the green boxes there. Then, the boxes were sent to disaster areas. Since then, the charity has grown a lot. Now, the main office is in Truro, and there's a smaller office in London.

In 2017, ShelterBox started a local group in the Philippines. It's called ShelterBox Operations Philippines. This helps the charity respond faster and better in that country. The Philippines has been hit by disasters more often than any other country where ShelterBox works.

How ShelterBox Responds to Disasters

Mike Perham talks about ShelterBox at a UK Primary School in 2012.

ShelterBox uses special systems to watch weather around the world. This helps them guess how big hurricanes and cyclones might be. They also have an earthquake alert system. This system tells them right away about any shaking that could cause a disaster. ShelterBox also works with local and international aid groups. Rotary Clubs worldwide also share information when they know people need help.

ShelterBox has a way to decide where to send help. They ask questions to make sure they support the families who need it most. If the conditions are right, a team can be sent out within 48 hours.

Funding ShelterBox

ShelterBox gets its money from donations. About half of the money comes from people in the UK. The rest is raised by other ShelterBox groups around the world.

Important Supporters

In 2007, the Duchess of Cornwall became a special supporter of ShelterBox. She is now their President and Royal Patron. She first learned about the charity in 2006.

She met ShelterBox workers during a visit to Pakistan. This was after an earthquake there. She was very impressed by their new ways of helping people. She has supported them ever since.

Working with Others

Rotary International

In 2000, a local Rotary club in Cornwall adopted ShelterBox as their special project. Since then, ShelterBox has become a leading charity. It provides emergency shelter and supplies to thousands of families after disasters.

Rotary International and ShelterBox have a strong partnership. They renewed their agreement in 2019. This helps them work together even better to help families.

ShelterBox has been Rotary's Project Partner in Disaster Relief since 2012. But their relationship started even earlier. What began as a local connection has grown into a worldwide effort. Rotary members have helped raise over £54 million for ShelterBox. Many Rotary members also volunteer or work for ShelterBox. Rotary clubs around the world offer practical help. This allows ShelterBox to reach more families after disasters or conflicts.

International Affiliates

ShelterBox affiliates are teams set up in different countries. They work with ShelterBox to help with fundraising and volunteering. Some of the biggest affiliates are in the US, Canada, and Australia. But there are more than 15 such groups around the world.

Local Humanitarian Partners

ShelterBox works with partners in many countries. These partners help deliver aid in disaster or conflict zones.