New CEO of ShelterBox International
Sanj Srikanthan
Past District 6630 Governor Jack Young, USA ShelterBox Hall of Fame member and former ShelterBox USA Board of Director was one of the presenters at the February 20th Anniversary Celebration of ShelterBox International in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the conference, he met with the new CEO of ShelterBox International, Sanj Srikanthan of Cornwall, England.Before Sanj joined ShelterBox International, he was the Senior Vice President of the International Rescue Committee for 10 years, worked at the United Nations office for coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a Captain in the British Army and was the Emergency Field Director for responses in Mali, Liberia, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.
20 years after ShelterBox was started by Rotarian Tom Henderson in Cornwall, England and with Global Rotary support, it has developed into an independent International Disaster Relief Organization that specializes in Emergency Shelter. In 2010 PDG Jack Young and Rotarian Marsha Pappalardo were invited by the founder to come to the UK to visit ShelterBox International offices and the place where it started with the vision of one Rotarian.
During the first 20 years of its supporting those individuals who have lost everything during a disaster, the staff and volunteers throughout the world, several key points are noted.
1. ShelterBox has supported over 1.5 million people around the world with emergency shelter
2. We have supported communities in 100 countries
.3. We have responded to over 300 disasters in the world.
4. We have responded in the Philippines more than any other country, (27 times)
5. Our work in Syria is the largest and longest running response, Since 2012 ShelterBox has helped over
250,000 people during their conflict.
6. ShelterBox is a cutting Edge Charity that hand delivers Emergency Shelter and Tools.
7. Right now there are around 88 million people who have been displaced by Natural Disaster or Conflict.
8. In 2019, we have responded in 11 countries and provided aid to over 145,000 people.
Jack gave a special thank you to all of the Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, friends of Rotary and the young people who were concerned about helping those in the world who truly have needed our help during difficult times.
Rotarians and Rotary Clubs have been a significant part of the fellowship who has been able to help ShelterBox carry on its mission as a project partner of Rotary International. It also should be noted that our partners in the field include:
A. United Nationals Human Refugee Council
B. International Federation of the Red Cross
C. International Organization for Migration
D. Handicap International
E. Habitat for Humanity
Along with this ShelterBox has received the high est Ratings from Charity Navigator (4 Stars) and was nominated in both 2018 and 2019 for the Nobel Peace Prize. For those who would like more information on ShelterBox and how they can support this effort or who would like to have a speaker, please contact PDG Jack Young at 440-759-4000 or jack1villa@aol.com.
Pictured above L-R:
Beth Palmer, Founding member from the RC of Lakewood Ranch Florida who first brought ShelterBox to the United States and contacted Jack about serving on the board of directors in 2005.
Sanj Srikanthan, New CEO of Shelter Box International.
PDG Jack Young, Former Board of Director for ShelterBox USA and Hall of Fame Member.
Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA
ShelterBox Deployment Update
Twenty years ago this year this year there was a gap in Emergency Shelter. ShelterBox was created by a Rotarian in England to fulfill that need. Today we are still passionate to see a world whee no family is without Shelter. Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission and working with Rotary is both an honor and pleasure.
CURRENT DEPLOYMENTS/UPDATES:
The Philippines: We have finished our latest distribution. After back to back disasters (3 earthquakes in October and 1 Typhoon in December) ShelterBox has provided over 4,200 families with Shelter
Syria: We are finishing our distribution this month and will have provided aid to over 4,400 families. Since 2012, we have provided shelter to well over 50,000 families.
Ethiopia: Millions of People have been forced to flee their homes to the violent crimes and climate change. We have helped shelter over 3,000 families with Shelter Aid.
Nigeria: Since 2009 the extremist group Boko Haram has been committing deadly attacks across Nigeria. The conflict in Nigeria continues to impact structures/villages and 7.7 million people are in need of shelter. We have helped provide over 12,500 families in various camps with basic shelter.
Cameroon: An area that is also supporting refugees, we have provided housing for over 7,000 families in several areas.
Somaliland: Severe drought is devastating thousands of families forcing many of them to leave their homes and move to other parts of the country. We have been able to support over 4,000 families with the basic items found in the shelter box to help them survive.
I have been asked about several other disasters occurring in the world. At this time we have not been asked by the country to become involved. Most of you know that before Shelter Box can go into a disaster area, we have to be invited into that country by the government. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. (Jack A. Young, SB USA Board of Director 2007-14 440-759-4000 or jack1villa@aol.com)
We still need your advanced support so that we can respond in a timely fashion when we can help those in need.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TRANSFORM DESPAIR INTO HOPE
Jack A. Young, PDG and SB USA Board of Director 2007-14