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In her August 2019 Newsletter, Tess Widdifield, the Rotary and Community Fundraising Manager for Shelterbox Canada and a member of The Rotary Club of Toronto Twilight, talks about Shelterbox responding to current disasters and current Shelterbox operations world wide. Here's more of her newsletter...
You can read more about where ShelterBox is working at www.shelterboxcanada.org/operations-update
Hurricane Season Has Begun: Will you help us be prepared?
Tropical Storm Dorian has begun making headlines as it approaches Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Florida. Dorian is set to be one of many large storms this hurricane season, and ShelterBox is preparing for the worst. Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones pose a severe threat to life and property, and dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane can be very challenging. Entire communities can be destroyed, from people's homes to vital infrastructure such as roads, communication lines, power, and medical supplies. At ShelterBox headquarters, we monitor storms as they develop, and teams prepare for whatever could happen next. Emergency shelter and basic essentials can help families begin the process of recovery. Help ShelterBox be prepared for whatever disaster comes next, and help families recover and rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.
WHERE WE'RE WORKING NOW:
Paraguay:
Following severe flooding, 2000 families thus far have received ShelterKits, Mosquito Nets, Solar Lights, High Thermal Blankets, and Cotton Blankets. Response teams are still working to give 1000 more families aid.
Bangladesh:
Flooding from monsoons have affected thousands in Bangladesh. There are currently two response teams on the ground in Bangladesh. Team 1 is visiting areas that have been affected, and team 2 is learning more about the importation process. These are important steps in ShelterBox's Decision to Deploy process. Read more about the Decision to Deploy process here.
Cameroon:
Since 2015 ShelterBox has been working in Cameroon to help families fleeing violence and conflict. To date, almost 8,000 families have received aid. Project 7 is about to begin, with 1000 tents being distributed to families with the help of project partners IEDA.
Read our Current Operations to see more countries your support is working in.
FROM THE FIELD: Impact of ShelterBox aid in Paraguay
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Cecilio and his family live south east of the Paraguay River. In March 2019 they were forced out of their home when rising water levels flooded their town. They only had one day’s warning to move themselves and all their household possessions to a safer place.
Over the years, Cecilio said the water levels had become more frequent. “The waters rise far quicker than they used to, they used to rise slowly, and people had time to self-evacuate”, he said. Now families have much less warning. The water comes in so fast that they have to take what little they can carry and get out as fast as they can. Cecilio’s family had little warning as the alarms are only raised if the water levels increase in the northern part of the river. They are not always communicated well.
Cecilio said he was pleased to collect the aid items from ShelterBox. He was one of the first to receive them during one of the first distributions in July 2019. When the team met Cecilio to hear his story, he’d had the aid for a little over two weeks. He explained how it was well timed as he could now return home just as the river levels receded. He told the team that aid items from ShelterBox had given him the motivation to return to his original home and begin repairs on his property which was damaged by the floods.
Along with other members of his community, Cecilio received training on how to repair his home. “I paid close attention during the training to ensure that I could make the appropriate repairs to my home, and so that it lasts longer and remains stronger the next time the floods come”, he said.
Cecilio used the hammer and nails to repair his old roof and build the frame for another section of his house. He plans to use the tarpaulins to build the roof and weatherproof the section of the house he was framing. He said his favorite item was the shovel which he has used to level out and heighten the ground for both his and his neighbours properties to be rebuilt on. He has also dug trenches for drainage, and post-holes to support the frame of his building. “It is much better than my previous shovel”, he said. “It is a better quality and is lighter, so it is easier to use”. He continued by saying that he knows the tools and tarps will last because of the quality. Cecilio’s old spade has become rusted from the flooding
Another favourite item of his was the solar light, he uses it every night and charges it in the day, calling it his “sun in the night.”
For more information about ShelterBox and to learn more about where we are responding, visit us at www.shelterboxcanada.org/operations-update
ShelterBox is celebrating signing up for another 3 years as Rotary International’s Project Partner in disaster relief. What began as a local connection with one Cornish Rotary Club has led to an international movement that’s raised over $90 million for ShelterBox to date – enough for 140,000 ShelterBox family tents or 390,000 ShelterKits. First adopted as a millennium project by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in 2000, the support of Rotary members and clubs around the world saw ShelterBox become Rotary’s Project Partner in Disaster Relief in 2012. Since then, the partnership has helped transform ShelterBox into an internationally recognized disaster relief charity, supporting families with emergency shelter after disaster. The partnership extends far beyond financial support. Around 1,000 Rotary members are involved in ShelterBox as volunteers, staff or response team members. And clubs worldwide offer valuable, practical assistance to help ShelterBox reach more families fleeing disaster or conflict.
Speaking about the partnership renewal, General Secretary of Rotary International John Hewko said: ‘ShelterBox has been Rotary’s Project Partner in Disaster Relief since 2012, and we are excited to renew the partnership for another three years. Through this project partnership, Rotary members around the globe can collaborate with ShelterBox to support communities in desperate need of emergency temporary shelter and vital supplies following natural disasters. Additionally, Rotary and ShelterBox will continue to expand cooperation efforts through preparedness training and stockpiles of prepositioned aide in disaster-prone regions.’
Click here to read a story about what it takes to train for a ShelterBox Response team.
Are you looking for resources to support your fundraising and awareness activities for ShelterBox? Check out our new Rotary Action Toolkit. The toolkit is designed to provide information and tools you need to support the partnership between Rotary and ShelterBox in your communities. Access resources on how to fundraise, volunteer and access our training centre to use resources used by our ShelterBox Response Team members to help with your Club’s communication, goal setting and more. www.shelterboxcanada.org/actiontoolkit Rotary club presidents around the world have also commented. Ace Robin, President of the Mataram Rotary Club, Indonesia, was caught up in the deadly earthquakes that hit Lombok in 2018. Her home survived, but many around her were destroyed. Through an agreement with the government-led response, Ace’s club was central to bringing ShelterBox aid to Indonesia. Thanks to their support, vulnerable members of the community received vital emergency shelter, including families with elderly relatives, pregnant women or new mothers. Ace said: ‘Working with ShelterBox taught us a lot – they showed us how to build shelter and select families to help. It also gave us a chance to show what Rotary is to local people.’ We are grateful for the incredible support and acts of partnership shown by Rotarians and Rotary clubs around the world. If you would like to learn more about the partnership or how your club can support ShelterBox Canada, please visit our Action Toolkit at www.shelterboxcanada.org/actiontoolkit
Yours in Rotary,
Tess Widdifield
Rotary and Community Fundraising Manager
The Rotary Club of Toronto Twilight
Celebrate the Rotary Family: Host a community event to celebrate the impact of Rotary and ShelterBox’s partnership around the globe. Invite a ShelterBox Volunteer to share stories from the field and learn how your club can become a ShelterBox supporter or volunteer.
GET CONNECTED: Join the conversation : Did you know that there is a Rotary and ShelterBox Support Group on Facebook? It is a group that brings together Rotarians, ShelterBox Supporters, Staff and ShelterBox Response Teams to discuss all things ShelterBox and Rotary. It is a great place to see the latest operations updates, Rotary deployment information and video content to share with your Rotary Club. If you would like to join the group and conversation, please search for “Rotary and ShelterBox Support Group” on Facebook and ask to join the conversation!
SHELTERBOX OPERATIONS UPDATE: JOIN US EVERY TUESDAY ON FACEBOOK FOR LIVE OPERATIONS UPDATES FROM SHELTERBOX HQ. JOIN US LIVE
VOLUNTEER WITH SHELTERBOX - With the new Rotary year upon us there are so many ways to be the inspiration and make a difference in our communities and around the world. ShelterBox is looking for more dedicated individual across Canada to join our volunteer team. Whatever skills, knowledge or spare time you have, you can play a vital role in ensuring no family goes without shelter. Learn more about our various volunteer roles and how you can get involved in the 2019-20 Rotary year by visiting us at shelterboxcanada.org/volunteer
About ShelterBox Canada: Canada is a registered charity that has been a part of the global ShelterBox network since 2010. We have a team of over 120 volunteers across the country who share their passion with us and help us raise awareness and fundraise across the country. There are ten Canadian ShelterBox Response Team members who work tirelessly with the rest of the International Response Team to deliver aid to families who need it around the world. To learn more about our board and staff click here .
ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. Since 2012, we have been neighbours, friends and community leaders. Their aim is to create positive, lasting change in communities at home and all over the world.project partners with Rotary International, a global community of 1.2 million. Rotary has supported ShelterBox from the start when a local club championed the simple idea to package up essential shelter items in our now-iconic ShelterBoxes. As ShelterBox grew, so did Rotary support, and we are now international project partners in disaster relief. This partnership has helped us to become who we are today. Our global network of ShelterBox affiliates, which provides all-round assistance, evolved from Rotary relationships.
E: support@shelterboxcanada.org T: 647.352.1930 www.shelterboxcanada.org
ShelterBox Canada – 159 Jane Street, Office 2, Toronto, ON M6S 3Y8
Is your club interested in having a ShelterBox Presentation at an upcoming meeting? Let us know at support@shelterboxcanada.org