QLDOne of our most basic needs as humans is shelter. Since its inception in 2000, ShelterBox has provided emergency shelter for victims of earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, typhoons, hurricanes, volcanoes and conflicts.
A ShelterBox contains a range of equipment necessary to survive, including a disaster relief tent for a family of up to 10 people, a basic tool kit, thermal blankets and a stove.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of the organisation, from the volunteer fundraisers who have so far contributed to the 106,062 boxes which have helped disaster victims since 2000, to the volunteer special response team who have delivered the boxes to every continent during some of the worst natural disasters in recent memory, including after the 2004 Boxing day tsunami and most recently Haiti.
Don't do nothing. Do something. We can all make a difference however small our contribution" Tom Henderson, Founder and CEO ShelterBox Trust.
Greville Easte, Director of ShelterBox Australia, said when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, ShelterBox was overwhelmed by the public's response.
"Following Haiti, founder and CEO Tom Henderson, opened the warehouse doors at 7am to find a two mile long line of people wanting to help – children with piggy banks, pensioners with their week's money," he said.
"This is ShelterBox and this is what they do.
"It's totally voluntary which is most heartening and often brings a tear to people's eye when they see how we do it."
ShelterBox was last deployed in Australia during the Victorian bushfires in 2009 where 100 boxes were distributed to house victims.
Special Response Team - Mike Greenslade
Each consignment of boxes is delivered by volunteer Special Response Teams (SRTs) who are the organisation’s eyes and ears on the ground, spearheading the relief effort.
Mike Greenslade has completed 15 deployments since signing up with the organisation in 2006. Mr Greenslade's most recent deployment was to Brazil in February where flooding and landslides devastated communities living in the Mountainous Region of Rio de Janeiro.
"About 16,000 were displaced by the disaster," he said. "In that case, 300 boxes were distributed and 200 tents went up."
Mr Greenslade said his most memorable deployment since signing up was in Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in 2010.
"Haiti was a real eye-opener because of the scale of the disaster and just the sheer lack of infrastructure.
"Wherever I go, what amazes me is the resilience of the people you come across. You don't have too many complaints, people still maintain a sense of humour and there is a global sense of humanity."
"They really appreciate that someone has come from the other side of the world to help them, that other people have given money so that they can start a new life.
"That's a very rewarding aspect of the work and it's a real privilege to be at that end of the organisation."
Becoming an SRT
Becoming an SRT member is no walk in the park, with a three day selection process in Australia followed by an intensive nine-day residential course in Cornwall.
“As the organisation has grown, so too has its responsibility to its volunteers,” Mr Greenslade said.
“The nine-day course they’ve developed is really a world leader in disaster relief management.”
During the nine days, recruits develop their knowledge and skills in areas such as navigation, first aid and dealing with customs and the media.
Fundraising and how you can help
ShelterBox is a not-for-profit organisation, relying entirely on donations to make their work possible. Around 5,000 Rotary clubs globally support ShelterBox as it is a Global Rotary Club Project. Funds and awareness are also raised by philanthropic individuals and organisations.
"We've just had a husband and wife team tour Australia towing a ShelterBox behind them," Director Greville Easte said. "They've been through Canada, America, and New Zealand and have just left to go through Europe. "They hit the UK in June and finish in July."
ShelterBox Response Team member Mike Greenslade said he was approached by a woman wanting to help raise funds for the organisation after reading about his deployment to Brazil in the local paper.
"Her and her husband both sang in choirs and she organised a concert locally with three or four other singing groups," he said. "They raised $3,500 in one evening.
"It's great when you get a club or association who donate a box, but the small donations count just as much." Shelter Boxes are individually numbered so donors can track their box and find out where in the world it has been sent via the organisation's website.