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ShelterBox - A Recipe for Success

by PDG Gerry Roberts, International Service Chair

Rotary eClub One of District 5450

Like any good recipe, you need good ingredients, an excellent cook, a quality stove, and a highly motivated organization to make the result a success. This recipe, this success, we call ShelterBox.

This program began with an idea by Rotarian Tom Henderson, in the early part of 2000. His Rotary Club, Helston-Lizard, of Cornwall, UK (England) was looking for a Millennium Project which would help serve mankind and be a focal point for his Club. Tom conceived of a box which could hold the essentials of living, providing shelter, warmth, cooking capability, clean water, a place to sleep, and a place to be a family. That was a lot to ask for one box of material that could be stockpiled, that could be stacked, on pallets, easily transportable by air, waiting for the moment when the need became apparent.

That idea, that concept, became what we today call ShelterBox.

Here is the current list of contents of one ShelterBox:

1 Large, stackable, closeable, rugged plastic green box (which can be carried by two people) with the Rotary gear prominently displayed along with the flag of the donating country

1 Rugged, three compartment, easily erectable, nylon tunnel tent for 10 people

10 Sleeping Bags/Blankets

1 Set of Water Purification Equipment

1 Set of Water Carriers/Containers

1 Multi-Fuel Cooker/Heater

1 Set of Cooking Pots/Pans and Utensils

1Tent Bag which turns into a carrier for clothing and food

1Torch or Flashlight

A Variety of Tools and 30 meters of Rope

The concept is that a ShelterBox will allow a family or group of 10 people to be sheltered, kept warm, dry, out of the elements, while having a communal place to be in the center of the tent and two separate places to sleep. As many cultures on the earth do not have men and women sleeping together, it is essential that the two genders have separate quarters. With the water carriers and the water purification capability, the family can avoid intestinal disease, cook healthy food when available, gather food and clothing in the tent bag, trench around the tent to avoid water runoff, tie down the tent in windy weather, and generally live a reasonable existence under very trying and desperate conditions.

Has the idea been used? ABSOLUTELY! Since February of 2001, 1,628 units have been shipped to 22 different relief sites around the world. Since December 4^th of 2004, 600 units have been shipped to South Asia. More will be sent as funds become available.

ShelterBox attempts to distribute all boxes through on the ground Rotary Clubs which can then insure that the materials are going to the needy, and do not get lost in the process. Many organizations have provided air transport, including Virgin Airways, among others.

The ShelterBox organization has grown too. There are ShelterBox extensions in the United States, Canada, Australia, and soon in Japan.

So, how can you help? One ShelterBox complete, including air transport if needed, costs $900US.

Elsewhere on the Rotary eClub One website is a special donation location - Tsunami - look for it once you have finished your reading.

In addition, check out these websites:

www.shelterbox.org (UK - Home of the ShelterBox Trust organization)

www.shelterboxusa.org (US - Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, Florida)

www.shelterboxdownunder.org (Australia - Rotary Club of Endeavour Hills)

www.rotary.nisa.com/ladysmith/projects.htm (Canadian - Rotary Club of Ladysmith, Vancouver)

Like all great ideas in Rotary, such as clean water, avoidable blindness, PolioPlus, this idea began with just one Rotarian, with an idea to serve mankind. My congratulations to Rotarian Tom Henderson, and the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall, UK, for their vision, drive, vigor, energy, and foresight. That they are now working 20 hour days to meet the need in South Asia is both a tribute and a burden, but a burden I hope that you will share with your contribution to this most worthy cause.

This is "Service Above Self" in action in a most tangible way.

Now that you have completed this program, you have these options

To do BOTH use the Critique E-mail first, then return and click on the Make-Up Request Form

The content of programs appearing on the eClub One Make-Up website are the opinions of the authors and may or may not be shared by members of Rotary eClub One. These programs are presented by Rotary eClub One for use by site visitors, just as any program that might be presented at a Rotary meeting anywhere in the world.

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