20 Years of Shelter gallery

For 20 years, our values have been guiding us to do the right thing and continue to work with communities around the world to provide emergency shelter.

In the era of coronavirus, this is more important than ever. In our 20th anniversary year, we are drawing on our experience and expertise to continue to provide the aid that families need to stay safe because we know that shelter save lives.

Click on the photos below to read the stories behind the images.

But first! Watch this message of thanks for ShelterBox CEO Sanj Srikanthan and Rotary International President Holger Knaack

Lombok, earthquake, 2018

The Rotary Club of Mataram in Lombok helped us to reach families across the island after the earthquake in 2018. They supported us with everything from transportation and travel to translation and practical aid distribution. We can’t thank them enough.

We can’t do it alone

We are one big international team united in the belief that no family should go without shelter after disaster. We build lasting relationships and are good to each other.

It’s 20 years since one Rotary club created ShelterBox, a humanitarian organisation that has now supported more than 1.5 million people. They could not have known the challenges facing our world in 2020 – but they founded an organisation of action, ready to respond.

Malawi, Cyclone Idai, 2019

Expert local knowledge from people like Miriam means we can reach remote communities who might otherwise be overlooked. Miriam works for our partner Habitat for Humanity in Malawi where, together, we supported over 2,000 families after Cyclone Idai in 2019.

We can’t do it alone

We are one big international team united in the belief that no family should go without shelter after disaster. We build lasting relationships and are good to each other.

Papua New Guinea, Volcano eruption, 2005

Following the eruption of Mount Tavuvur volcano near Rabaul in East New Britain in late 2005, the local government had resettled villagers of Matupit Island to nearby Sikut, in the mountains.

We can’t do it alone

We are one big international team united in the belief that no family should go without shelter after disaster. We build lasting relationships and are good to each other.

Somaliland, drought, 2018

We are one of the few emergency shelter specialists in the world. We have grown and adapted since we began packing green boxes in 2,000 but our vision remains the same – No family without shelter after disaster.

We make a tangible impact

Our purpose is simple and we want to keep it that way. We work in a complex world but we keep focused on making a real difference to peoples lives.

Over our 20 years, we have supported over 1.5 million people, across 97 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Dominica, Hurricane Maria, 2018

Kishma is a young single parent with three children. Before the storm hit, she lived with her mum, dad and sister, who also has two children.

Here, Kisham holds a photograph of her family in front of their tent.

We make a tangible impact

Our purpose is simple and we want to keep it that way. We work in a complex world but we keep focused on making a real difference to peoples lives.

Over our 20 years, we have supported over 1.5 million people, across 97 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka, Flooding, 2016

In May of 2016 a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal caused torrential rain to fall across Sri Lanka. With the ground saturated, further rains caused major landslides displacing hundreds of families.

We make a tangible impact

Our purpose is simple and we want to keep it that way. We work in a complex world but we keep focused on making a real difference to peoples lives.

Over our 20 years, we have supported over 1.5 million people, across 97 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Colin Bell – fundraiser, Rotarian, ShelterBox volunteer

He’s been fundraising for ShelterBox since 2014, when he first ran a marathon carrying a ShelterBox to fund desperately needed shelter around the world. The following year he set himself the challenge of running 2015 km often with his trusty ShelterBox strapped to his back!

We make a tangible impact

Our purpose is simple and we want to keep it that way. We work in a complex world but we keep focused on making a real difference to peoples lives.

Over our 20 years, we have supported over 1.5 million people, across 97 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Kenya, Flooding, 2018

More than 290,000 people were forced to leave their homes across Kenya because of devastating heavy rains and flooding in 2018. We worked with local organisations and Rotary groups to provide vital aid to people like Hadjia Elema, pictured left.

We do the right thing

We strive to do the right thing. People are at the heart of everything we do. We have a responsibility to make the best decisions for the communities we support and listen to and learn from each other.

Our work in Syria is our largest and longest running response. We’ve helped over 250,000 people (50,000 households or ‘families’) since 2012.

Indonesia, earthquake, 2009

In October 2009, the Indonesian island of Sumatra was struck by two major earthquakes in less than 24 hours. The first earthquake caused buildings to collapse and fires to rage in the city of Padang. A second earthquake then hit the island, causing further devastation.

ShelterBox immediately mobilised a response.

We do the right thing

Our work in Syria is our largest and longest running response. We’ve helped over 250,000 people (50,000 households or ‘families’) since 2012.

Malawi, flooding, 2015

In 2015, some of the worst flooding in more than 40 years deluged southern Malawi. Flash flooding, impassable roads and washed-away bridges made transporting aid to the region a challenge. With the support of our response team volunteers, the local community rebuilt their homes.

We do the right thing

Our work in Syria is our largest and longest running response. We’ve helped over 250,000 people (50,000 households or ‘families’) since 2012.

Mozambique, Cyclone Dineo, 2017

Each disaster is different, and so is every community. To help meet the individual needs of different communities we have developed a range of shelter solutions.

We plan for tomorrow

We are forward-thinking. We continually seek new ways to tackle the challenges we face, proactively researching new ideas and adapting to changing circumstances.

We have responded in The Philippines more than any other country, at 27 times since 2004. That’s why we launched ShelterBox Operations Philippines.

Barbuda, Hurricane Irma, 2017

ShelterBox tents are designed for protection against wind, rain, heat and cold.

We plan for tomorrow

We are forward-thinking. We continually seek new ways to tackle the challenges we face, proactively researching new ideas and adapting to changing circumstances.

We have responded in The Philippines more than any other country, at 27 times since 2004. That’s why we launched ShelterBox Operations Philippines.

Philippines, Typhoon Mangkhut, 2018

The Philippines is one of the world’s worst disaster-affected countries. On average, we respond there nearly twice a year to disasters like cyclones and earthquakes.

That’s why we have set up ShelterBox Operations Philippines, a locally registered NGO that is supported and guided by ShelterBox Operations HQ in the UK.

We plan for tomorrow

We are forward-thinking. We continually seek new ways to tackle the challenges we face, proactively researching new ideas and adapting to changing circumstances.

We have responded in The Philippines more than any other country, at 27 times since 2004. That’s why we launched ShelterBox Operations Philippines.

West Sumatra, Indonesia, earthquake, 2009

In late 2009 the Indonesian island of Sumatra was struck by two earthquakes in less than 24 hours. The first earthquake caused buildings to collapse and fires to rage in the city of Padang. A second earthquake then hit the island, causing further devastation.

Because … disasters don’t wait

Disasters don’t wait. So we step up, set priorities and trust our people to get things done. We expect the unexpected and adapt quickly. We plan for tomorrow, do the right thing and work together to make a tangible impact.

Since 2000, ShelterBox has supported over 1.5 million people around the world with emergency shelter aid and other essential items and training to help recovery after disaster. We have supported communities in 97 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.

Paraguay, flooding 2016

Heavy El Nino rains in early 2016, swept across Paraguay causing what many called the ‘worst flooding in 50 years’. In some places the water lapped over flood defences built nine metres above the usual water level. In this picture you can see where a football pitch once stood, but instead was deluged by floodwater.

Because … disasters don’t wait

Fiji, Cyclone Winston, 2016

We go to hard to reach communities, often those that are overlooked by others. The South Pacific Island nation of Fiji was hit by Cyclone Winston in 2016. With winds of 320 kms/hr and storm surges up to12 meters high, it cut a path of destruction through the central islands of the Fijian archipelago. It was logistically challenging to reach the remote islands of Fiji, which consist of some 330 islands spread across 120,000 sq. kms of the South Pacific.

Because … disasters don’t wait

Sri Lanka, landslides 2016

In spring 2016, Sri Lanka suffered torrential monsoon flooding. This caused tremendous damage itself, but the flood waters also went on to cause landslides. In the area of Kegalle, three villages were completely wiped out by a landslide.

Because … disasters don’t wait

Explore more

Test your Knowledge - 20 Years of Disaster

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Historic Disaster Responses - 20 Years of Aid

See the Responses

Our Founding Story - 20 Years of Partnership

Read the Blog