QUIZ: 20 years of ShelterBox
Take the quiz to learn about some of the most memorable responses in our history.
ShelterBox was founded in the small town of Helston, Cornwall UK, by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in 2000.
Now 20 years later, with global Rotary support, ShelterBox has developed into an independent, international disaster relief organisation, providing emergency shelter, tools and other essentials so families can rebuild after disaster.
In that time, we have supported over 1.5 million people with emergency shelter aid and other essential items and training to help recovery after disaster.
ShelterBox was founded in the small town of Helston, Cornwall UK, by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard.
Amazing local support in Cornwall meant people in India who lost their homes in the 2001 Gujarat earthquake were the first to be supported by the newly formed ShelterBox.
Families affected by conflict in Afghanistan and Angola were supported with tents and other essential shelter aid items. ShelterBox takes the first steps to going global when ShelterBox USA was formed and adopted as a project of the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch in Sarasota, Florida.
ShelterBox Australia was formed, further growing worldwide support from Rotarians and others around the world. With their help, ShelterBox was to grow and help people affected by disaster in six countries around the world.
ShelterBox helped Indonesian communities after the Boxing Day Tsunami. The incredible surge of support for the families affected by this huge disaster also allowed ShelterBox to help people in many more disasters. ShelterBox Volunteer Response Teams were introduced.
Still working to support families affected by the Boxing Day Tsunami, ShelterBox becomes a signatory to Red Cross Code of Conduct signing up to 10 core principles of humanitarian response and good conduct.
Rotaractors in Germany formed ShelterBox Germany and Rotarians created ShelterBox New Zealand. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall praised our work whilst visiting disaster-affected families in Pakistan.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, Jagedeo Argairiya, a mother affected by flooding in Nepal, becomes the 500,000th person to be supported by ShelterBox. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall becomes President of ShelterBox.
Our work supporting people in the Democratic Republic of Congo marked the 50th country ShelterBox has worked in. ShelterBox France was formed by Rotarians.
Rotarians mobilised once again to form ShelterBox Switzerland, ShelterBox Netherlands and ShelterBox Norway.
After a 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti, with help from our amazing supporters, ShelterBox provided shelter for 28,000 families – we launched our biggest response to date. With the help of Rotarians, ShelterBox affiliates were formed in Canada, Belgium and Luxembourg, the Philippines and South Africa.
Support was provided to communities after the Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.
We helped families fleeing the war in Syria, and we have been supporting communities in the region ever since – it is our longest running response. ShelterBox becomes Rotary International’s first Project Partner for disaster relief.
Our teams worked to support people after Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. ShelterBox Sweden formed.
ShelterBox negotiated the delivery of aid to families like Mohammed’s in war-torn Gaza.
Our teams created a large scale response for families like Surya’s after the Nepal earthquake. We also started to help people like Esther fleeing Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin Crisis and we are still supporting communities in the region today. We reached the milestone of supporting 1 million people in 2015.
After Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, our teams worked to support families like Diane and Yokimi’s. We began supporting people affected by the Mosul offensive, a response that lasted for three years.
Our teams supported families like Yanira’s after Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, and Guljar’s during the Rohingya crisis, as well as 12 other countries.
After the Sulawesi Indonesia, earthquakes and tsunami, we supported families like Ertis’s. Having responded in the Philippines more frequently than any other country, with the help of local Rotarians and Rotary Clubs we opened ShelterBox Operations Phillipines, helping us to move quickly when Tropical Storm Usman hit.
Support provided to families like Stephano and Mary’s after Cyclone Idai in Malawi. We also reached the milestone of helping over 250,000 people in Syria. We extended our partnership with Rotary International, to continue as partners in action, increasing reach and impact around the globe.
Celebrating 20 Years of ShelterBox
Read on to see how it all began and take a look at what you’ve helped us achieve.
Historic disaster responses
Since 2000, we have responded to a number of major disasters that shook whole countries and their people. Have a look at some of the most memorable ShelterBox disaster responses.