Shelterbox Canada News for March 2019

In her March 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. Be sure to check out the new SHE campaign from Shelterbox, in honour of March 8 and International Women's Day . Here's more of her newsletter...

YOUR S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: March 8, 2019

She is strong, she is resilient, she is resourceful. She is every woman displaced by disaster or conflict, and she needs your help.  Women and children account for more than 75% of refugees and displaced persons globally. Join ShelterBox and the SHE campaign in empowering women after disaster and conflict.

Higher death rates, increased gender-based violence, maternal death rates, economic loss, and loss of education all adversely affect women in crises. However, women are pivotal in household and community recovery – they are often the first responders to a crisis, and play a central role in the survival and resilience of families and communities.

At ShelterBox, we prioritize the most vulnerable, who are often women, mothers, female heads of households, providing them with essential supplies and training to enable them to rebuild their lives and begin the process of recovery.

This International Women’s day, March 8^th, ShelterBox is launching the SHE campaign, reaffirming our commitment to empowering women after disaster and conflict.

Together with Rotary’s commitment to maternal and child health, we can make a difference. We can provide women with essential supplies and training to enable them to rebuild their lives and begin the process of recovery. Together, we can promote resilience of females and female-led households.

FATNIZAR - SHE is a mother. SHE is a seamstress. SHE is her own boss

 

Crises often hit women’s livelihoods hardest, in part because they tend to work in informal sectors more. Before the earthquake and 20ft tsunami swept away her village in Indonesia, Fatnizar was a seamstress. Working out of her home, she had been in business for two-years. When the tsunami waves crashed onto their shores, Fatnizar lost her home as well as her business. Her family was forced to relocate, and along with 120 other families they moved to a field across from a local school. Fatnizar’s family had to share space under one large tarpaulin along with 15 other families. There was not a lot of space and no privacy in this newly formed community.

 

A NEW BEGINNING

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Along with 150 families Fatnizar received ShelterBox aid and was provided a family tent, mosquito nets, water filters and carriers.Now, with her ShelterBox tent, Fatnizar has the opportunity to get back to work. Under the awning of her tent, she can be seen smiling, sewing, and resuming her livelihood.The tent not only provided a more private and secure space for her family, but it has allowed Fatnizar to return to normal and begin working again

Toget

ShelterBox has assessed the need after Tropical Storm Usman made landfall on December 28^th in the Philippines. Teams are assessing the damage. Imagine your home was blown off its foundation like the home above - toppled, crumbled, no longer a safe place for you and your family. Or your village was submerged by water, and your belongings washed away. Tropical Storm Usman recently brought this destruction to the Philippines. Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides, destroying homes and washing away villages. Support today from people of action like you will ensure families receive emergency aid and shelter to keep families safe and help them recover from Tropical Storm Usman. Support today from Rotarians who are people of action will ensure families receive emergency aid and shelter to keep families safe and help them recover from Tropical Storm Usman.  Donate today to give families the tools they need to recover .  

Response Teams are on the ground. A ShelterBox team is in the Northern Samar region of the Philippines where many districts in this area have been submerged by water after the storm. 600 homes here have been completely destroyed or washed away, while many others are badly damaged. But your donation today can ensure 2000 families get the aid they need.

ShelterBox has worked together with local Rotary Clubs and local Rotarians in the Philippines. This partnership has been instrumental in ensuring vulnerable communities receive aid. Your club can help these families today. Your support can provide 2000 families in remote communities with ShelterKits, mosquito nets, solar lights, water carriers, and blankets. Thank you for your dedication to creating a world where no family is left without shelter. Past support from Rotary Clubs and Rotarians have made the work we do together around the world possible. A donation today can can support urgent needs of families affected by disaster. Learn more about Tropical Storm Usman

Yours  in Rotary,

Tess Widdifield

Rotary and Community Fundraising Manager

The Rotary Club of Toronto Twilight

Year in Review: 2017/18 Annual Report Check out the 2017-2018 annual report to learn more about the work you made possible around the world! Read the report here

You can find the latest updates at http://www.shelterboxcanada.org/operations-update