I am honoured to advise you ShelterBox has been nominated for the 2018  Nobel Peace Prize, the winner to be announced in October.  Whatever the result, this is an amazing nomination and we are truly honoured. The nomination reflects the incredible work done by the ShelterBox staff and volunteers around the world, and to those who have supported us, especially the many Rotary Clubs and Rotarians.

 

The nomination is also an implicit recognition of the partnership between ShelterBox and Rotary International.  Two great organisations combining their efforts to provide disaster aid wherever it may be required across our world.  I am reminded that last year we helped 32,000 households, or 160,000 people, who had lost everything through conflict or natural disaster. We responded to world events 24 times in the year and deployed aid to 20 different countries. Rotary groups around the world helped us provide vulnerable people with emergency shelter and aid in almost all of the countries we have worked in affected by natural disaster.  In 2017, we also surpassed the highest number of days ever deployed in one year. This includes 84 ShelterBox Response Team volunteers who deployed for a total of 1,530 days. That’s an average volunteer deployment of 18 days each.

 

I never underestimate the impact of the support of Rotary International, Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarian has to ShelterBox in achieving our goal of no family without shelter.

 

As we continue to pursue our goal, we thank each and every one of you for the support given, and make an impassioned plea for that support to continue into the future.  As individual organisations we can make a difference in the world; as a partnership we can do even more.

 

Thank you.

 

Rowley

 

ROWLEY TOMPSETT  CRLSS  FICDA  JP

Chair