Recovering after Typhoon Vongfong
Nelcie's story
Read how Nelcie ‘s life was turned upside down after the typhoon ripped her house apart, and how the family used their ShelterBox aid to return home.
Shelter is more than just a roof – it’s a home. It’s the foundation for life, for families, for communities, for peace.
When disasters and conflicts rob people of their homes, we can’t wave a magic wand to replace what was lost, but we can provide people with the tools to start the process of their own recovery.
Using our shelter kits and tarpaulins, families can create a home after disaster. Our blankets, solar lights, cooking sets and mats offer a sense of comfort and relief, giving people space to heal from physical and emotional trauma.
Your support provides shelter that protects families from burning heat, bitter cold, dangerous animals and disease, and so much more. In these trying times, shelter creates a space where families can isolate away from others and reduce the risk of coronavirus.
Read the powerful stories of people your support has helped below.
With over 20 years of experience, we are experts in emergency shelter after disaster. We often work in places that others don’t, making sure that we reach families who need support to take the next step in resuming their livelihoods.
From Cameroon to Syria, all the way to the Philippines and the Caribbean, we have provided shelter to over 1.5 million people so far. In 2020, the year that marks our 20th birthday, your support has been more valuable than ever.
Despite the challenges, we have been working nonstop all over the world, being part of the global effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. Thanks to your incredible support and the help of our partners worldwide, we have provided shelter to 200,000 people in 2020.
We won’t stop until we see a world where no family goes without shelter after disaster. Will you help us?
We put families first
We have a flexible approach and we work with families to understand what they most need to support their own recovery after disaster.
We are focused
We specialise in emergency shelter and the essential tools needed to help rebuild homes after disaster.
We go further
We go to hard to reach communities, often those that are overlooked by others.
We are global
We have a global network of supporters raising vital funds to help us in our mission. We are official project partners with Rotary International, and Rotarians around the world help us connect with local communities when disaster strikes.
Read how Nelcie ‘s life was turned upside down after the typhoon ripped her house apart, and how the family used their ShelterBox aid to return home.
Read how Fatima fled her village in Nigeria with her two children to finally re-settle in Cameroon.
When the devastating earthquake hit Nepal, Surya was almost buried alive. Read her amazing story of survival and recovery.
Baby Yokimi was just three months old when Cyclone Winston hit.
When the floods devastated Peru in 2017, Yolanda’s home was wrecked. Using tools and materials, she was able to rebuild her home after the floodwaters receded.
Working in partnership with ReliefAid, we provided Ahmad with the tools he needed to start the process of recovery.
Read the stories of some of the people who live in Minawao camp, one of the largest refugee camps in Cameroon.
When Hurricane Maria wreaked havoc in Dominica in 2017, it destroyed Simon’s house. Read how we have supported Simon in rebuilding his home and finding comfort once again.
Samina’s home was destroyed by severe flooding in Bangladesh in 2018. Read how Samina used her ShelterBox aid to rebuild her home.
See how Erti is recovering after the devastating earthquakes that hit Indonesia in 2018.
Monsoon floodwaters in Malaysia in 2016 forced Ismail and his family out of their home. Read their story of recovery.
When the rising water levels flooded their town in March 2019, Cecilio and his family had to evacuate their home and reach a safer place.
Hasina is one of 655,000 Rohingya families who have been forced across the Myanmar border to escape sectarian violence. Read her story here.
Guljar, a widow and mother of three, had to escape sectarian violence in Myanmar, settling in Bangladesh. Read her story.
When her whole village was being evacuated in fear of a Boko Haram attack, Falmata was working in the farmland and missed the evacuation. See how they managed to rebuild.
Fatnizar and her family received vital ShelterBox aid after an earthquake and tsunami flattened their home.
Esther saw her family getting slaughtered by Boko Haram. She escaped, settling in Minawao camp and becoming a seamstress.
Torrential rains and severe flooding had destroyed Enoch and Mary’s home. Despite Enoch being totally blind, the family managed to rebuild and recover.
See how Ella managed to rebuild and improve her family’s livelihood after Hurricane Maria.
Abdou fled his home to protect his family. See how the mosquito net, kitchen set and solar lights we provided allowed the family to feel safe again.
In 2017, torrential rains and floodwater from upstream caused widespread flooding in Bizli’s village. See how Bizli and her family started to rebuild their lives.
Khadija had to flee her village in Nigeria after Boko Haram threatened everyone who lived there. Read her story of recovery.
When hurricane Irma hit the island of Barbuda, Amy’s home was destroyed. Read how she managed to recover.
Yaya fled when Boko Haram invaded her village. She now lives in a camp for internally displaced people in Cameroon with her children. Read her story here.
Lily was physically swept away by powerful floods. This is her incredible story of recovery.
When intense rains hit Peru in March 2017, the torrential flood waters swept away Paquito’s house. Read her story of recovery here.
See how we supported Noor and her family in Syria after they lost everything when ISIS took control.
Mohammed had to flee the devastating conflict in Syria to protect his children
After Cyclone Idai washed away Modestar’s home, she used the aid items she received to rebuild.
When thousands of homes were destroyed in Gaza, we supported Mohammed Moammar with emergency shelter on his wedding day.
With shelter kits, our team showed Mercedes and Valentin how they could build resilient shelters to protect themselves from future storms in the Philippines.
Falmata escaped Boko Haram violence, only to be threatened by disease-carrying mosquitoes. Read how she used mosquito nets to protect her family.
Four leading photographers Olly Burn, Tom Stoddart, Veronique de Viguerie and Dougie Wallace have helped us to pay tribute to the incredible hope and strength of the people we meet.
The photographers travelled with us to meet families living through severe drought in Somaliland, devastation in the British Virgin Islands, and to meet Rohingya families living in the refugee camps in Bangladesh.
In circumstances often defined by violence and tragedy, these families show courage, determination and resilience. The photographs capture the incredible power people possess to carry on and be hopeful.