DUBLIN, Thursday 21 May 2026 — The ShelterBox Rotary partnership has spent more than two decades putting emergency shelter into the hands of families who have lost everything to disaster or conflict — and across our 66 clubs in Ireland, that work is closer to home than many members realise.
ShelterBox began in 2000 as a millennium project of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in Cornwall. It has since grown into an internationally recognised disaster relief charity, and in 2012 became Rotary International’s first — and still only — Project Partner in disaster relief. The partnership was most recently renewed in 2022 for a further three years.
From a single box to a global response
The original idea was simple: a green box containing the essentials a family needs to survive the immediate aftermath of a disaster — a tent, blankets, water purification, cooking equipment, basic tools. Today ShelterBox pre-positions aid in strategic locations worldwide and works through trusted local partners, tailoring its response to the disaster, climate and culture of each community.
Worldwide, around 1,000 Rotary members are involved with ShelterBox as volunteers, staff or response team members. Rotary’s network of 1.4 million members across 200 countries helps the charity navigate the customs delays, warehousing problems and last-mile logistics that can stall lifesaving aid.
Three pillars: collaboration, training, resilience
ShelterBox describes its approach in terms of three elements. The first is collaboration — working with local communities, governments and international agencies so that solutions fit the specific context of each disaster. After the 2023 Morocco earthquake, the charity supported families across roughly 20 village communities by partnering closely with local groups.
The second is training and capacity building, so that partners on the ground can respond effectively and at scale. The third is long-term resilience — durable shelter options designed to withstand future shocks. When Typhoon Trami brought two months of rain in a single day to the Philippines in October 2024, ShelterBox’s Cebu team responded alongside local partners.
Recent updates: Gaza, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Yemen
Despite immense access challenges, ShelterBox has supported the construction of 10 shelters for highly vulnerable families in Gaza — the first time it has been able to build within the territory in a year. Working with local partner PARC, the pilot is helping shape support for more families to follow.
In Cameroon, a community shelter project is halfway through with strong feedback on improved designs and community-led decision-making. In Tigray, Ethiopia, ShelterBox has supported 1,800 families with emergency shelter, repair kits, household items, dignity kits and cash assistance. In Yemen, distribution of blankets, mattresses, floor mats, kitchen sets, and fire safety equipment is now complete.
“When ShelterBox and Rotary work together, we reach people who would otherwise go without. Our clubs in Ireland have been part of that story for years — through fundraising, awareness and the simple act of telling a neighbour what shelter means after disaster.”
Derek Griffifth ADG, Shelterbox Rep, Rotary Ireland District 1160
How Irish Rotarians can help
Rotary clubs across District 1160 support ShelterBox in several ways: hosting speakers, running fundraisers, sponsoring shelter kits, and championing the charity within their communities. Many clubs include ShelterBox as their international service project.
Read the Rotary 2025 Impact Report here: Shelterbox and Rotary
To find your nearest club, visit the Rotary Ireland club directory. If you would like to get involved directly, the membership enquiry page is the quickest route in. For more on the international service work clubs across the island, see Rotary Ireland.