ShelterBox Coordinates Efforts with Rotary in Russia

A ShelterBox disaster relief tent set up close to the beneficiary's home, giving them a place to live in with dignity as they rebuild their home. 

ShelterBox has been working closely with a local Rotary club in Russia's Krasnodar region to help families made homeless by flash floods that hit overnight in the first week of July. 

Krasnodar Rotary club has helped the ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) with needs assessments, transport, box logistics, translation and aid distribution.

"We have had great support from local Rotarians every step of the way from picking us up at the airport; to assisting with customs clearance; to providing volunteers, some from the Universal Peace Corps Federation, who helped set up the tents," said Denmark-based Eva Doerr, one of the SRT members. 

Rotarian Evgeny Novoselov has shown enormous support for ShelterBox's work by being a key player in customs clearance and logistics; and Fedor Gladkiy is the Past President of Krasnodar Rotary club who provided accommodation for the Response Team.


Rotarians Fedor Gladkiy and Nadezhda Smirnova helping set up the tents, July 2012.

"It was a pleasure to stay at Fedor’s house for the duration of the deployment," said Australia-based SRT member Andrew Clouting. "We had the chance to understand Russian life a little better and the hospitality we have received has been huge. Thank you very much." 

Really beneficial 

The SRT collaborating with Rotary maximized ShelterBox's impact and enabled the quick and effective delivery of emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies to families in need. 

"The coordination between Rotary and ShelterBox has been working out really well and the work we are doing is really beneficial for the people in the Krasnodar region," said Rotarian Vladimir Martyshin. "Considering that this is the first time ShelterBox is working in Russia, we are making very good efforts." 


Australia-based SRT member Andrew Clouting and Denmark-based Eva Doerr with members of the Krasnodar Rotary club, including Andrey Podpovetny (second from the right), and Anatoly Ovechko (fourth from the right), July 2012.

Many of the local Rotarians also gained field experience in humanitarian work and witnessed the benefits of aid for vulnerable families, one being Andrey Podpovetny: 

"It was not only the first time for the Rotary Club of Krasnodar to cooperate with ShelterBox but also the first time for me to help with a 'hands on' approach after a disaster. The experience I gained from being in the affected regions together with the SRT was very important for me. I come from a business background: the benefit of the aid for the families in greatest need is not comparable with its cost. The whole experience of cooperating with ShelterBox showed me that together we can influence."

'Overwhelmed and grateful' 

Fifty-four-year-old Tatjana is one of the 150 families who received a ShelterBox. She lost her husband and son within the last five years: 

"Since then, I had been living by myself, isolated from the community. The flash floods made me realize how important relationships and support from others really is for a person, even though the disaster has done a lot of harm to our community. I am overwhelmed and grateful for the help I have received from ShelterBox."


54-year-old Tatjana sitting on her new ShelterBox in front of her new temporary home, July 2012.

This collaboration between ShelterBox and Rotary highlights why ShelterBox became Rotary International's first project partner last March. By building on both organizations' strengths, they both can bring relief, shelter and dignity to disaster survivors worldwide as rapidly and efficiently as possible.

"I am very happy that I got the opportunity to go out to Krymsk together with the SRT," said Rotarian Andrey Emarlukov. "It was an honor for me to work with ShelterBox and be able to help people in need. I am proud of the Rotary Club Krasnodar to having established such a close relationship with ShelterBox."

Krasnodar Rotary club's incredible fundraising efforts for ShelterBox means they will cover all transport and distribution costs inside Russia for the deployment, maximizing donors money to be spent directly on aid.

A total of 150 ShelterBoxes have been distributed to those families most vulnerable, giving them the right to dignity as they rebuild their damaged homes.