Hi readers, Mike here – CEO of ShelterBox Australia.
The past year marked a significant milestone for ShelterBox—25 years of delivering shelter and hope. For 25 years, we have worked alongside communities, partners, Rotary, and supporters who share our belief that shelter is the foundation for life. A place to feel safe. A place to stay together as a family. A place to rebuild, learn, earn a living, and begin the journey to recovery.
In the pages below, you’ll read about some of the deployments we carried out in 2025. Many of these responses are ongoing, reflecting the reality of prolonged and complex crises. For the people affected, little changes as one year blends into the next. These are the crises we must not overlook.
As we step into a new calendar year, I would like to sincerely thank you for your support throughout 2025. I hope you will continue to stand with those affected by disaster and conflict in 2026 and beyond. Together, we can continue to make a real and lasting difference in people’s lives.
Have you made a New Year’s resolution? I prefer to set a New Year’s intention. A few years ago, mine was to read more books, which led me to join the ShelterBox Australia Book Club. Last year, I read 25 books—and I intend to do the same this year! You’ll find more information about Book Club at the end of this newsletter.
I’ll leave you with this month’s quote from Wayne Dyer:
“Our intention creates our reality.”
Thanks for being part of the team.
Mike Greenslade
CEO ShelterBox Australia
Jamaica – Hurricane Melissa
The strongest storm on record to hit Jamaica left widespread destruction. Aid stores in Barbados and Panama meant we were able to respond rapidly to Hurricane Melissa. Working with Food for the Poor and Rotary in Jamaica, we supported up to 10,000 people as they began repairing homes and replacing essential belongings.
Myanmar – Earthquake
The strongest earthquake in more than a century displaced up to a million people in Myanmar. Despite civil war, access challenges, and heavy rains, we worked with local partners to help thousands repair homes in rural villages.
Daw Wyne told us: “Before receiving assistance, we covered the holes in the walls with temporary boards.… Now, thanks to your help, our house is safe and sound.”
“I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the donors, and I always keep them in my prayers to Buddha.”
Pakistan – Flooding
Unusually heavy monsoon rains left communities flooded and crops destroyed. With Islamic Relief Pakistan, we delivered tents, tarpaulins, thermal blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets, solar lights, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets. Hiring local people to clear debris also provided essential income when livelihoods were disrupted.
Afghanistan – Earthquakes
A series of destructive earthquakes flattened remote mountain villages already struggling with a broader humanitarian crisis. Thanks to pre-positioned aid and new partnerships, we provided tents, winter clothing, blankets, stoves, and kitchen sets – essentials for surviving the harsh winter.
Philippines – Typhoons & the Cebu Earthquake
Multiple storms and earthquakes struck during typhoon season. We partnered with FACE Inc and Rotary to support communities on Masbate Island to rebuild stronger homes. Meanwhile Rotary in Cebu helped us reach families affected by the deadliest earthquake in over a decade.
Gaza – Conflict
Communities in Gaza continued to face unimaginable horror throughout last year. Although the ceasefire brought hope, our aid on the border of Gaza continues to be blocked by Israeli authorities. We’ve been exploring all possible options to help shelter those affected. With your support, we remain committed to helping families in Gaza as soon as conditions allow.
Sudan and Chad – Complex Crisis
Since the civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, over 15 million people have been forced from their homes. Half the population now requires humanitarian assistance. In early 2025, we supported families in Darfur with essential household items, with more projects planned.
In neighbouring Chad, nearly a million people have fled across the border from Sudan. Working with AHTD, we’ve provided tarpaulins, ropes, solar lights, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and support for building longer-lasting mud-brick homes.
Somalia – Complex Crisis
In Somalia, we’ve been supporting people with durable shelters and long-term land tenancies. One person we’ve supported is Mohamed. He described how different life feels now:
“We were living in a bull that is made up of sticks… it was like a bird’s nest.”
“Life will never be the same.… it’s a comfortable house and human-being shelter.”
Bangladesh – Cyclone Remal
After Cyclone Remal hit in late 2024, we supported families rebuilding their homes, by providing materials such as tin sheets, bamboo, strong ropes, and tarpaulins.
Reshma shared, “I believe, with Allah’s will, this shelter will remain strong for 10 to 20 years.… I am deeply thankful.”
Join the Trek4Shelter in 2026
Picture yourself trekking through the rugged ochre-red landscapes of the Larapinta Trail, where each day ends beneath a sky filled with stars, and every step connects you to the ancient stories of the land. Or imagine walking the historic Camino de Santiago, following in the footsteps of pilgrims for centuries, as you journey across rolling green hills, through medieval hamlets and past Roman ruins.
No matter which challenge you choose, your journey will be so much more than just travel. It will be about immersing yourself in culture, pushing yourself physically and mentally, and, most importantly, fundraising for those left without shelter following disaster and conflict. You will join a community of likeminded people who are walking not only for themselves but also to make a difference, and together, you will create an impact that lasts long after your trek is complete.Join the Larapinta challengeJoin the Camino challengeSpots are limited, so now is the perfect time to join the team.Take on a challenge you’ll never forget and support a cause that truly matters to you.
A Gift In Your Will Can Bring Calm To The Chaos
By including a gift in your Will to ShelterBox, you can help ensure families affected by disaster receive shelter, safety, and security—now and for generations to come. Your legacy gift will enable us to respond when disaster strikes, providing immediate support to people at their most vulnerable, wherever the need is greatest.
If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to ShelterBox, please let us know, so we can thank you! Every gift, no matter the size, helps us reach more families and supports their journey to recovery and rebuilding after disaster.
To learn more, click the button below—or write your Will for free with our trusted partner, Gathered Here.
Join our virtual Book Club
No ordinary books. No ordinary book club.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.
Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.
Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.
Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.
