|
|
BEYOND THE BOX
 August 2010
Plans for Haiti |
| Greetings!
It's been almost two months since we changed our name to Disaster Aid Canada and in that timeframe we have received donations of over 250 kits from generous supporters and partners. People love the concept of a complete home for disaster victims for $750.00.
We already have two first aid stations, four schools, one solar power system, eleven Sky Juice Water systems and 252 emergency tent kits donated.
Our first production run is already completed and we have inventory in China ready for deployment. Our first demo boxes will be in Canada in early August and we will soon be ready to visit clubs and other groups to show our great new tent, accessories and water systems shortly.
Another exciting development this summer was the coming into existence of Disaster Aid USA, headquartered in Washington DC (great access to embassies, etc.), and the formation in Montreal of Disaster Aid International, whose members (to date) are Australia, USA and Canada. This is the entity that will deliver the aid. We will share teams of trained responders.
Sincerely,
Don Ohlgren CAGP
Executive Director |
Haiti and Beyond
During the Haitian crisis we were contacted by several Canadian organisations with a presence on the ground there for many years. Their question was invariably the same: "Can we sponsor tents and help to deploy them at our sites where we know people need help?" Unfortunately we were not able to help them then. Now we can.
We are pleased to say we are working with some of these Canadian groups to deliver aid to Haiti. We believe this is what motivated our donors to give so generously in the spring of 2010, and we all are aware that the stricken island still needs help.
Plans are underway to work with a group of Canadian Rotarians who have a long history of helping in Haiti. We will deploy schools and water systems to accommodate the several hundred Haitian children they have enrolled in school for the Fall. This is what our charity was set up for in the first place - to give Canadians an opportunity to help victims of disaster. Who better to partner with than people who have a history there? 
While we were in Montreal, we also met with several supporters and participants in providing aid.
Of particular interest was Rotary District Governor Tom Agee from Louisiana who, when he saw our Sky Juice Water System told us how he had been trying for over two years to put together a Rotary Package to set up better drinking water for 11 schools in Swaziland. You are aware of the AIDS epidemic there and the absolute need for housing for all the orphans estimated at 117 000, a number which is escalating daily, with many child headed families (children raising children).
In Swaziland when a parent dies the orphan is taken in by a relative, if there are no relatives then the community takes them in. Poverty is widespread and adding 5 to 6 orphans to a homestead already struggling for survival can be the final straw. These communities believe in helping each other they just do not have the resources; we want to provide them with those resources. It is common for Grandparents to have 10 plus children to take care of some not even related living in a 8 foot by 8 foot stick hut. You can visit http://youngheroes.org.sz/index_home.asp which is an agency helping the orphans who we will be working with to see the condtions yourself.
When we asked Tom about providing our Sky Juice Systems and some shelter for the kids, his response was absolutely astonishing to us all. He said that most people in these areas are so destitute that they actually pray for an earthquake or a catastrophic incident so the rest of the world will then notice them and their needs. Our answer was that why can't we respond to this humanitairan disaster?
 Thus, apart from our capacity to do emergency aid response, we want to have a humanitarian side of our programs where we can work with different Rotary Clubs or Rotary Districts or Rotary Governors who have a specific plan of action. We can utilize our world wide support, delivery capacity and volunteer base of Disaster Aid Response Teams to make these happen.
Coming soon- Please look to our Humanitarian Relief pages on www.disasteraid.ca and see how you can help the orphans and schools in Swaziland, or the thousands of refugees now streaming into southern Sudan in preparation for the referendum vote in January 2010 or to assist us with providing schools and water back in Haiti.
You will be able to go to these specific sites, see what we want to provide and if you want to help in a particular way, you can be assured that your donation, if made in time will be utilized for that project alone.Not only that but with new technology available to us, you will be notified when your donation is delivered, exactly where it is delivered (a Google world "SPOT" location of your actual item) and a picture of the people we gave it to in your name. All complete box donations to Disaster Aid will receive visible proof of delivery.
Only with the help of our donors, supporters and our Rotary Clubs, and their connections worldwide, can we put the three things together (donor-supplier-end user) and change lives.
|
"I Could See Myself Actually Living in this Tent"
 That is the reaction of most people when they first step inside our spacious 24.4 square metre tent. We have observed the international standard of 3.5 square metres per person, and the height requirements for relief tents.
Google "Oxford tent material"- you will find that it is a preferred material for this type of tent because it is durable yet lightweight. Ours is 210D Oxford material with a waterproofing factor of PU4000mm and silver coated UV50 protection.
The tent was designed by an experienced former ShelterBox USA Response Team Member based on his experiences out in the field and the needs he saw there. For example, many cultures require a distinct separation of sleeping areas for women and children, especially in disaster zones where they are particularly vulnerable. Our tent provides three separate areas, each with its own entry with privacy and mosquito screening.
Most relief tents are designed with sleeping areas on each side and a hallway down the centre. This makes it difficult for children, or the elderly for example to sleep while other family activities are going on. Our sleeping area is designed to be completely separate from the living area.
Many relief tents are stifling hot during the day; we have made the whole front section able to be rolled up as you see in the sample photo so that combined with the other two doors on either side there is a constant airflow. All the doors are netted for mosquito protection.
Our boxes are blue and yellow to better reflect our Rotary roots and connections, and equipped with wheels and handles for easier movement; they are sturdy and not susceptible to breakage.
Tents can be connected together to form community centres or schools. |
|
Do You Have What it Takes?.
While we currently have fifteen fully trained DART (Disaster Aid Response Team) members available for deployment worldwide, we are taking applications for our evaluation and training camps to be held in Victoria BC in September for those wanting to assist us. Interviews and training courses for Canadian Disaster Aid Response Team Members are scheduled to begin in the Fall in Canada. Our DART's are volunteers who take time out of their lives to help deliver our aid to stricken areas. It is important that aid get to the intended recipients and that they be shown how to pitch and take care of their tents and other equipment. If you are interested or would lilke more details email don@disasteraid.ca.
|
Faith In The Future of Haiti
Recently members of the Knox Presbyterian in Alliston and St. Andrew's Presbyterian in Mansfield, Ontario, presented a cheque for 10.75 Family Boxes to DAC Director Peter Gooch and Don Smith from the Rotary Club of Alliston who are spearheading the effort to raise funds for relief in Haiti.
|
Contact Us
don@disasteraid.ca
For $750 you can have a Disaster Aid Family Box delivered in your name. However, as a registered charity we accept donations large and small! Tax receipts are issued for all donations of $20 or more.
Reg.# 85592 2704 RR0001.
Cheques made payable to Disaster Aid Canada can be mailed to: 1272 Mysty Woods
Victoria, BC V8Y 3G6 If you wish to use VISA or MasterCard please call: 1 800 677 0990 Fax: 250 595 5984
Or donate on line through "Canada Helps" at www.disasteraid.ca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
