News
The Duchess praises charity Shelterbox for response to Haitian earthquake
2nd March 2010
The Duchess of Cornwall stepped inside an emergency tent used by Haiti's earthquake survivors today as she toured a "tireless" disaster charity's headquarters.
Watch the video:
Her Royal Highness praised the "strength and ability" of staff at ShelterBox in Helston, Cornwall, which has sent more than 8,000 aid packages to the stricken country.
Wearing a Support the Rifles wrist band to mark the death of a member of 4th Battalion, The Rifles, yesterday in Afghanistan, The Duchess learned about the work of the charity of which she is President.
Shelterbox is famous for its green boxes, and each contains a disaster relief tent for up to 10 people, a stove, blankets and other items essential for survival.
Her Royal Highness inspected the tents, designed to be easily packed and put up, and was shown around the building by Jane Henderson, wife of the charity's founder Tom Henderson who is currently in Haiti, helping the charity’s emergency response.
Later The Duchess was treated to a rendition of the charity single Hope For Haiti, recorded and performed by the children of Penrice Community College.
Twelve minutes after the Haiti earthquake struck, a ShelterBox Response Team started the journey to Port au Prince.
The first boxes arrived five days after the tragedy and were used to set up emergency field hospitals, immediately saving lives by providing vital shelter to patients with nowhere else to go.
ShelterBox has distributed 8,200 boxes so far and has committed a further 5,000.
In a personal message to the charity, The Duchess wrote: "I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest good wishes to all the volunteers, staff and response teams who are currently delivering aid overseas under the most challenging conditions, and to those of you who work so tirelessly in our affiliated countries.
"My first contact with ShelterBox came during a visit with my husband to the mountainous region of Pakistan in 2006, following the devastating earthquake there, where I learned at first hand of the vital emergency support ShelterBox provides to the survivors of humanitarian disasters.
"Four years later and, yet again, ShelterBox has responded to one of the worst disasters in its history - providing 8,000 boxes to shelter 80,000 survivors of the earthquake in Haiti, with more on the way.
"ShelterBox's strength and ability to respond quickly are a testament to the fantastic support and goodwill of so many of you.
"I am very proud to be the president of this wonderful charity, and I have every faith that ShelterBox will continue to move from strength to strength over the next decade."
Now the largest Rotary Club project in the world, the charity has responded to many worldwide disasters including the latest in Chile. It celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Later in the day The Duchess met volunteers from the WILD Young Parents Project, in Falmouth, Cornwall.
The group works with young mothers and pregnant women aged under 23 and their children, offering support and the opportunity to learn new skills.