Aggreko and ShelterBox launch partnership to help families after disaster

Aggreko, the world-leading provider of mobile and modular power, temperature control and energy services, has today announced a three-year partnership with the disaster relief charity ShelterBox.

The partnership focusses on a skills-sharing programme between the two organisations, and Aggreko has chosen to fund responses where families receive solar lights as part of their aid package.

Aggreko Chief Executive Chris Weston said: “It’s been incredibly valuable sharing our expertise with ShelterBox. Like Aggreko, they work in remote areas all over the world, and we have learned from each other about how to work together in a dynamic and agile way to deliver the best outcomes.”

Solar lights are a small but powerful element of Shelterbox aid. They’re a safer light source than open flames, particularly in temporary shelters. They can be a light for children to study by, or the means to keep home and businesses going – they can restore some normality after weeks of chaos.

ShelterBox Interim Chief Executive Caroline White said: “At least 85 million people need emergency shelter every year. ShelterBox is growing to reach more families than ever, and we need effective teams to support that growth. This wide-ranging support from Aggreko will help us to go further in so many ways: the funding will provide aid to help more families rebuild their lives, while the skills sharing will help ShelterBox build our capacity to respond.”

Helping families with shelter after Typhoon Mangkhut

On 15 September 2018, Typhoon Mangkhut, known locally as Ompong, hit the northern Philippines. The Category 5 typhoon, with sustained wind speeds of 125 mph, damaged almost all buildings in its path.

ShelterBox supported families with essential aid items like ShelterKits, solar lights and tarpaulins, plus hurricane straps to help reinforce their rebuilt homes. Aggreko’s support funded emergency shelter and solar lights for more than half of the 1,042 families reached. In January, two members of Team Aggreko from the Philippines joined an evaluation visit to meet families supported by the response.

Jiga Montenegro, Senior Business Development Manager based in Manila, said: “Over the past few days I have seen how much Aggreko and ShelterBox has made a difference in the lives of these people. I’m so glad to be part of the team here and so proud to be part of Aggreko who has made such a difference to the families devastated by Typhoon Mangkhut by working in partnership with ShelterBox.” 

A skills-sharing partnership

Subject matter experts from Aggreko are working with ShelterBox staff members to approach a range of challenges the charity faces as a growing global organisation, from volunteer recruitment to logistics and international fundraising.