History

Pakistan Project:

The Tents4Peace project was initiated by Anna Crotty and Ann Giblin, in response to the devastation caused by the earthquakes in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2005.

Pakistani boy huddled in rainTents4 Peace began when thousands of people were still without shelter, food or medical assistance 10 days after the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. Anna and Ann decided to take action. They obtained 1060 good quality tents at cost price. Next, they embarked on an extensive plea by email and local media coverage. Money for the tents came in from all over the country. The Australian public purchased all of the tents in just a few days. All tents were freighted free of charge by Qantas and Pakistan airlines. The Fred Hollows Foundation then distributed the tents and some of the tents were delivered by ex Russian Airforce personal in smaller Russian planes to the remote areas of the North West Province. . Every tent was delivered, saving thousands of lives. This project took place within a two-week time frame.

 

Afghanistan Project:

Peace HouseAt the request of ‘Save the Children Fund,’ Tents4 Peace was able to raise more funds, and build ‘Peace House’, a home for widows and children. This was built on land in Kabul transferred to Mahboba’s Promise Charity and Tents4 Peace. More funds were raised for Peace House through concerts in Melbourne and Hobart, which featured Master Sitar player, Kahlil Gudaz, and Master Tabla player, Bobby Singh . Violinist Dian Booth and Czardas supported them.

We also have established a Community House known as Rumi House in suburban Kabul. This home supports about 10 widows with their children and it is used on a daily basis as a school for the women. We also obtained 7acres of land from the Afghan Government to build another orphanage and school. We have donated this to Mahboba’s Promise.

The Afghan Government has given Tents4Peace a prime piece of land in New Kabul. This will be used for a pre school centre, orphanages and school.

 

Burma Cyclone Appeal

Tents4Peace’s current project is the provision of shelter and water purification tablets in Burma, following Cyclone Nargis. Over one hundred thousand people are feared dead or missing, with the numbers increasing daily.

Our Burmese contacts have informed us that tarpaulins will be especially useful as multi purpose shelters, and also to collect fresh drinking water.

Through Alan Clements, who lived in Burma for 15 years, and co-authored ‘Voices of Hope’ with Aung Sang Suu Kyi, as well as Tin Hta Vu, Suu Kyi’s cousin and a Burmese Academic, we have reliable Burmese and Thai connections. We are arranging distribution of supplies through the Monasteries and Medical personel.

We have now sourced tents/tarpaulins for shelter in Thailand, thus saving freight costs.

People have once again responded quickly to our appeal, and we have been over whelmed by their generosity.

The Tents4Peace projects have been sustained by ordinary people working in a voluntary capacity without major infrastructure or corporate support. Tents4 Peace’s success has demonstrated that ordinary people, which includes both the ‘Tents Team’ and our generous and compassionate donors, can do extra-ordinary things.