August: International Peace Month

"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." - Albert Einstein

Did you know? This month, internationally, we are celebrating peace. It is a concept that humanity has been exploring for ages. But what is peace, actually??"Peace is a state of security or order within a community. Societal friendship and harmony absent of hostility."?- Dictionary, Merriam Webster

PEACE = SECURITY. SAFETY. COMMUNITY. HARMONY.

What is the relation to shelter? Shelter isn't just about having a roof over your head; it's a basic right that gives a sense of safety, respect, and hope. Offering access to shelter to those who need it shows peace in action. How do we do it?

PEACE = SECURITY: Feeling secure even in times without shelter.???

• How can we experience security when we have no shelter? For many, finding a place to call home where they feel secure is a luxury they cannot afford.
• We change this, by providing?immediate portable shelters.
• For everyone: From people experiencing?economical homelessness, to refugees displaced by conflict, and victims of natural disasters.

What does it mean, feeling secure???

PEACE = SAFETY. Safety requires aceess to immediate protection.??? ???The Sheltersuit & The Shelterbag

• A?short-term?solution with a?long lasting?impact on anyone's safety;
• Designed to protect against the elements (rain, snow, wind). And keep your belongings secure.
• Made from upcycled materials (tents, sleeping bags, and even high-fashion remnants) in our social factory.

Your portable safe shelter??

PEACE = COMMUNITY. Community requires trust and connection.??? ?

• We believe our portable shelters serve not only to provide physical protection but also to?foster?connections and trust.
• We always distribute through?helping organizations. This creates a?bond?between the helper and the person being helped.
• Such bonds?encourage?individuals to seek help in the future, whether it's medical, psychological, or any other kind of assistance they may need.

Connecting with helping organisations.??

PEACE = STABILITY. The stability of a job that enables you to grow and build a community in a new environment?? ?? ??

• In our atelier in Enschede, we have 30 wonderful people from diverse backgrounds, ranging from Syria to Turkey and Ukraine.
• We strongly believe that everyone should have?equal opportunities, not only?for shelter but also for jobs. We are actively creating employment for individuals who face challenges in the labor market.
• We offer?dutch lessons?to all our people in the Atelier. This approach makes it easier for them to not only develop their skills but also to foster a sense of community and embark on new life journeys.

A day in our social factory???

PEACE = HARMONY. Harmony with our planet, for us and future generations ????

• Every Sheltersuit and Shelterbag is made from?upcycled materials.
• Whether it's tents, old sleeping bags, or even high-fashion materials that are not used anymore,?we give them a new life – a life that might save another life.
• By reducing waste streams, we take steps to minimize our impact on the Earth.

Give your sleeping bag a second life. To save another.??

Designing with purpose: Chloé and Sheltersuit???

ALIGNING OUR MISSION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

As we strive towards a more peaceful world, we align ourselves with the United Nations' Global Goals adopted in 2015. These goals serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. We firmly believe that, through compassion and meaningful action, we can create a safer, kinder future for everyone. a

A PEACEFUL FUTURE = A FUTURE WITH SHELTER?Sheltersuit foundation, 2023