Provide shelters to migrants in Calais [Stopped]

Update posted by Clément Blain On Dec 08, 2015

Dear all,

Thanks for your support.

The initial project was meant to run from the 10th August to 16th September.
The goal was to buy just 1 humanitarian tent.

Looking at the enthusiasm around this campaign, the end date has been moved, to start with, to the 1st October and then to December.

After a first order in late October of 12 tents, completed by some material later on, we managed, in a bit more than a month, to gather funds for potentially 22 more tents. From 5 persons initially to 170+ persons.

We gathered a total of 44,610.00 € when our initial target, in the early days, was 1350€.

This is 3304%, 33 times more than I ever expected. I've been helped along the way. Often morally, sometimes practically. Though the fact is a customer service employee isn't trained or educated to manage this kind of project. There were mistakes. There were a lot of learning. Most people have been supportive and sometimes tolerant, whenever challenging sometimes. A handful has been working pro-actively against this project. Which is fine.½½

Now, the money will be sent to Salam, once gathered from the different accounts (eWallet, PayPal...) and the order with CanvasCamp will be processed.

The main issue will be the timing. While the tents are already, obviously, needed now, the supplier will need time to produce them again as we bought their remaining stock in October. With hopefully a delivery time in late January - early February, they will still be needed, that's not the wonder.

However I can't change the project. I started this project so humans could get humanitarian material. The waiting is extremely frustrating, but painfully needed so we achieve our goal.

Best Regards,

Clément


One of the tent already raised in Calais Jungle:

PS:

Last minute edit: I just saw now a message asking me for a substantial refund of 3450€. Fine. Though, if you want a refund please ask for it now, on this thread, so I'm sure to not miss it. I'm barely able to look at my inbox. This obviously changes the whole calculation.

Update posted by Clément Blain On Oct 26, 2015

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your support and patience.

Patience, in this project, is essential. Going too fast would have meant that we could have ended up with wrong material, or that the tents could be erected the wrong place.

Please find a more complete report here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolid...

Thanks,

Clément

Update posted by Clément Blain On Sep 22, 2015

Hi everyone,

We are now in position to purchase 27 equipped tents. 27 x 5 = that's potentially 135 persons! Our supplier would prefer 20 or 30 (he likes round numbers) but as the order is not completed yet, that doesn't seem impossible!

It's even more needed as the Syrians located in Calais center town, and the Ethiopians located under the bridge at The Jungle's entrance have been evicted, got their material destroyed, and forced to march to The Jungle and stay there.

• Next step

The donation will be transferred to the secular association Salam, on the ground since 12 years, so they can do the purchase. The material can only be bought by registered charities.

To check on the evaluated fees (without the Bank fees on international transaction yet), the final cost of tents, how many can be bought...please have a look at this document. It's not an accountant document but I found important to communicate about the reality of a crowdfunding :)

• Next next step

The tents will then be erected by volunteers on the ground. It might not be one "refugee camp" of 20-30 tents, but they might be shared fairly, according to the population and the needs, between the different nationalities, who usually organize themselves in communities.

Some tents will be marked with specific signs, so they are understood as being prioritized for the women, children, families, or the weakest.

• Sponsor

The sponsorship has been a real success! Plenty of local groups have been involved in buying "naked" tents. However, as we are not gonna send one single tent without the full pack (winterised and stove) many tents will have a composite name, for example: "Supporting Sisters and Stroud", "Barry and Bedford", "Heemstede-Aerdenhout and Cardiff"... I think it will just show to each resident how many people cared from so many places, for each of them :)


Let's try and reach 30 tents as soon as possible, so we can make a better order, and house 150 persons!

Update posted by Clément Blain On Sep 14, 2015

Hi,

A lot of things have been happening, and we hope that a lot more will be happening.

Here is an update of the whole project :)

The initial project was to buy one shelter, for 5 - 8 persons. We are now going for 100, and more.

• UPDATE 13/09:

Looking at the enthusiasm around this campaign, the end date has been moved, to start with, to the 1st October. We'll make our best to order tents as soon as possible (in bulks), but if we gather more funds to buy another 20 later...then let's do it :)

? THE PROJECT ?

• What's the issue?

Migrants are living in the "Jungle" in Calais in really poor conditions.

Canvas sheets and pallets, when they find some, become their "home". It's also extremely dangerous: fire, wind, heavy rain, tough winters...participate in destroying pretty fast any shelter. It creates real health concern and their belongings get wasted pretty fast.

• What could be the solution?

They need a proper refugee camp. We would therefor need really adapted equipment. Instead of second hand camping tents, canvas sheets and pallets, it would be great to bring them actual shelters which fit with UNHCR standards. A refugee camp goes beyond the shelters, obviously, but it starts there.

This way, plenty of health issues and dignity issue could be solved.

• The goal:

Providing before winter, one shelter at a time, better living condition to people living in Calais' "Jungle".

We are now working with specialized entities to figure out the best, and the most, out of our fundraising. It is quite a game changer.

A "naked" (without winterisation and stove) tent would cost 400?. However, no tent is gonna be delivered with the full pack: this is a matter of safety, health and dignity.
Looking at different numbers, we expect the final price to be +50%. TBC

Those new tents can host 5 person at UNHCR standards.

For 12 000?:
With the first model of complete tent (1350? - 8 persons) we could house: 71 persons
With the second model of complete tent (expected around 600? - 5 persons) we could house: 100 persons.

Previous goals (with more expensive model)
Started on 10th August;
First goal reached: 16th August

1350?: A shelter tent for 8 persons, a "burnblock" liquid, a stove and a water tank to provide warm water.

Second goal reached, 5th September:

2700?: 2 shelter tents for 8 persons each, both fully equipped.

Third goal reached, 6th September:

4050?: 3 shelter tents for 8 persons each, both fully equipped.

So our new aim was to reach 12 000?, at least, until we get more information on the final cost.

• What are the requirements?

We need to be able to buy 20 tents to make an order. 20 "naked" (without winterisation and stove) tents cost 8000?.
? Though, no tent will end up in Calais without having the full package. Our (wild) guess, looking at other numbers, is that it costs +50% to get the full package:
Stoves + Winterisation

The tents we are buying need to be at current UNHCR / IRC standards.

• How do we make it come true?

I am coordinating with volunteers from UK, often on the ground, to make it come true.

But most importantly, I will rely on different association and groups such as Salam, l'Auberge des Migrants or Calais Migrant Solidarity, as they are the most experienced on the ground to receive, build and distribute those shelters. More advanced discussion happened already with Salam. Stay tuned.

Each 12 000? could help 100 persons to have access to an adapted, sane and safe shelter with ability to warm up, cook, and get hot water all year round.

• Get your community in the "Jungle" ! - Sponsoring tents
  
  Each donation from one group of 400? and above (the cost of one naked tent) will get a tent named after its city, school, uni...

Update posted by Clément Blain On Sep 14, 2015

Hi,

A lot of things have been happening, and we hope that a lot more will be happening.

Here is an update of the whole project :)

The initial project was to buy one shelter, for 5 - 8 persons. We are now going for 100, and more.

• UPDATE 13/09:

Looking at the enthusiasm around this campaign, the end date has been moved, to start with, to the 1st October. We'll make our best to order tents as soon as possible (in bulks), but if we gather more funds to buy another 20 later...then let's do it :)

? THE PROJECT ?

• What's the issue?

Migrants are living in the "Jungle" in Calais in really poor conditions.

Canvas sheets and pallets, when they find some, become their "home". It's also extremely dangerous: fire, wind, heavy rain, tough winters...participate in destroying pretty fast any shelter. It creates real health concern and their belongings get wasted pretty fast.

• What could be the solution?

They need a proper refugee camp. We would therefor need really adapted equipment. Instead of second hand camping tents, canvas sheets and pallets, it would be great to bring them actual shelters which fit with UNHCR standards. A refugee camp goes beyond the shelters, obviously, but it starts there.

This way, plenty of health issues and dignity issue could be solved.

• The goal:

Providing before winter, one shelter at a time, better living condition to people living in Calais' "Jungle".

We are now working with specialized entities to figure out the best, and the most, out of our fundraising. It is quite a game changer.

A "naked" (without winterisation and stove) tent would cost 400?. However, no tent is gonna be delivered with the full pack: this is a matter of safety, health and dignity.
Looking at different numbers, we expect the final price to be +50%. TBC

Those new tents can host 5 person at UNHCR standards.

For 12 000?:
With the first model of complete tent (1350? - 8 persons) we could house: 71 persons
With the second model of complete tent (expected around 600? - 5 persons) we could house: 100 persons.

Previous goals (with more expensive model)
Started on 10th August;
First goal reached: 16th August

1350?: A shelter tent for 8 persons, a "burnblock" liquid, a stove and a water tank to provide warm water.

Second goal reached, 5th September:

2700?: 2 shelter tents for 8 persons each, both fully equipped.

Third goal reached, 6th September:

4050?: 3 shelter tents for 8 persons each, both fully equipped.

So our new aim was to reach 12 000?, at least, until we get more information on the final cost.

• What are the requirements?

We need to be able to buy 20 tents to make an order. 20 "naked" (without winterisation and stove) tents cost 8000?.
? Though, no tent will end up in Calais without having the full package. Our (wild) guess, looking at other numbers, is that it costs +50% to get the full package:
Stoves + Winterisation

The tents we are buying need to be at current UNHCR / IRC standards.

• How do we make it come true?

I am coordinating with volunteers from UK, often on the ground, to make it come true.

But most importantly, I will rely on different association and groups such as Salam, l'Auberge des Migrants or Calais Migrant Solidarity, as they are the most experienced on the ground to receive, build and distribute those shelters. More advanced discussion happened already with Salam. Stay tuned.

Each 12 000? could help 100 persons to have access to an adapted, sane and safe shelter with ability to warm up, cook, and get hot water all year round.

• Get your community in the "Jungle" ! - Sponsoring tents
  
  Each donation from one group of 400? and above (the cost of one naked tent) will get a tent named after its city, school, uni...

Update posted by Clément Blain On Sep 06, 2015

This week-end has been incredible.

We almost reached in 2 days to target for a 3rd equipped tent. Some good willing people made some awesome advertising work. It's at least 24 persons who'll spend the autumn and winter in safer, warmer, more dignified accommodation.

I know that others now have similar projects, so whenever not tied to this campaign, it might be much more women, children and men who may soon get access to those tents.

Keep on sharing: If we don't gather the funds to complete a 4th tent, it will be used to buy some bed camps in order to avoid this situation:

The difference between being directly on the ground and 30 cm higher can be enormous for the items, clothes, bodies...

As we are getting closer to the autumn, I'll soon be able to give more details on how things will happen.

PayPal issues are breaking a bit the momentum, but checking with their customer service. It basically went too high, too fast, for the random settings I had.

Thanks for your support :)

Update posted by Clément Blain On Aug 31, 2015

If you wonder why this campaign is needed, this picture is from The Jungle, and was taken earlier today, 31th August 2015.

Ironically, the flooding happened the same day the French Government talked about its plan:
Providing 120 tents for 12 people each.

Sounds all good besides it would only provide a shelter for 1440 persons out of 3000+ and would only happen from 2016.

So those who will survive September, October, November, and at least December in those condition, will have 50% chance to expect more humanity starting in 2016. Maybe.

It's just not enough.

Update posted by Clément Blain On Aug 26, 2015

The population in "The Jungle" is growing again. Therefor, the goal has been raised to 2700?, allowing us to buy a second fully equipped tent.

It's already quite an autumn weather, while the "official" date for the start of autumn is the 23rd September.

A second fully equipped tent won't be a luxury, far from it. It will just make the drop a bit more significant in the ocean of weak shelters.

More groups and individuals are willing to help with project. A person from UNHCR proposing to help me finding the best contact, a person from Berlin proposing to help with a press release, different persons donating several times, others sharing it in their network...any help is more than welcome!

Autumn is getting closer, that's a sure thing.
The project is getting bigger every day, that's another sure thing!

Update posted by Clément Blain On Aug 16, 2015

Hi everyone following, sharing, fundraising this campaign,

• We reached our goal!

We can now buy a tent, a stove, a water container and some products for its maintenance!

• What's next?
  

Each single penny coming into this campaign will go to (organized by price):

- Buying extra equipment, such as extinguishers and/or camp beds (sleeping on the floor, when you recover from a broken leg isn't an easy thing);
- Buying more equipment like stoves and water containers;
- Ultimately: buying more tents!

The campaign is running up until 10 days before autumn, anything is possible!

Update posted by Clément Blain On Aug 13, 2015

While this wasn't our biggest day, it's still quite a day :D

We received more donation (Thanks a lot! :) ), promises of donation (Thanks in advance :) ) and some more contact.

The idea of making it a shelter for the one in the worst physical condition, the weakest, is being discussed. We might know more about it in the next 48 hours.

We are more and more going for a 8 places tent instead of 20.

The one for 20 persons has no isolation on the ground. The situation in Calais makes it extremely needed that an "infirmary camp"/"shelter for the weakest" comes with the best isolation as possible. For that matter, the 8 persons tent will provide the perfect shelter and will allow people staying there for a few days to actually heal and recover properly.

But let's see, it requires quite some coordination with the local association, and a couple of things need to be agreed or confirmed.

Thanks a lot for your support, for your kind messages, and for sharing !