admin@containerofhope.com.au
+61 435 671 280
55 Kettering Road, Elizabeth South 5112
Welcome

The Process

  • The Process

THE PROCESS

HOW IT HAPPENS

1 - INITIAL PAPERWORK AND MEETING

Whoever wishes to organise a container project must apply for it, and this application must be accepted by the COH Committee before a project can be opened. After this, the sponsor must provide all necessary project paper work and funds before a container will be purchased/rented for loading.

This is often the lengthiest part of a container project, as we must review the presented project plan, check the bone fides of the Australian organisation/individual who wishes to be the sponsor for the project, and also the overseas organisation that would be the recipient of the container.

2 - OBTAINING THE 40 FOOT SHIPPING CONTAINER

We buy or rent our containers depending on the project.

If we do buy it, we also donate the container to the recipient organisation which they can then use it as they have need. Some recipients have used the container as storage space for their operations, and others have converted it into a computer classroom!

3 - LOADING THE CONTAINER

Our start point is that the container must be loaded within 4 weeks of it arriving on our site. The length of time we have been operating has meant that we have found many ways to optimise the efficiency of loading, so much so that we are able to load a container in as little as one day!

This involves much planning and preparation: We have the needs list in advance of obtaining a container and work to fill it as much as possible before the container arrives onsite. This is a needs-focused approach with the ultimate goal being to ensure as much as possible that the goods we give are useful to those who will receive them.

4 - CONTAINER PICKED UP FOR SHIPPING

Depending on where the container is destined for, it can take up to 6-8 weeks for the container to reach its destination after leaving Adelaide.

Many prayers are needed during this part in particular, so that containers might have smooth journeys to those who need them.

5 - CONTAINER ARRIVAL AND UNLOADING

The extremely exciting part!

6 - CONTENT DISTRIBUTION

All the contents of the container must go to their intended recipients. We have had goods go to hospitals, schools, medical clinics, children’s homes, refugee community programs, and communities who are in need of material assistance.

7 - REPORTING BACK

A compulsory requirement for all COH container projects is a Distribution Report once distribution of the container contents has been completed. It must outline details of the container’s journey, unloading and distribution from the overseas perspective, including as many photos as possible of where and to whom the all of items went.

The purpose of this is two-fold. Firstly, it is an accountability mechanism – to make sure the container and its contents go to those who are in need. Secondly, it is about evaluation of our own processes and procedures: What went wrong and why? Are our projects sustainable and effective? How can we improve?