[SCAW-E-Letter] SCAW E-Letter for March: Talking to Children

[SCAW Webmaster]

Sleeping Children E-Letter for March, 2009
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It has been my privilege to present the SCAW story to many children in
schools in Southern Ontario. I am always impressed by the way those
children are eager to reach out to assist the less fortunate.

The children listen intently to the stories about Murray Dryden and
how he faced many difficult challenges during the Depression. They
smile with delight when they are told of the kindness of a farm family
who offered Murray a warm bed for the night and how this act of
kindness imprinted the desire to return this kindness when Murray was
able. The children are captured by the story of Murray’s experience in
Pune, India when he witnessed a child asleep under some papers on the
roadside. It is an important example for the children to understand
that as Murray was confronted by the needs of this impoverished child,
he summoned the courage to make the decision to do what he knew was
right. It was an unselfish act of courage. What a wonderful example
for all our school children as they are faced by daily choices that
are very difficult and require the strength to always do what is right
– even if it not a popular thing to do.

The children love to see the pictures of the children who receive the
bedkits made possible by the generosity of our donors. They also
become engaged in the examples of social injustice that are often the
“norm” in developing countries. I often have three boys and three
girls join me at the front of the auditorium and I explain that in
many countries these children who represent school-aged students in
Africa must pay for school supplies and uniforms before they can
attend school. I will further describe circumstances where there are
only uniforms and materials for five of the children and the boys and
girls will be alarmed to learn that often the oldest girl can no
longer attend school as she can offer the most help to the family by
remaining at home! As the example is extended to further reduce the
opportunity for the children to attend school, the students become
aware that girls in developing countries often are the ones who are
victimized.

When I can meet with older students separately, it provides the
opportunity to examine the random cruelty of Malaria. At a certain
point in my presentation, I will talk to the children about the
meaning of the word random. After we have agreed upon the meaning I
will randomly ask a number of children to stand. I explain that I had
no prior plan to select these children. I acted on the spur of the
moment with no reason! I will select the number of children that
represents on child for every thirty seconds of my earlier
presentation time. The children are alarmed to learn that those
children randomly selected represent the children in Africa under the
age of five who died of Malaria while the audience listened to my
presentation. This leads directly to an understanding of the benefits
of the mosquito net which is now a requirement in our bedkits!

Our children in schools in Canada respond with enthusiasm to the story
of SCAW. I have the joy of being part of this unique experience.

Grant Clark


Sleeping Children links of interest:
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Don't forget to read the latest in our News Blog:
<http://bit.ly/LddL>
The latest trip report from the Philippines will be appearing in our
Live Reports Blog in a few weeks. The team leaves the first week in
April:
<http://bit.ly/H5ay>
We told you about this last month, but in case you forgot, here's
information about the Pinehurst Club Breakfast:
<http://bit.ly/Iprz>
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    Zero Overhead  <www.scaw.org> One Million Children in 2009
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