 Team Reports |
We kept our promiseDave Dryden — Oakville, ON Sometimes, even with our best efforts, a commitment can't be fulfilled. That is what happened with our 2006 Bangladesh Team during its November distribution of 8,000 bedkits to the children of Bangladesh. After 5,499 bedkits had been distributed political turmoil erupted in Bangladesh. The team could no longer travel safely due to blockades on the roads. After a few days, with conditions remaining unsafe, the SCAW Board of Directors decided to bring the team home and 2,501 bedkits were put in storage.
What were we going to do about the 2,501 children that had been promised bedkits? It wasn't fair that they should be disappointed. Would the bedkits be safe during these unsettled times? We decided that the moment the blockades were removed and peace and order were restored, we would return to Bangladesh. One SCAW volunteer would supervise this distribution with monumental assistance from the Dhaka Lions Club members. I was the lucky volunteer and I was thrilled. We kept a close watch on the political situation, avidly read every travel advisory, and stayed in touch with our overseas partners in Bangladesh. Everything seemed to converge in a positive way on Friday, December 1: my visa arrived and the political parties agreed to a truce. My flights were booked and I left on December 5. The Lions Club planned to distribute 1,300 bedkits on the 8th, 1,201 on the 9th, and leave one day to deal with any unforeseen circumstances. We would hold an evaluation meeting on the 10th, and I would fly back home early on the morning of the 11th. And that was what happened.
The excellent volunteers provided by the Lions manned the positions usually covered by the SCAW travelling volunteers. I missed the fact that I could not personally interact with the children as much as I would have liked but this was the trade-off. Children bring out the best in us. We are very lucky. My report back to you donors, is that the promises that we have made to you have been honoured: The children did receive your precious bedkits. On behalf of the children, many thanks. |
Each day we completed two distributions. In order to verify the whole procedure I set up the photographing area in a central position enabling me to see all aspects of the distribution.