Team Reports |
First impressionsAnne Andrew -- Lucknow, ON
First impressions are lasting ones. This was my first time as a SCAW travelling team member and also my first time visiting India, a country I had only dreamed of seeing. Two new experiences interweaving and leaving unforgettable impressions. My first impression of Sleeping Children is of an organization committed to its goal of providing a good night's sleep to needy children. A thirty-five dollar donation is used 100 percent for bedkit items. It is quickly evident that accountability to the donor is very important. In Belgaum we met members of the local Rotary Club and I realized how dedicated they are, having spent many months working to ensure all details of the distribution are carefully completed. During the seven days of distribution, I met Rotarians at each venue and continued to witness their heartfelt dedication to Sleeping Children's bedkit program. My first impression of our own team was also very positive. There was an immediate sense of trust and comraderie. As the week progressed we found we could rely on each other and work purposefully to complete each day's distribution.
Then there are the children. The waving and cheering of the children when our team arrived at the distribution site was overwhelming. They were cheering for us and we were cheering for them. These beautiful children, with their dark eyes and endearing smiles, are curious to meet us, shake our hands, or just touch us. The gift of a bedkit will not only give each child a good night's sleep, but also hope for a better tomorrow. I only had a vague idea of what India was like and there is no way to describe my first impressions in a few words. My senses were bombarded by a myriad of sights and sounds and smells. I knew India had a population of over a billion and that it would be hot where our team was going. Vague impressions were soon replaced by real experiences.
In Mumbai, the streets are crowded with thousands of black and yellow taxis honking their horns to communicate their intentions to each other. Lanes of traffic are not evident. Amongst the taxis competing for road space are cars, trucks, scooters, motorcycles, bikes, and auto rickshaws. Add to this confusion of traffic the people who squeeze through to cross the street and of course the cows and dogs joining in as well — it's a harrowing sight. In rural areas, it is soon evident that most people live their lives outdoors. Driving by we might see a woman in a colourful sari walking along the road balancing on her head a basket of fruit or maybe cow patties -- or a man leading two bullocks pulling a cart piled high with sugar cane -- fleeting sights, fascinating to observe. A positive first impression leaves you with a good feeling that what you have seen and have experienced has been worthwhile and memorable. A positive first impression leaves you wanting more. Thank you, bedkit donors. You have not only provided a needy child with many new treasures, but also allowed me an opportunity to combine the grandness of Sleeping Children with the grandeur of India. |
