 Team Reports |
Many Months of WorkRichard Hryniw — Lakeside , ON The official dates for the Chennai distribution were February 2 to February 12, but it all began eight months before when the Rotary Club of Ambattur received an email message from SCAW confirming they would be given money for a distribution of 5,000 bedkits. This immediately set in motion a number of committees waiting for the word to go into action. All members of the Club are committed to making the distribution a total success. (See article above, Overseas Tasks.) Without our overseas volunteers the distribution would not happen. They are the ones who seek out the contacts to locate and identify the needy children, produce the bedkit, and do a thousand other tasks to make certain everything will occur on time and in the order it should.
From the first initial contact through email to the final farewell at the airport we are all aware that this is only possible because of the wonderful partnership between the Indian half and the Canadian half of the team. This was clearly illustrated at one of the distributions, where the local Rotary group had produced a card showing a child gently caressed between a hand from India and a hand from Canada. It comes more clearly into focus when the distribution begins. The moment a child finally receives a bedkit shows what can be accomplished when people of like mind and purpose link hands for innocent children in need. There are nothing but smiles and the partnership is a total success. Overseas Volunteer Organization's TasksFive Rotary committees in India looked after the varied tasks SCAW requires of an Overseas Volunteer Organization. Selection: Drawing on 261 sponsoring schools in a rotation system that ensures no school is eligible more than once every four years, Rotarians go out to isolated rural areas, contact local teachers, and check and double check that the most deserving children are included. Packing: 5,000 bedkits require a huge investment of time and a virtual factory assembly line to prepare. Distribution: Arranging for the accurate deliveries to each of eight far-flung sites is a logistical monster. Every bedkit must be accounted for. No child can be disappointed. Contingencies must be in place for last minute substitution in the event of a no-show. Hospitality: For two weeks Rotarians unstintingly gave of their time, talents, and homes to ensure that the Canadian travelling volunteers saw Chennai, experienced local cuisine, were transported in the most comfortable fashion possible, had safe, clean accommodation, and enjoyed a variety of social occasions. They also kept costs down because they knew that Canadian team members pay their own way during a distribution. |
Our overseas volunteers planned a number of social events for us so they could share their culture and life with the Canadian team. We came home with new and life-long friendships and an insight into an ancient but very up-to-date culture.