 Team Reports |
Days and Nights to RememberGeorge Foster — Hamilton, ON
After we had distributed 4,000 bedkits in the Nairobi area, we went to a distribution in Thika. This was a new site for SCAW. Our team leader, Duncan, had arranged with our Overseas Volunteers for us to be billeted in private homes. The women stayed in one home and the men in another. As I unpacked, I realized that my luggage had been separated and part of it had gone to the home where the ladies were staying. My insect repellant was in that luggage. Unfortunately, our host had not provided mosquito nets in the guest rooms. I was to find out the importance of sleeping under a mosquito net in this country. After midnight, the whole night was spent shooing buzzing insects from around my head, and in the morning, I awoke with numerous bites. I can now understand the discomfort that Kenyan children have in their living conditions and I am so glad that we are helping. Many parents we talked with said that the net and mattress were the most important items included in the bedkit.We were told that one child in Sub-Sahara Africa dies from malaria every thirty seconds. An Olyset LLIN [Long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net] can help reduce this figure.
The next morning, some very tired team members turned up for the distribution at Thika. Our contact for this distribution was a volunteer named Eleanor Harrison, a young women from Wales who has given up her life there to help children in Kenya. She is now ministering to the abused and rejected street children and those affected by and suffering HIV/Aids and malaria. What a blessing it was to see her working with the children of Thika. We were so pleased to distribute bedkits to Eleanor's kids. Thanks to our donors and our Overseas Volunteers, we are helping provide a comfortable night's sleep and saving many children's lives from the ravages of malaria. |
On one of our early distributions, we travelled to a school in the area of Methare, Nairobi's second largest slum area. During a drive of an hour, we passed through contrasting environments from luxurious homes, business areas, modest dwellings, to slums. After greeting some children in the courtyard, we proceeded to the Head Teacher's office for words of welcome and the signing of the guest book. On this occasion, the office was very small and allowed only two or three to squeeze in at a time. As one of us went in, another would get on the platform in front of 800 children dressed in their multi-coloured SCAW clothing. As each team member emerged from the door, a huge cheer erupted from the crowd of children. One of our team commented that it felt like a sporting event when the athletes come on the field. When we were all assembled, our team was entertained by singing and dancing children. What an awesome experience it was to look out at 800 children with their eyes dancing with joy and hands clapping to the beat of the music. What an honour and privilege it was to we have been selected on behalf of our donors to present the bedkits to these children, some of whom would be receiving a gift for the first time in their young lives.
