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My First DistributionShannon Rourke — St. John's, NL
This wonderful trip to India with SCAW brought about many firsts for me. It was not only my first time in India, but more importantly, my first time as a travelling volunteer distributing bedkits for SCAW. And what an amazing first experience it was! My family has donated bedkits for years, often giving them to each other as Christmas or birthday presents. I have always enjoyed receiving that envelope in the mail with the picture of the smiling children and the bedkits. Two and a half years ago, one of my two brothers travelled to Sri Lanka with SCAW and had a wonderful experience. It was after this that I decided I wanted to become involved with SCAW in a different way as a travelling volunteer in addition to donating bedkits. I have been delighted to get to see and participate in another side of SCAW, and fascinated to learn more about how distributions work. The organization and work put into the distributions by the Rotary Club of Dum Dum and the local Rotary Clubs was incredible and helped the process run smoothly. There were many cheery local volunteers and Rotarians who helped us out at every step along the way, including being very helpful translators between ourselves and the children. I was amazed how quickly a rapport can be developed with these children, even considering the language barrier. While the children were waiting in line, we would teach them songs like "Head and Shoulders" and "If you're happy and you know it." I don't know whose smile was bigger — my smile when I taught the kids to high five, or theirs after giving me a very energetic high five!
Giving the children the bedkits at the end was so rewarding and a wonderful first for me. I learned a few phrases in Bengali, their local language (another first for me), because I wanted to present their bedkits to them in their own language. The surprise and delight on their faces was incredible when they heard me tell them in Bengali that the bedkits were from Canada and was a gift all for them. Another first for me was experiencing such deep levels of gratitude and appreciation. The smiles on the children's faces when they were given their very own bedkit was enough, but some children even thanked us in English. One of the most touching moments and an experience I will never forget was when a child had been at the hospital and had come a bit late to collect his bedkit. We reset it for the photo and after it was taken and his bedkit had been presented to him, he knelt and kissed each of our feet in in overwhelming gratitude. The whole team was overcome by such an incredible gesture.
Interviewing some of the parents or guardians of the children receiving bedkits was also a new and interesting experience. It gave perspective on how the bedkits would be used and how this gift would impact the life of their child. The parents were insightful and also very grateful for the bedkits, so it was yet another wonderful first experience. At one distribution some of the girls had started dancing for each other to pass the time. I was brought in to witness some of the cultural dances. The joy and energy radiating from the room was unbelievable. I always believed that SCAW was a truly good organization. Now I have been lucky to see first hand the children we are helping and the difference that we are making to these children. It was a trip of many firsts for me, including my first time as a travelling volunteer for SCAW, but I sincerely hope it won't be my last! |
