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One Man's DreamMary Ann King — Bobcaygeon, ON
"To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan, believe and act." Surely this speaks of Murray Dryden, whose dream became a reality only when he visualized, planned, believed, and acted on it. Even if we could revisit each of the million children who have received bedkits would we truly understand how this dream has changed lives? What has been the impact on the hundreds of volunteers who have worked to make the Drydens' dream a reality? Immersed once again in the culture of a country I had never before visited, I took time to reflect on the impact that volunteering for SCAW has had on my life. It has afforded me an opportunity to live and work with people in Uganda, Bangladesh and India. Surely by learning of each other's culture and working toward a common goal a new understanding and appreciation of hopes and dreams has evolved. Can this be measured?
Unlike tourists who make their own way, as SCAW volunteers we were embraced by our overseas partners the minute we arrived. Adorned with floral necklaces, Team Kolkata and the Rotarians became one, with a common goal of delivering 6,500 bedkits. In the ensuing two weeks we did, indeed, deliver those bedkits to some very deserving children. In the process, much was learned about the people of India and their culture. From the sixteen year old son of a Rotarian who came on his free days to help we learned that the proper response to the children touching our feet in gratitude would be a hand on their head, as in a blessing. From the many who patiently explained what was contained in each dish that was offered following distributions, we learned much about Indian food and its preparation. Thus when the rickshaw arrived laden with large buckets of food, the aroma told us what was for lunch. From our driver, Tapan, who kept us safe and secure, we learned the intricacies and advantages of 'arranged' marriages. In addition, Tapan was quick to point out landmarks, crops, and industries which we otherwise would have missed on our travels both in and outside the city. From the delightful young son of a Rotarian whose home we visited for dinner, we learned about the education system, helping us to better understand what was the experience of the children we met. A highlight of this evening was an impromptu sitar concert given by his mother, from whom we learned a little about the instrument. From the Rotarian riding with us we gained a little more knowledge of the Hindu faith when a breakdown found us close to a tiny roadside temple. From the doctor who travels to the remote communities in the Sundarban region twice a month we gleaned a little of the medical problems facing the children.
From working with our partners, the Rotarians, we learned just how vital their role is in the process. They are dedicated and absolutely committed to improving conditions for the poor. In addition to their SCAW project they send out medical teams, work to eradicate polio, promote literacy, and are embarking on an initiative to provide 'smokeless' ovens to help in the fight against the health hazards of cooking on fires. Robert Schuller once said, "You can measure the man by the size of his dream." The job of Team Kolkata is, for 2009, complete, but the work continues. Thank you, SCAW! Living a very small part of Murray's dream has changed my life as I have watched it change so many others. |
