Connections in AfricaSieg Will— Oakville, ON My first trip to Africa is coming to an end and feelings of satisfaction and fulfillment are setting in as I travel back to Toronto. The Sleeping Children team has distributed 6,000 bedkits over a two-week period at twelve different sites in Uganda. A theme that came to light for me on this distribution was the ability of people to connect with one another. I quickly realized that Leslie and Grant had developed a strong connection with the Inner Wheel of Kampala, a woman’s group that has worked hand in hand with Sleeping Children in Uganda over the past six years. This connection was established with the mutual goal of providing a needy child with a good night’s sleep. It is amazing how this connection can be maintained even though the parties involved are on opposite sides of the world. Our trip also highlighted the connections the Inner Wheel has created with individuals in rural communities throughout Uganda. Distributions are conducted in rural centres since the need is greatest in the countryside. By reaching out to these communities, the women of the Inner Wheel have been able to connect SCAW with children that truly require our assistance due to the difficult conditions they face on a daily basis. The bedkit pictures taken in Uganda connect the children to the donors. The SCAW distribution team personally ensures that the bedkits are given to the children captured in your photo. I can assure you that the children know how important they are based on the wonderful gift that you have provided. 
SCAW connecting with the Inner Wheel, the Inner Wheel connecting with rural communities, the children connecting with the donors: this cycle has been working effectively in Uganda for many years. We have a wonderful opportunity to foster and grow these relationships and, with your support, SCAW will be able to achieve the goal of distributing over 1,000,000 bedkits by the year 2010. |
