SCAW Blog: South Africa, 2025: May 20 and 21

May 20

We awoke to a beautiful day in Honeydew, on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa and met with the other members of our team, Sue and Warren.

Our driver picked us up and we travelled to the factory where the mattresses are manufactured. We met up with Sanette from the Rotary E-Club of Eagle Canyon and had a tour of the factory. We saw the completed mattresses along with some of the additional items contained in the bedkits. Sanette informed us that the supplier of the hats in the bedkits was able to purchase two more sewing machines and hire two additional employees with revenue from the order. Excellent news!

After meeting Sanette again in the evening and seeing her level of enthusiasm, we are looking forward to a successful distribution.

Team South Africa, 2025

Rotary E-Club of Eagle Canyon 🇿🇦 and SCAW 🇨🇦

May 21

We were up early today as we had 3 factory tours ahead of us.  After a bit of a drive we arrived at the factory that constructs and makes the mattresses for the children.  It truly was an interesting process from the mixing of the chemicals, to cutting the massive foam blocks to sewing the coverings. The children will certainly sleep well on their new beds!

Our next visit was to a small shop where they sewed the tracksuits that each child will recieve.  The lovely female owner showed us how they create the suit and showcased the 15 sewing machines and staff that worked diligently to produce the 2000 tracksuits . . . the children will look sharp in these  for sure. The last visit was to the supplier of the school supplies.  We were treated to a tour of this distribution center that serves all of South Africa.  All in all, it was a very informative and interesting day . . . tomorrow we get to meet the children as it's our first distribution day! We are really looking forward to meeting them!

Team South Africa, 2025

Rotary E-Club of Eagle Canyon 🇿🇦 and SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 17

We’ve had a really wonderful experience in Kenya as we delivered 7000 bedkits to children.

Jamba, Karibu! Hello, Welcome! We heard these words everywhere we travelled in Kenya, always accompanied by a friendly smile. Travelling the roads to our next distribution we received spontaneous waves and warm smiles from many of the people we passed. If we stopped at a roadside stall or restaurant this kind welcome was always offered. Everywhere, people were so kind and full of grace, we felt we were among friends.

This feeling was very evident at meetings with Rotarians and especially so at the distributions. Teachers warmly welcomed us and the learners waved excitedly or whispered a shy “Hello” or “Good Morning” to the group of strangers they’d been patiently waiting to arrive. It was very humbling and inspiring to be on the receiving end of their acknowledgment of our visit.

The importance to the community of the gift provided by SCAW donors at home was easy to see. Sometimes before the distribution began, and sometimes after it was finished and the children were heading home with their new bedkits, we enjoyed heartfelt speeches of gratitude from the local chief, priest and once the bishop, as well as from the teachers. Their warm welcomes, thanks and prayers clearly showed us just how much the whole community appreciated and acknowledged this gift for their children. We leave behind new friends and acquaintances in Kenya as we head back to Canada, accompanied by a real sense of having been part of something that has truly made a difference for the families and communities who received bedkits. I know the memories of how we were made to feel so welcome and so appreciated in a country far from home will last a lifetime.

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 15 and Final Uganda Blog, 2025

This morning, like every other morning, we are greeted with a warm good morning from Charles who is not only our driver but also is someone who ensures our safety and someone who is a helping hand on a daily basis. Today we are travelling to Masai Mara which is considered the eighth wonder of the world. After a 3 hour road trip we arrive at Okoolaimatia Masai School and are greeted by happy smiling children. It is a moment to remember.

The bedkit distribution at this site goes very well with the help from teachers, rangers, the Rotary Club and our SCAW team. After our distribution of 1000 bedkits, we were welcomed by the head teachers of four schools from the neighbouring villages and the bishop of the Masai people who thanked the many donors and volunteers for suppling this special gift to the children in Kenya.

After the speeches we were entertained by enthusiastic well-rehearsed children who sang a traditional Masai folk song followed by a very touching poem which spoke of donors, volunteers and the gift of a good night’s sleep. It truly was a moment to remember how important it is for Sleeping Children around the World, to continue providing a good night sleep.

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

Final Uganda Blog, 2025: May 15

IT IS A WRAP!

Team Uganda 🇺🇬 🇨🇦 successfully completed our final distribution and our hearts are full with the knowledge that 8500 children are getting a restful night’s sleep.

Team work makes the dream work and we send our sincere thanks to the Inner Wheel women from both Kampala Original and Kampala Central.

Our team will miss your laughter, your hard work and the love you show for the children.

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 15

We arrived at Oljabeti Community School to see an enthusiastic group of children waiting for us. They sang and danced for us in a spontaneous way, which was lovely to see. Thanks to the help of our donors back home, the great work of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, and the teachers and scouts at the school location, 1228 happy ‘learners’ received their bedkits from SCAW today.

Afterwards, we relaxed and enjoyed the official presentation of dancing and singing, and some heartfelt speeches, driving home to us just how important these bedkits are to the children and their families. It was so nice to see the parents sitting nearby watching all the proceedings. Some of the children and their families had to walk ten kilometres to get to the distribution site, a real testament to exactly how valuable the bedkits are to these families

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 12

Today we travelled from Nairobi to Naro Moru, known as “the place of black stones .“ It’s a part of Nyeri County, which is located in central Kenya. We drove through some very fertile farmland where a wide variety of crops were being grown. This part of Kenya is known for its excellent fruit and vegetable production.

After driving for about 3.5 hours we reached Naro Moru, a small market town located along the Naromoru River. The town is often used as a base for people who hike nearby Mount Kenya. When we arrived at the school where the distribution was to take place, the children were all dressed in their new outfits and sitting patiently in their school groups waiting for us. Just over 700 bedkits were handed out today in a well run distribution, thanks to all the wonderful help from the teachers and the Rotary members.

Many older students were also there to help carry the bedkits for the younger recipients and the distribution went very smoothly and quite quickly. That was a good thing as the threatening rain clouds began to spit on us just as the last students were having their pictures taken and were receiving their bedkits. The local priest, Father Kiratu, who helped throughout the distribution by lining up students and directing them to their bedkits, was invited to ask for the weather to hold off long enough for us to finish. Our team so appreciated his help in facilitating that request. Kenya is at the very end of the first rainy season called the “masika”, and we have seen rain several afternoons and evenings.

Before heading away from the school, we were offered tea and refreshments by our hosts. In an inspirational and emotional speech, Father Kiratu talked about how, for many of these children, tonight would be their first time sleeping on a mattress and that some would even be receiving their first pair of new shoes as part of their bedkit. He wanted us to know how special this gift was to the children who received it and how very much it was appreciated. How fortunate and blessed I feel to be able to share in such a special day with this community.

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 5 - 9

May 5-6

Our team of 7, led by Ed Jacques and Patrick Toner, arrived late Monday, May 5th in Nairobi.

Tuesday was spent resting up and preparing for our seven distributions. We met key members of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, and our very experienced driver, Charles.

May 7

We travelled into the second largest low income area in Nairobi called Mathare Valley, where approximately 500,000 people live. Our distribution site was at Destiny Junior Education Centre where we delivered 1,340 bedkits to smiling and excited students.

We were welcomed by the school's head, Judith Acheing, and a Kenyan government official. In their opening remarks both commented on the importance of a good night's sleep for children to learn effectively. They thanked the Rotary Club of Nairobi and Sleeping Children Around the World for their efforts to provide sleeping kits for the children of the Mathare Valley.

Despite a cramped space the distribution went well. Rotarian Atia coordinated a well-planned distribution where the 1,340 bed kits were well organized in various locked classrooms.

It was such a treat to watch the young students receive their enormous bedkits, and they proudly balanced the bedkits on their heads as they left .

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

May 8

Today began at 5:30 a.m. with the sound of children having swimming lessons in the hotel pool, and the shockingly loud squawk of the Hadada Ibis.  The Ibis is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is named for its loud three to four note calls uttered in flight. Encountering an ibis is believed to signal a harmonious relationship with one's surroundings, reflecting a sense of balance and alignment. Little did we know that the morning sounds of children laughing and the Ibis would entirely represent the remainder of our second day of distribution.

Today was organized by Rotarian Mumbua at Myanyani HGM Comprehensive school in the village of Kabaa. As we drove into the distribution area, we immediately felt the excitement of the 1000 children, their parents and teachers.  It is truly an awe-inspiring sight to see 1000 children sitting patiently in their new colorful outfits. As the day started, the theme of meaningful sounds continued late in the morning as the children performed songs and dances for their visitors. The President of the student body spoke eloquently as she gave thanks to the donors in Canada, the Rotarians, the loving parents and teachers.

The warmth of the Kenyan people was striking to us today.  I think we each have said that we have never felt so welcomed on any distribution.  We were literally welcomed (and enveloped!) with open arms. Everywhere we went, gratitude and love was expressed.

In closing, upon looking at the photos from the day, the eyes of the children stand out for me. Their eyes sum up the day - from start to finish.

They reflect hope - not only for a good night's sleep tonight, but hope for the future.  It is incredible to know that the gift of a mattress can open a new world of possibilities for these children. 

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

May 9

What a sensational day!  We headed out with our wonderful driver Charles, who was taking us to the Wildlife and Education Centre in Kitengela. We were informed that it was an hour’s drive. What we didn’t know, is that we’d have to navigate our way through rocky terrain with zebras gracefully blocking our path. As we continued, we saw herds of gazelles and wildebeests, along with ostriches and rhinos in the distance. 

The Wildlife and Education Centre was owned by the University of Colorado but had been abandoned when the Nairobi bombings took place in 1998. In time, the local tribes purchased the property and have rebuilt the centre that now attracts groups from several countries. 

We arrived at the site and were warmly welcomed with the Maasai tribe dressed in beautiful clothing and beads, doing a traditional dance. This tribe is one of 42 tribes in Kenya. They are known for unique culture, vibrant traditions, and strong warrior society. They have a deep connection to the surrounding land and wildlife that was evident to us today.  

The children were excited and ready in their new clothes.  They were gathered from four different schools and had travelled long distances on foot or by motorcycle to get there.  The distribution was a great success with hundreds of smiling children and parents. We were informed that these people had never received gifts from anyone outside of the community. It was a privilege to participate in such a special day. 

Team Kenya, 2025

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 10

A Blog for Mother’s Day

Ugandan mothers are the loudest cheerleaders at our distribution sites. They clap and cheer with great joy when their child picks up their bedkit. 

These mothers have walked many miles to get to the site, some with babies on their backs, some carrying a disabled child in their arms. 

After a busy morning of distributions the team made an appropriate day-before-mother’s- day stop. We visited a local hospital complete with a Maternity and Labour room. 

While we were there a young mother with 2 sons delivered a baby girl. 

Perhaps one day she will be the recipient of a SCAW bedkit or better yet, she will be the woman who eliminates the need for them.

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 9 and 10

May 9. WE DID IT . . . 1000 BEDKITS TODAY!

Today we completed distributions in two different sites so our day started very early at 7:00. Children and parents were waiting for us and we loved the welcome with songs and dances.

The locations were perfect because the site managers travel the night before to make sure that everything is ready. As soon as the bus opens the doors we do a presentation for both the parents and the children explaining how our bedkits will help them get a healthy, good night’s sleep. This is followed by huge applause and cheers when we show all the items in the bedkit.

But the best is at the end when we watch very happy children head home with their gift of sleep.
Teamwork sure made this day a huge success. 1000 BEDKITS.❤️

Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬+SCAW 🇨🇦

May 10 Warm-Up

Team SCAW (members from Canada and Uganda) drive together to each distribution site. The ladies of the Inner Wheel serenade us with inspirational songs along the way.

When we arrive at our location, as we leave our bus, we are greeted with music, chanting and wonderful dancing. School girls in costume perform an energetic cultural dance accompanied by community members playing drums and other instruments. Parents, volunteers and other guests cheer them on and join in the fun.

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We were told that this particular dance is called Kiganda in the Masaka region of Buganda. The children learn and practice this dancing as an extra-curricular activity after school. They then entertain at events such as ours and also compete against other schools in the area. It is so lively and upbeat, a perfect warm-up to our bedkit distribution!

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 7 and 8

May 7

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

The Inner Wheel and the Sleeping Children team are working together well and the results are that 500 children are going home with smiles on their faces.

Community members, faith leaders and helpers are also pitching in to make the distribution a success.
We could not help taking a celebratory photo at the end of a wonderful day.

Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬+SCAW 🇨🇦

May 8

SMOOTH SAILING

Our motto with the Inner Wheel ladies continues to be: teamwork makes the dream work and the distribution this morning was smooth sailing with 500 very happy children.

We had a little free time this afternoon to walk downtown to experience Main Street.

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 5

Location is one of the more important elements in completing a successful distribution.  Some locations are much more difficult than others to find, especially in the eastern part of the country during the rainy season.  
But one of our distributions in Mbale with the Inner  Wheel of Kampala Central was in the community of Ceele and this location had all the important elements we were looking for.

The first thing it had was shade and lots of it.  Sometimes the kids travel a long way to receive their bedkits and a place for them to sit and wait in the shade is crucial. 

Flat ground at a site is great, especially when looking for a place for camera set-up. There are pictures taken of groups of kids so flat ground for chairs or stools is necessary for not only a good shot but for their safety.

Ideally schools are great location choices as there are classrooms with privacy for the kids to change into their uniforms.  But they also provide a familiar space for a very unfamiliar day. Security definitely is key and vital for everyone involved.  Volunteers that are easily identified and all those involved in the distribution are the only ones in the secure area. So a roped off area with a visible exit is the best. 

And all these things were exactly what we had in Ceele.

Great job Inner Wheel of Kampala Central.

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 6

Upon our arrival at the distribution sites, we are greeted by two large groups of loud and excited people, approximately 500 children who have changed into their new, colourful outfits, and their parents who wait on the perimeter of the site watching and celebrating the days' events.

We hear loud cheers, singing and clapping from both. Often there is music playing and people dancing and squealing. It is quite exhilarating!

Each day, prior to starting the distribution of bedkits, our team, with the help of an interpreter, explains to both groups about Sleeping Children Around the World, our donors in Canada, our local partners, the Inner Wheel, and our wish for the children to have a good night's sleep.

We have fun showing everyone the bedkit contents so they understand what is included in the gift for their children. Inevitably, this enhances the excitement even more. Then we are all anxious to get started!

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 4

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN

Today we said goodbye to the team from Kampala Central, who did a wonderful job this week, and said hello to Kampala Original.

At our distribution we were greeted with fanfare, enthusiasm and music with many excited parents and children. We had another successful start to this next phase of our distributions.

Here are some photos we cherish:

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 3

THE PEARL OF AFRICA

We did our distribution today near the Kenyan border with Mount Egan looming in the background.

When a team member was here 15 years ago she was surprised to see how green and lush everything was; it remains the same today. The Kampala Central team of the Inner Wheel took us to a beautiful waterfall on the side of the mountain, where we saw many things growing in the fields at the base of Mount Egan.

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It was nice to see the area after our distribution was completed. It was nice to know that 500 more kids are having a better sleep tonight in the remote villages.

Team Uganda, 2025

Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 3

SO MANY HELPING HANDS

In addition to our SCAW team and our wonderful Inner Wheel team, there are so many community people that are needed to make a successful distribution. Today we had many many helping hands including a wonderful school head-master to make everything run smoothly.

Team Uganda, 2025

Team Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 1

A DAY OF FIRSTS

Today was not only the first day of our distribution but it was also the first ever distribution for the team from Kampala Central. All of them are new members and they did not know how our distributions work. Their planning was meticulous, the execution was perfect and it was obvious that they had been well coached by Gladys.

The entire day went off without a hitch and the SCAW team was thrilled that everything went so well.

Congratulations Kampala Central!

Team Uganda, 2025

Team Uganda 🇺🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 30

WE LEARNED SO MUCH TODAY.

Our team got to visit 5 factories and we also completed our pre-distribution meeting with both Kampala Original and Kampala Central teams. It was all informative and useful; we appreciated being driven around by some of the Inner Wheel ladies to all of these sites. Their hospitality and organization is superb.

A highlight was Winifred’s Dress Design company. Winifred gave us the history of her small company as she makes some of the clothing for our children. As a widow, she likes to employ other single women and allows them to bring their babies to work if needed. We applaud not only the quality of the clothing but also her warm, generous and loving heart.

Tomorrow we drive three hours to start our Day One distribution.

Team Uganda, 2025

Team Uganda 🇺🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 29

LOTS ACCOMPLISHED TODAY!

Our team was ready to go after a good night’s sleep so we met to continue our planning.

The Inner Wheel brought us a bedkit so we could do the assessment and see which items the 8500 children will be receiving.

Our excitement is building and tomorrow we do two factory visits along with our pre-distribution meeting.

We had a special moment this afternoon when we showed the bedkit to two of the people at our accommodation and explained how we are supporting the Ugandan children. They both got teary.

Our team is very happy to be here.

Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬+Team SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 28

We’ve arrived safely! The Inner Wheel welcomed us at the airport and all is well.
We had our first meeting and lots was covered. We are working through various plans.

This is short as we are off to bed now since all of us are a wee bit tired.

Team Uganda, 2025

Team Uganda 🇺🇬 and Team SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Philippines, 2025: April 6

It feels like we just arrived and now it is time to go!

Today we had our two final distributions.  At both we arrived at a school full of children already dressed in their new pjs and a multitude of volunteers to help with the distribution.  A lovely young girl said the opening prayer and we sang both national anthems. 

The distributions went extremely fast due to the help of volunteers including the Coast Guard, the Fire Brigade and several Kiwanis clubs.  After all was said and done, there was the requisite paparazzi.  

During our short time here, we have learned that Filipinos love to eat.  Today alone we had chicken, pasta (2 types),  pizza (2 types), garlic bread, and more types of noodles than we can count. And that was just lunch! 

We are so touched by the hospitality, generosity, and enthusiasm of our OVPs, and by the excitement of everyone involved in making this such a success.

Team Philippines, 2025

World of Sweet Dreams 🇵🇭 and SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Philippines, 2025: April 5

SCAW donations deliver immediately at the household-level.

To me, one of the most fascinating parts of the always fascinating SCAW distributions is having the chance to talk with parents who usually wait by the dozens at our distribution sites. These conversations can give us a real understanding of the immediate impact that the arrival of donated bedkits can have in the homes of the recipients.

This conversation starts initially with unpacking a bedkit in front of groups of parents so they can see what’s inside - item by item. The level of cheering after seeing each item shows how useful each will be in their family settings. This is then followed up by one-on-one interviews with parents with the support of our overseas volunteer partners who help encourage parents to participate and who can also serve as translators.

Today, in the course of our second day of distributions in the Philippines, I interviewed 4 parents. We started with developing an understanding of their household situations - number of adults and children in the home and current sleeping arrangements. This was followed by their assessments of which items in the bedkit would be the most useful (today blankets topped the list) and which would be less so - a difficult question to answer because they were all so grateful for everything that has been included. But the most interesting questions to me are those that uncover just how much the household will change for the better, immediately upon the arrival of the bedkit. A young girl who has spent her life sleeping on a broken couch now has her own bed. A young boy who has always shared his mattress with two growing siblings will sleep alone tonight on his new mattress while his siblings find their own shared bed less crowded by one.

Eventually, over the course of a 10 minute interview more comfort builds in the dialogue. Soon you don’t need any more interview questions to feel the smiles of gratitude and see the tears in the eyes that let you know that we are making real, immediate impacts not just with the individual child to whom we present the bedkit but more broadly across their entire home and family.

Team Philippines, 2025

World of Sweet Dreams 🇵🇭 and SCAW 🇨🇦