Our day starts out with a warm greeting from the parents, teachers and children in the community.
The organization and distribution of anywhere from 500 to 1,100 bedkits per day is a smooth operation, thanks to the collaboration of the Rotary Club of Kelaniya and the SCAW team.
There are several jobs that SCAW volunteers are responsible for. My assigned responsibility for the day was to place the gift of a bedkit in the hands of each beautiful child. These are quickly and efficiently lifted into the hands of a friendly volunteer from the Rotary Club to pass on to the child’s parent who is waiting patiently to help, as there are many useful items given to the child.
Having the opportunity to look into each child’s eyes is amazing. I’m unable to put into words how special the sight of each smiling face is. There are many pairs of beautiful eyes, looking sometimes with shy apprehension, but most often with wonder, excitement and joy. l imagine my expression mirrors theirs as I smile with pure joy at every child.
It takes donors, organizers, and hours of work from the volunteers to prepare for each day’s distribution but those smiles make it worthwhile.
Later in the day the rain pours non-stop until we are finished giving the children their bedkits.
Knowing about SCAW for over 20 years and wanting to volunteer for this wonderful charity for many of those years, I am finally living my dream and it is so much more than I could have ever imagined. I go to sleep tired but am looking forward eagerly to my next day.
Team Sri Lanka 2023
Rotary Club of Kelaniya 🇱🇰 and SCAW 🇨🇦