Today was our last day of distributing another 500 bedkits at GS Cyivugiza, one of the suburbs of Kigali. Our Overseas Volunteer Partner, the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga (RCKV) site manager was already on site when we arrived, making sure that all was set for another successful day of helping children get the benefit of a better sleep experience.
The families were already waiting in anticipation in a combination of shade and hot sun. We figured out quickly how to most efficiently have the children registered, pictures taken, given a bedkit and have them re-united with their waiting families, with smiles all the way around.
While waiting for the distribution to start, there were local ‘cheerleaders’ leading all assembled into song and dance expressing their love for a united Rwanda. Here is a small video of what we saw:
Prior to starting each distribution this year, we had either the mayor or a representative to provide opening remarks to the waiting families followed by the Rotary Club representative who explained what is going to happen next. Our SCAW team was given the opportunity to thank the Rotary Club for making all this possible as well as showing what was in the bedkit this year . . . to the delight of everyone there!
Then the process officially started. When all runs smoothly, we have been able to hand out 500 bedkits in under two hours to ensure that the families, some who have come from afar on foot, can get home before dark.
These last 10 distribution days have been an amazing experience for our whole team, consisting of members from the RCKV in all its forms - from adults (Rotarians), University students (Rotaracts) to teenagers in high school (Interacts) - to the local volunteers, the security guards, the site host (school or government site) and our own SCAW team of five. No matter the challenges that we faced, we were able to resolve them as a team to ensure a successful distribution for the day.
Being a SCAW team member with the opportunity to make a difference with others of like mind in a country like Rwanda is just an amazing experience! The long days, interesting sights over various roads that include the “African Massage” experience once you leave the paved roads are just part of it. The most pleasant and rewarding part of these distributions is seeing the children and their families’ reactions when they are given their bedkit to take home.
They are the reason we do this. We know that getting a good night's sleep is vital for their health, their ability to learn better, and to handle their circumstances a little easier.
We successfully distributed 5,000 bedkits over these 10 days in various regions of Rwanda. We are grateful to the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga and all other volunteers who made it possible.
We leave tonight knowing that we have made a difference to those children and their families and have helped them thrive a little better by providing them with a good night’s sleep!
For the children.
Team Rwanda, 2025
Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga 🇷🇼 an