SCAW BLOG: RWANDA, 2026: SEPTEMBER 2

You may get asked why you do what you. In the case of Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), it is a very good question.  Most members of society fully realize that the need to help those that have little to nothing around the globe is immense as the need for food, shelter, education, infrastructure, etc. remains, unfortunately, very high for many and those numbers are growing.

There are different charities and non-governmental organizations that try and address the various shortcomings that exist around the world and SCAW is one of them.  When we go on distributions and meet the people that benefit from receiving a bedkit, visit their homes and meet the families, we see their very positive reactions to receiving such an amazing gift.

Prior to the actual start of a distribution on site, we speak to the assembled families who are waiting to receive their bedkit and show them each item that the bedkit contains.  This is our seventh day and it is very interesting to see which items receive the biggest reaction from the families. In some districts it is the mosquito net and mattress, in others it is the school supplies and yet in others it is the clothing.  The reaction reflects the local need.  In all sites, the whole bedkit is fully appreciated.

At a site where only some families get a bedkit and others do not who have just as big a need, you wonder, what difference does this make?  It’s kind of like this little story that I heard once which explains it well.

There was a person observed running on the beach who, now and then, would stoop down, pick up something and throw it in the water.  As he came closer, the observer noted that the man was picking up a starfish and throwing it back in the water. As he came near, the observer asked why he was picking up a starfish and throwing it in the water when there were so many lying on the beach all around them. He asked, “What difference does it make?” The man picked up another starfish and threw it in the water and said, “It makes a difference to this one!” and kept on running. Much like the starfish thrower, that is what we at SCAW do.

We can’t help everyone, as much as we would like to.  However, we do provide opportunities around the world for children and their families to experience the many benefits from a good night’s sleep.  On our distribution in Rwanda, we have distributed 3,500 bedkits to date. As an organization and since its inception, SCAW is approaching the 2,000,000th bedkit given to a child over the last 56 years.  It has made a difference to these children and their families over the years.

For the Children,

Team Rwanda, 2026

Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga 🇷🇼 + SCAW 🇨🇦