SCAW Blog: Rwanda, 2025: August 14
Today was the second day of bed kit distributions and we ventured into rural Rwanda.
Previously, we had appreciated the skills of our driver as he drove us through the busy streets of Kigali managing the hectic traffic with a multitude of motorcycles and cyclists constantly weaving through the vehicle traffic. Today’s transportation included all of that and the addition of back country roads. To say the roads were rough would be an understatement and we experienced an “African massage” as we bumped along. More challenging were the worn log bridges . . . better not to look out the sides of the van!
In addition to our driver’s driving skills, we got to benefit from his love of markets as we stopped by a roadside market on the way home. The onslaught of eager sellers could have been overwhelming but he casually managed our purchase of fresh fruits with appropriate negotiations.
Between these driving and market experiences, we had the joy and satisfaction of handing out another 569 bedkits with much help from the Rotarians and some local government folk, bringing our total distritubtion-to-date to 1000.
Team Rwanda, 2025
Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga 🇷🇼 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Rwanda, 2025: August 13
Today was a special day as the team really wanted to meet the children who would be benefitting from and taking home a bedkit.
Before starting we were met by the Governor of the district as well as the Mayor of the Gakenke Sector in the north part of Rwanda. The contents of the bedkits were happily presented to the parents and very enthusiastically received! We then started the distribution of bedkits with the excellent support of the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga (RCKV), the wonderful Rotoracts and some other volunteers which made this complete team effort possible. The members of RCKV worked very hard in preparing the site, the bedkits and the associated transport to the site.
And then there were the children, the real reason why we were there. They were curious about the bedkits and proudly carried some or all of the parts on their heads, backs and in their arms as they walked back home with their parent or grand-parent or guardian and for many, this distance was in excess of 5 km to return to their home village. They were looking forward to getting ready for a really good night’s sleep.
We are thankful to the generous donors and all the volunteers who give freely of their time to make it all possible, especially because 100% of the bedkit donation goes to the child.
For the Children.
Team Rwanda, 2025
Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga 🇷🇼 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Rwanda, 2025: August 10-12
SCAW distributions are always an adventure, providing continuous learning opportunities, usually giving one hours of travel experience using various modes of transportation in interesting countries, while being exposed to different cultures all in support of getting to the country where the distribution will take place!
As no distribution is the same, our travel experience was unique . . . a 7 ½ hour flight from Toronto to Brussels and an 8 ½ hour flight from Brussels to Kigali, Rwanda . . . just as scheduled. It was a totally different experience from last year’s trip to Rwanda, which took much longer.
After the standard customs clearance and arrival procedures, we were met by our very enthusiastic and hard-working Overseas Volunteer Partner, (OVP) the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga (RCKV) who immediately made us feel at home.
Our SCAW team of five have come from various parts of Ontario. After some well-earned sleep following our 24 hour continuous travel experience, we spent our ‘rest’ day having our first full Canadian team meeting, followed by our Pre-Distribution meeting with our OVP, obtaining local e-sim cards for our phones, picking up some local currency and making a quick visit to a local market.
We also got to experience a Celebration of Life event in the evening in honour of the Mother-in-Law of our RCKV SCAW Chair volunteer member who passed away just before we came to Rwanda. We wanted to support him during this difficult time for the family and the family much appreciated it. On distributions you often feel part of the family of the OVP as we have become very close over the past year with the various activities involved with the distributions. And the main reason for this is our shared steadfast belief that children need a good night’s sleep to be more healthy and better able to handle the many challenges that they face.
Tomorrow is Day 1 of distributing a total of 5,000 bedkits over the next 10 days. We do all of this as volunteers . . . for the children!
Team Rwanda, 2025
Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga 🇷🇼 and SCAW 🇨🇦