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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 5

This blog was sent on April 5th and was lost. I apologize and will post it now. This is the second day of the distribution.

Our adventure began early this morning after a lovely breakfast. We boarded the bus for our first interaction with the group representing the Inner Wheel and had a hands-on tour of the factories where the the school uniforms and back-packs were made. A very enlightening conversation with the owner ensued, and he has only good things to say about SCAW and its continuing support of the business he self-started with the idea of employing untrained Ugandan women and men. It was very uplifting to see how it was a win-win operation for all parties. We then moved on to the mattress factory to see the process from beginning to final product and again saw the behind-the-scenes operation.

The photos posted above show the kits put together, the finished mattresses, and the cutting of fabric.


We ended the visits with a wonderful introduction to all the Inner Wheel women and were treated to a luncheon. They are a force to be reckoned with in their dedication to SCAW. We are very blessed to have such industrious partners!

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 9

Before each distribution begins, we speak to all the families and children.  We tell them “a day of hope begins with a good night’s sleep” and that sleep is good for their brains and their bodies.  We show them all the incredible items in the bedkit.  From both the families and the children, the biggest cheer seems to come when we announce the new “ngato” (shoes).  In fact, we’re not even sure that the children know they’re new - they are so accustomed to “new to them”.  The shoes in the bedkit are sandals which seem quite durable and come in red, black, or navy blue. 

We have noticed that many children wear no shoes at all.  Others wear winter boots.  Some wear dressy Mary-Janes.  Many wear crocs.  Some wear socks, though that is a rarity - a perhaps frivolous extra piece of clothing that would cost more money.  One child was seen wearing men’s shoes - many sizes too big for her small feet.  One of our team members noted that sometimes a family has “family shoes”- one pair of shoes shared amongst all members.  The person with the most important event gets to wear the shoes.  Getting a bedkit is a big event - worthy of the family shoes. 

Each item in the bedkit changes the life of both the child and their family.  The cheers, dancing, and “waveles” (thank yous) tell us that your donation is making a difference.

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 7

Our 7 member Canadian SCAW team was up and ready to board the bus at 6:30 this morning, ready to do a ”double distribution” today.  That means that 500 bedkits are given out in the morning and 500 bedkits given out at a different site to 500 more children in the afternoon.  It’s a challenging task but one which means we can maximize our time in a region and know that an amazing 1000 children will be having a good night’s sleep tonight. 

It was a 3 hour drive to our first bedkit distribution site and when we got there, we were greeted by crowds of parents singing and clapping for us, even a few dancers in the crowd.  The 500 children selected to receive their bedkit in the morning were already in their new shorts and t-shirts or dresses, singing a joyful and boisterous song of thanks to us.


We were  greeted similarly in the afternoon with the addition of posters held up by the kids.

Parents with tears in their eyes, some doing “happy dances” were seen amidst all the hundreds of smiles surrounding us when children received their bedkits and returned to their patiently waiting parents.

I even got a special wink from one little girl as I lined her up to get her picture taken and then went to pick up her bedkit.  Another child did a formal bow  as he moved on.  It’s moments like these and the opportunity to make a real difference that makes SCAW the incredible charity that it is.

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 8

Day 3 of the distribution took us to the region of Wakiso, where I spoke with one of the teachers about sleep in children at his school. The teacher described the children at this school as “extra poor”. He told me that he often does home visits and that most children had no mattress for sleeping, but if they did, it was often for 3 or more kids. Children often improvised for bedding, for example using clothing as covers. He also told me that the mattresses from SCAW would be “exceedingly helpful for people”. When the teacher heard that the Ladies of the Inner Wheel of Kampala were coming with SCAW to distribute bedkits, he told his students the good news. He asked them how many had ever had a new blanket or sheet for their bed? None of them ever had. He told me that the mattress and bedding would “transform their sleep”. 

 

Later that day, we had the opportunity to visit the home of a single mother living in an 8x8 single-room house with her 6 children (two of whom were new-born twins).

Nalongo (meaning ‘the mother of twins’ in Lugandan) showed me the house, explaining that she slept on the old small couch, and all of the children slept together on a mat on the floor. Nolongo’s oldest child had received a bedkit that day, and I could see firsthand how the mattress and bedding would indeed be transformative for the entire family. 

 Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 6

It was very early on a dark morning with rain threatening when we started off for our first distribution.  After three and a half hours on some suspension-punishing roads we arrived.

And, oh, what a welcome we had!  The guardians/parents lined the driveway to cheer us in and the children were gathered, singing a wonderful song to greet us. 

Wonderfully warm welcome

We gave the guardians and children a preview of the items in the bedkit. 

Bedkit Items - Preview

Each item was received with thundering cheering and clapping, confirming that the ladies of the Inner Wheel had chosen well.  After, the children changed into their new clothes and we set up the bedkit display, the distribution began.  

Heading home with the bedkits

We were treated to a delicious lunch after the distribution.

Lunch

As I write this blog we are on the way back to our accommodation as the rain that held off all day has finally begun to fall in torrents. 

We are thrilled to know that 500 children will be home tonight having a restful sleep to awaken to a new day tomorrow refreshed and ready to face the day.


Team Uganda

Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 4

After a variety of travel arrangements, the group finally met in Amsterdam and off we went on the last leg of our journey to Uganda. 

 We arrived to a wonderfully warm welcome from the women of the Inner Wheel of Kampala.  

 

Today was a day of rest and settling in to our comfortable accommodations.  Tomorrow the work begins in earnest.  We are looking forward to seeing the children at our first distribution.

 Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 9 - June 2023 - Blog #10

Today we enjoyed a scenic drive into Kapchorwa District for our final SCAW Uganda distribution. This area is known for its natural beauty, quality coffee, and is the training ground for Uganda’s national marathon runners who enjoy the flat and hilly landscapes.

Our distribution site was perched on a hilltop and surrounded by lush greenery and hills and valleys as far as the eye could see. We arrived at the site at the same time as the Crestfoam truck so we were able to see the entire team, including the community volunteers, set up the distribution site from the ground up. Mattresses were loaded off the truck and rolled, basins were separated and filled with bedkit items, and the photo area assessed. At the same time the children were registered and dressed and in no time we were all ready to begin!



It was a wonderful feeling to see the entire team come together for one last distribution. As the last child received his bedkit, our 7000th child over the past two weeks, we all hugged, high-fives and thanked each other for our dedication and hard work. It was a great team effort.

On the way back to Kampala we enjoyed a stop at Sipi Falls.

Well done everyone!!








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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 8 - June 2023, Blog #9

Our distribution today in Ililim was lively and joyous! The children light up when that basin full of goodies is placed upon their heads. They take great pride in carrying it themselves to their excited parents.

After the distribution we stopped to see the Nyero Rock Paintings, a nearby historical site. A short but challenging hike allowed us to view three sites with etchings in the rock, some of which are believed to be over 5000 years old.


Tomorrow is our last distribution. I will be sad to see this wonderful adventure come to an end.

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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 6 - May 2023 - Blog #7

Today’s distribution was in the Kaukura area. There were lots of children milling about, all very anxious to entertain us with their dancing.


We visited the home of a family a short walk through corn fields from the school. The property was a mini -compound of clay huts with thatched roofs. The four children sleep together in one hut which is perhaps 8 feet in diameter and the parents are nearby in a slightly larger hut. A third hut serves as the kitchen and a tiny forth is for the pigeons.  The children's hut is also home to a turkey which is minding her nest of eggs in the corner.


550 very happy children received bed kits today!

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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 5 - May 2023 - Blog #6

Today we continued our journey north-east of Kampala.  As we left the city life behind us, we enjoyed seeing less traffic, lush gardens and the beautiful smiles and waves along the way.

We distributed another 550 bedkits to very deserving children.  As the children left the distribution site balancing their mattress on their heads and holding their other bedkit items in their arms, the parents cheered!  We especially loved hearing the beautiful sounds of the mothers ululating, showing us their happiness and gratitude.

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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 4 - May 2023 - Blog #5

Our visit today was to Nalugalu Public School which had no glass in the windows, no water and no electricity but it did have 550 adorable children ready to receive bedkits. We enjoyed lunch after with all the volunteers in one of the classrooms.


We were fortunate to visit the happy and loving home of a single mother and her 4 youngest children. They all live in a 10' x 10' tin shack with one small bed. We brought them a gift of flour, salt, beans and soap.


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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 3 - May 2023 - Blog #4

 

Today we travelled over three hours outside of Kampala and found ourselves in the beautiful countryside village of Bulawula.   We received a very warm welcome from  the children and their parents as we exited the bus. We then explored the property and all agreed that the cow field next to the school would be the perfect back drop for the photo area! We quickly set up and the distribution got underway. Thanks to our wonderful Inner Wheel teammates, we were able to give 550 children the gift of sleep today!


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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 2 - May 2023 - Blog #3

DESTINATION SEGALYE
A 3 hour bumpy drive on the red dirt roads of Uganda brought us to today’s destination, Segalye.  The distribution site was full of very excited children and parents awaiting their gift from SCAW.
The Inner Wheel ladies could not be more dedicated to serving the needy children of Uganda. They are amazing partners; kind, compassionate, hard working, organized and so very welcoming.
Another very successful (and long) 13 hour day in the books!

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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 1 - May 2023 - Blog #2

Our first distribution day began with a rainy drive to Kibuye, a suburb outside of Kampala.  As soon as our bus pulled into our location, we saw the excited smiles from the children. We all agreed that this was a sight we have missed very much over the past couple of years. After setting up our photo area, and determining where the children would receive their bedkits, we welcomed our first group for their photo.  Even better, the sun came came out! The groups moved through the distribution smoothly until the last child received their bedkit. Along with our wonderful partners, The Inner Wheel, another great  group of children received the gift of sleep today!
- Team Uganda 2023


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SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 1 - May 2023 - Blog #1

Today we visited the factories Unique Uniforms and Crest Foam. Unique Uniforms provides the dresses, shorts sets, and backpacks. Crest Foam produces the mattresses. The facilities were modern and well ventilated. The clothing company was established by a gentleman who started as a child on the street, was supported by a visionary, kind woman, acquired a manual sewing machine and was requested  to make 25 school uniforms. He now provides hundreds of jobs and is training entrepreneurs. Thank you to the mattress company for also storing and delivering the bed kits to the distribution sites.


We concluded our very successful day and then gathered with our overseas volunteers, the women of the Inner Wheel.

Team Uganda

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