SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 12
Today we travelled from Nairobi to Naro Moru, known as “the place of black stones .“ It’s a part of Nyeri County, which is located in central Kenya. We drove through some very fertile farmland where a wide variety of crops were being grown. This part of Kenya is known for its excellent fruit and vegetable production.
After driving for about 3.5 hours we reached Naro Moru, a small market town located along the Naromoru River. The town is often used as a base for people who hike nearby Mount Kenya. When we arrived at the school where the distribution was to take place, the children were all dressed in their new outfits and sitting patiently in their school groups waiting for us. Just over 700 bedkits were handed out today in a well run distribution, thanks to all the wonderful help from the teachers and the Rotary members.
Many older students were also there to help carry the bedkits for the younger recipients and the distribution went very smoothly and quite quickly. That was a good thing as the threatening rain clouds began to spit on us just as the last students were having their pictures taken and were receiving their bedkits. The local priest, Father Kiratu, who helped throughout the distribution by lining up students and directing them to their bedkits, was invited to ask for the weather to hold off long enough for us to finish. Our team so appreciated his help in facilitating that request. Kenya is at the very end of the first rainy season called the “masika”, and we have seen rain several afternoons and evenings.
Before heading away from the school, we were offered tea and refreshments by our hosts. In an inspirational and emotional speech, Father Kiratu talked about how, for many of these children, tonight would be their first time sleeping on a mattress and that some would even be receiving their first pair of new shoes as part of their bedkit. He wanted us to know how special this gift was to the children who received it and how very much it was appreciated. How fortunate and blessed I feel to be able to share in such a special day with this community.
Team Kenya, 2025
Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2025: May 5 - 9
May 5-6
Our team of 7, led by Ed Jacques and Patrick Toner, arrived late Monday, May 5th in Nairobi.
Tuesday was spent resting up and preparing for our seven distributions. We met key members of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, and our very experienced driver, Charles.
May 7
We travelled into the second largest low income area in Nairobi called Mathare Valley, where approximately 500,000 people live. Our distribution site was at Destiny Junior Education Centre where we delivered 1,340 bedkits to smiling and excited students.
We were welcomed by the school's head, Judith Acheing, and a Kenyan government official. In their opening remarks both commented on the importance of a good night's sleep for children to learn effectively. They thanked the Rotary Club of Nairobi and Sleeping Children Around the World for their efforts to provide sleeping kits for the children of the Mathare Valley.
Despite a cramped space the distribution went well. Rotarian Atia coordinated a well-planned distribution where the 1,340 bed kits were well organized in various locked classrooms.
It was such a treat to watch the young students receive their enormous bedkits, and they proudly balanced the bedkits on their heads as they left .
Team Kenya, 2025
Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦
May 8
Today began at 5:30 a.m. with the sound of children having swimming lessons in the hotel pool, and the shockingly loud squawk of the Hadada Ibis. The Ibis is native to sub-Saharan Africa and is named for its loud three to four note calls uttered in flight. Encountering an ibis is believed to signal a harmonious relationship with one's surroundings, reflecting a sense of balance and alignment. Little did we know that the morning sounds of children laughing and the Ibis would entirely represent the remainder of our second day of distribution.
Today was organized by Rotarian Mumbua at Myanyani HGM Comprehensive school in the village of Kabaa. As we drove into the distribution area, we immediately felt the excitement of the 1000 children, their parents and teachers. It is truly an awe-inspiring sight to see 1000 children sitting patiently in their new colorful outfits. As the day started, the theme of meaningful sounds continued late in the morning as the children performed songs and dances for their visitors. The President of the student body spoke eloquently as she gave thanks to the donors in Canada, the Rotarians, the loving parents and teachers.
The warmth of the Kenyan people was striking to us today. I think we each have said that we have never felt so welcomed on any distribution. We were literally welcomed (and enveloped!) with open arms. Everywhere we went, gratitude and love was expressed.
In closing, upon looking at the photos from the day, the eyes of the children stand out for me. Their eyes sum up the day - from start to finish.
They reflect hope - not only for a good night's sleep tonight, but hope for the future. It is incredible to know that the gift of a mattress can open a new world of possibilities for these children.
Team Kenya, 2025
Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦
May 9
What a sensational day! We headed out with our wonderful driver Charles, who was taking us to the Wildlife and Education Centre in Kitengela. We were informed that it was an hour’s drive. What we didn’t know, is that we’d have to navigate our way through rocky terrain with zebras gracefully blocking our path. As we continued, we saw herds of gazelles and wildebeests, along with ostriches and rhinos in the distance.
The Wildlife and Education Centre was owned by the University of Colorado but had been abandoned when the Nairobi bombings took place in 1998. In time, the local tribes purchased the property and have rebuilt the centre that now attracts groups from several countries.
We arrived at the site and were warmly welcomed with the Maasai tribe dressed in beautiful clothing and beads, doing a traditional dance. This tribe is one of 42 tribes in Kenya. They are known for unique culture, vibrant traditions, and strong warrior society. They have a deep connection to the surrounding land and wildlife that was evident to us today.
The children were excited and ready in their new clothes. They were gathered from four different schools and had travelled long distances on foot or by motorcycle to get there. The distribution was a great success with hundreds of smiling children and parents. We were informed that these people had never received gifts from anyone outside of the community. It was a privilege to participate in such a special day.
Team Kenya, 2025
Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 10
A Blog for Mother’s Day
Ugandan mothers are the loudest cheerleaders at our distribution sites. They clap and cheer with great joy when their child picks up their bedkit.
These mothers have walked many miles to get to the site, some with babies on their backs, some carrying a disabled child in their arms.
After a busy morning of distributions the team made an appropriate day-before-mother’s- day stop. We visited a local hospital complete with a Maternity and Labour room.
While we were there a young mother with 2 sons delivered a baby girl.
Perhaps one day she will be the recipient of a SCAW bedkit or better yet, she will be the woman who eliminates the need for them.
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 9 and 10
May 9. WE DID IT . . . 1000 BEDKITS TODAY!
Today we completed distributions in two different sites so our day started very early at 7:00. Children and parents were waiting for us and we loved the welcome with songs and dances.
The locations were perfect because the site managers travel the night before to make sure that everything is ready. As soon as the bus opens the doors we do a presentation for both the parents and the children explaining how our bedkits will help them get a healthy, good night’s sleep. This is followed by huge applause and cheers when we show all the items in the bedkit.
But the best is at the end when we watch very happy children head home with their gift of sleep.
Teamwork sure made this day a huge success. 1000 BEDKITS.❤️
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬+SCAW 🇨🇦
May 10 Warm-Up
Team SCAW (members from Canada and Uganda) drive together to each distribution site. The ladies of the Inner Wheel serenade us with inspirational songs along the way.
When we arrive at our location, as we leave our bus, we are greeted with music, chanting and wonderful dancing. School girls in costume perform an energetic cultural dance accompanied by community members playing drums and other instruments. Parents, volunteers and other guests cheer them on and join in the fun.
We were told that this particular dance is called Kiganda in the Masaka region of Buganda. The children learn and practice this dancing as an extra-curricular activity after school. They then entertain at events such as ours and also compete against other schools in the area. It is so lively and upbeat, a perfect warm-up to our bedkit distribution!
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 7 and 8
May 7
TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
The Inner Wheel and the Sleeping Children team are working together well and the results are that 500 children are going home with smiles on their faces.
Community members, faith leaders and helpers are also pitching in to make the distribution a success.
We could not help taking a celebratory photo at the end of a wonderful day.
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬+SCAW 🇨🇦
May 8
SMOOTH SAILING
Our motto with the Inner Wheel ladies continues to be: teamwork makes the dream work and the distribution this morning was smooth sailing with 500 very happy children.
We had a little free time this afternoon to walk downtown to experience Main Street.
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 5
Location is one of the more important elements in completing a successful distribution. Some locations are much more difficult than others to find, especially in the eastern part of the country during the rainy season.
But one of our distributions in Mbale with the Inner Wheel of Kampala Central was in the community of Ceele and this location had all the important elements we were looking for.
The first thing it had was shade and lots of it. Sometimes the kids travel a long way to receive their bedkits and a place for them to sit and wait in the shade is crucial.
Flat ground at a site is great, especially when looking for a place for camera set-up. There are pictures taken of groups of kids so flat ground for chairs or stools is necessary for not only a good shot but for their safety.
Ideally schools are great location choices as there are classrooms with privacy for the kids to change into their uniforms. But they also provide a familiar space for a very unfamiliar day. Security definitely is key and vital for everyone involved. Volunteers that are easily identified and all those involved in the distribution are the only ones in the secure area. So a roped off area with a visible exit is the best.
And all these things were exactly what we had in Ceele.
Great job Inner Wheel of Kampala Central.
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 6
Upon our arrival at the distribution sites, we are greeted by two large groups of loud and excited people, approximately 500 children who have changed into their new, colourful outfits, and their parents who wait on the perimeter of the site watching and celebrating the days' events.
We hear loud cheers, singing and clapping from both. Often there is music playing and people dancing and squealing. It is quite exhilarating!
Each day, prior to starting the distribution of bedkits, our team, with the help of an interpreter, explains to both groups about Sleeping Children Around the World, our donors in Canada, our local partners, the Inner Wheel, and our wish for the children to have a good night's sleep.
We have fun showing everyone the bedkit contents so they understand what is included in the gift for their children. Inevitably, this enhances the excitement even more. Then we are all anxious to get started!
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 4
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE CHILDREN
Today we said goodbye to the team from Kampala Central, who did a wonderful job this week, and said hello to Kampala Original.
At our distribution we were greeted with fanfare, enthusiasm and music with many excited parents and children. We had another successful start to this next phase of our distributions.
Here are some photos we cherish:
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 3
THE PEARL OF AFRICA
We did our distribution today near the Kenyan border with Mount Egan looming in the background.
When a team member was here 15 years ago she was surprised to see how green and lush everything was; it remains the same today. The Kampala Central team of the Inner Wheel took us to a beautiful waterfall on the side of the mountain, where we saw many things growing in the fields at the base of Mount Egan.
It was nice to see the area after our distribution was completed. It was nice to know that 500 more kids are having a better sleep tonight in the remote villages.
Team Uganda, 2025
Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 3
SO MANY HELPING HANDS
In addition to our SCAW team and our wonderful Inner Wheel team, there are so many community people that are needed to make a successful distribution. Today we had many many helping hands including a wonderful school head-master to make everything run smoothly.
Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬 +SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: May 1
A DAY OF FIRSTS
Today was not only the first day of our distribution but it was also the first ever distribution for the team from Kampala Central. All of them are new members and they did not know how our distributions work. Their planning was meticulous, the execution was perfect and it was obvious that they had been well coached by Gladys.
The entire day went off without a hitch and the SCAW team was thrilled that everything went so well.
Congratulations Kampala Central!
Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 30
WE LEARNED SO MUCH TODAY.
Our team got to visit 5 factories and we also completed our pre-distribution meeting with both Kampala Original and Kampala Central teams. It was all informative and useful; we appreciated being driven around by some of the Inner Wheel ladies to all of these sites. Their hospitality and organization is superb.
A highlight was Winifred’s Dress Design company. Winifred gave us the history of her small company as she makes some of the clothing for our children. As a widow, she likes to employ other single women and allows them to bring their babies to work if needed. We applaud not only the quality of the clothing but also her warm, generous and loving heart.
Tomorrow we drive three hours to start our Day One distribution.
Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 29
LOTS ACCOMPLISHED TODAY!
Our team was ready to go after a good night’s sleep so we met to continue our planning.
The Inner Wheel brought us a bedkit so we could do the assessment and see which items the 8500 children will be receiving.
Our excitement is building and tomorrow we do two factory visits along with our pre-distribution meeting.
We had a special moment this afternoon when we showed the bedkit to two of the people at our accommodation and explained how we are supporting the Ugandan children. They both got teary.
Our team is very happy to be here.
Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬+Team SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2025: April 28
We’ve arrived safely! The Inner Wheel welcomed us at the airport and all is well.
We had our first meeting and lots was covered. We are working through various plans.
This is short as we are off to bed now since all of us are a wee bit tired.
Team Uganda, 2025
Team Uganda 🇺🇬 and Team SCAW 🇨🇦