SCAW Blog: Togo, 2025: October 22
Time, Talent and Treasure
Sleeping Children is back in Togo after several years absence, thanks to ADES – Togo*, a new charitable organization specifically set up to partner with SCAW and resume helping Togo children living in poverty – and all of it because of the leadership of brothers, Messenh and Dosseh.
Followers of SCAW in Togo might remember these two from the ‘three musketeers’, who, as young men with their cousin, helped every SCAW team, every day. Well, they are now in their 30s, have families and wish to give back this time with their time, talent and treasure. They formed ADES – Togo with about 25 young women and men (21 volunteers were at the first distribution!) and it is a joy to see them bring joy to the distributions as they help organize, play and interact with the children, families and us, the SCAW volunteers.
Three of the four on our team have been to previous Togo distributions and see the ‘three musketeers’ in all the ADES – Togo members. High praise!
Their logo represents it all - for the children they (and we) are helping be happy, joyful, playful, safe and cared for.
Team Togo, 2025
Association Developpement Enfance et Social Togo 🇹🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦
*Association Developpement Enfance et Social
SCAW Blog: Togo, 2025: October 21, 2025
“ I am good, I am great” 🎼 🎼 🎼
That was the song that the children sang to us in English at the completion of a successful first day distribution in Togo! We are thrilled to be back in Togo with the ADES - Togo (Association Developpement Enfance et Social) group after a gap of a few years. And they didn’t disappoint - 125 children experiencing poverty received the gift of a bedkit to ensure a good night’s sleep!
We also were able to visit 2 homes of children in the village of Bolougan who received a bedkit today. Here we witnessed a co-op where they made clay pots and bricks. They had a 300 meter deep well which supplied the village with water, saving them having to walk several miles to get water from the river!
The first house was made of clay and housed a family of 8 which included a young girl. The second house was of a single mother and her 12 year old boy and what we noticed right away were sayings on the wall in chalk. The young boy was a big fan of soccer and we knew that because of what was written.
We are off to a great start and thankful for the donors and the smiles that we received today!
Team Togo, 2025
Association Developpement Enfance et Social Togo 🇹🇬 + SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Guatemala, 2025: October 14
Today was our first day of three days of distributions in San Juan Cotzal. At 8:30 AM we arrived at the local recreation centre which was filled with children, parents teachers and volunteers, all anxious for the opening ceremonies and the distribution.
The ceremonies began with the procession of the flags of Canada and Guatemala followed by the SCAW team with an honour guard of 6-7 year old smiling children dressed in their new fleece outfits waving balloons and Canadian flags.
This was followed by the singing of the national anthems of Guatemala and Canada and then addresses by the local SOS coordinator Isabela, the local coordinator of Education, and the Mayor. Then we were entertained with traditional dancing and singing by a group of young girls and one boy in traditional attire. This boy stole the show with his talent and stage presence. We can only imagine the performer he will be in ten years.
We then set up for the distribution of 250 bedsits in the morning. We had been concerned about the weather because it was raining when we awoke in the AM but it did settle in the morning. During the early afternoon there was hard rain shower for a short period which did not affect the distribution of 350 bedsits.
By the time we finished for the afternoon it had cleared and we walked about 1.5 km, almost all uphill, back to our hotel. This gave us a chance to see everyday life in this community and to get some fresh air. It was time for a short rest, then supper and early to bed as we will be busy tomorrow.
Team Guatemala, 2025
Seeds of Innovation for Sustainable Development 🇬🇹 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Guatemala, 2025: October 13
Today, we left San Cristobal to travel by small coach to San Juan Cotzal for the second half of our distributions. Before departing we were treated to a lovely breakfast at our hotel by the very supportive mayor of San Cristobal, Mr Celso Gue Gua. He shared his passion for education and his enthusiasm for SCAW’s work.
The trip was 121 km through the mountains - over a mix of paved, gravel and washed-out roads. The elevation changes and hairpin turns made for both spectacular views and nail-biting moments. A short stop for lunch in Nebaj allowed us to stretch our legs and see the central square complete with an underground parking garage. It was a long trip made enjoyable through our good spirited team.
Upon arrival we said “adios” to Noe, our San Cristobal host and “mucho gusto” to Isabelle who will host us in Cotzal. Together with their teams, they have done an extraordinary job preparing for the distribution of 4,000 bedkits to be evenly split between the two regions.
We can’t thank them enough!
Team Guatemala, 2025
Seeds of Innovation for Sustainable Development 🇬🇹 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Guatemala, 2025: October 12
Today we began with breakfast and then a short ride to the San Cristobal Municipal Center where children and their parents were assembled to receive the 1000 plus bedkits we were distributing. Our young volunteers and their supervisors from SOS were there earlier and already had many children registered and about 50 changed into their new clothes and ready for the distribution when we arrived.
Our SCAW team of six is supported in San Cristobal by about 20 youth and their supervisors. These amazing young people are mentors and mentees with with the Canadian supported SOS program here, in which high school students support elementary students in their studies and encourage them to continue their education beyond the grade 6 level. The youth ranged in age from 11 to 18 years. They performed various tasks including lifting the heavy bedkits and carrying them to the waiting parents, comforting and supporting children, registering the children and, most importantly, translating for us from English to Spanish and Mayan dialects.
One young man who we both worked with for translation told us he improved his English by watching TV in English and listening to music. He delighted in conversation about his future and his desire to study Tourism next year as he just finished High School. The smooth running of our distribution was made possible because of the bright, smiling cheerful youth and their supervisors who were always supportive to us and respectful of the children.
Team Guatemala, 2025
Seeds of Innovation for Sustainable Development 🇬🇹 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Guatemala, 2025: October 11
First Day of Bedkit Distributions in San Cristóbal, Guatemala:
Today in San Cristóbal, Guatemala, I witnessed something extraordinary. My first day distributing bedkits with Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW) unfolded like a well-executed plan amidst smiles, enthusiastic hugs and genuine warmth.
As we arrived, the air buzzed with anticipation. Children lined up with radiant smiles, their eyes wide with curiosity and gratitude. Their manners were impeccable - each “gracias” delivered with sincerity that moved us all. Mothers stood nearby, wrapped in vibrant shawls woven with intricate patterns, layered over blouses and flowing skirts that told stories of heritage and resilience. Their pride of family was unmistakable.
Under the expert guidance of our seasoned trip leader, what began as a bustling scene quickly transformed into a finely tuned operation. Over 1,000 bedkits - each containing a mattress, blanket, mosquito net, school supplies and clothing - were distributed with care and efficiency. Student volunteers, brimming with energy and ingenuity, adapted swiftly to every challenge. The girls reorganized queues, held the hands of little ones and ensured that bubbling energy was managed between kit handoffs. Meanwhile the boys demonstrated strength and compassion lifting the large kits onto the waiting heads of proud mothers - or carrying them out for those parents who needed a little help.
What struck me most was the harmony. In a place where resources are limited, generosity flowed freely. Every smile exchanged, every kit handed over, every photo captured was coming together as one appreciative community.
This wasn’t just aid - it was connection. A reminder that dignity and joy can thrive in the simplest acts of giving. I felt humbled and inspired. Tomorrow brings more kits, more faces, more stories - but today will stay with me forever.
Team Guatemala, 2025
Seeds of Innovation for Sustainable Development 🇬🇹 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Cameroon, 2025: September
Cameroon 2025: The final countdown
The SCAW team and the United Action for Children of Cameroon finished up the distribution of 1500 bedkits when 350 children at Dibombari received their gifts for a better night’s sleep.
We were met by the two principals of the school who welcomed and thanked us for coming to their school and helping 350 students.
This was one very well-organized school, where part of the children’s education was spent on keeping the school and surrounding areas clean and tidy. We were impressed to watch as children carrying hoes, rakes, shovels, and machetes tidied the school grounds. It was fascinating to watch a young student expertly sharpening a machete! It’s a different world without a doubt!
Team Cameroon, 2025
United Action for Children of Cameroon 🇨🇲 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Cameroon, 2025: September 18
Today we went to a school in Bomongo Gare and distributed 350 bedkits to students from the school as well as children from the local village. It was another very hot and humid day but “everyday is like this” said our driver, Roger. Cameroon is a bilingual country just like Canada but the area where we are staying is primarily French-speaking. My high school French teacher would be pleased to hear me speaking French each day (although I am far from fluent). The children and staff seem to appreciate that I am trying my best to communicate. As always, a handshake, high five, thumbs up and big smile are the universal language of communication and friendship. I will always treasure those interactions with the children.
Tomorrow is our last day and we will be off to one more school to distribute another 350 bedkits before we fly home tomorrow night.
Team Cameroon, 2025
United Action for Children of Cameroon 🇨🇲 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Cameroon, 2025: September 17
Today we had the pleasure of meeting the chief of Bomono ba Mbenquè. Monsieur Dibanda welcomed us into his home and was grateful that the children of l’École Publique de Bomono ba Mbenquès and surrounding areas were going to receive their bedkits.
Our group was very impressed with the patience, enthusiasm, joy and the warm welcome we received from the children. We were able to make 425 children super happy today.
Team Cameroon, 2025
United Action for Children of Cameroon 🇨🇲 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: September 4
Our ninth day of distribution was held at Ibrahim Gamero school. Our first challenge was for our driver to negotiate access roads to the school which were very narrow and cluttered with vehicles. After drop-off we all descended steep narrow stone steps without hand rails and already congested with children, parents and numerous dogs, to enter the school. This slowed our progress.
The school had been built on the side of a cliff with small classrooms and two sets of access stairs. Our leader tĥen had to develop a plan for the steps of the distribution: registration, tee-shirts, backpacks, staging, pictures, bedkits and exit. All stages were set up quickly with the help of our Rotarians, Rotoractors and municipal supporters who had been working with us and knew our set-up plan.
We were then ready to initiate our distribution and the waìting and excited children were processed into our stages initially in groups of 10. This allowed our process to move quickly.
Some of the younger children at times seemed nervous and afraid of us as they did not fully understand who we were and what was happenin̈g, but we had individuals with us speaking Spanish and providing support to address any concerns. Several delays in our process occurred due to children being delayed by traffic or scheduling but eventually we completed our distribution of 501 bedkits.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: September 3
We are in Honduras, a country that makes your mind contort as you look around. There is a large influence from the other “America” here - everything from KFC, to McDonalds, to Walmart, Costco, Dunkin Donuts - and coffee shops on every corner. When you look at the other side of the road you will see shanties (chabolas) that are merely stone walls with metal roofs with logs on the roof to hold them down in the wind. But what is also here is crime, although you might not see it as obviously. Here the gangs run the rural parts of the country, just outside the city, where the poorest of the poor are.
It is risky for us “gringos” to venture into those areas and also risky for the children who come to collect their bedkits, as we are traversing on their territory. So we teeter on the edge . . . going to schools near - or between - gang run areas (with police or municipal escorts, of course - just in case). That's about as close as we can get that will allow us to help the children, but not endanger anyone, and that keeps our Rotarian and Rotaractor colleagues safe and at peace with their community.
So why do we come here if it's somewhat dangerous? Well we don't really go into danger zones, but mostly because the children need us! So far we have been to 3 schools in borderline areas and each school has thanked us immensely for “not forgetting them,” and for including their children in our program. The smiles, the comments such as “God bless you,” of “I love you” that we hear from the children along with the high-fives and the hugs help us all know how gratifying this work can be.
Maybe WE are the hope that these children need to feel pulling them towards a different way of life as they get older?
That’s why we come here.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: September 2
As a fellow Rotarian and a past Rotaractor (young/future Rotarians) it warms my heart to know how Rotarians are very dedicated in their service to mankind all over the world. Here in Honduras, members of the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa have many projects but Sleeping Children is one of their top initiatives. This also applies to the Rotaractors who this year invited other Rotaractor clubs in the city to join the distribution to both see what it is and to engage in cross-club initiatives and networking. It is the strength and dedication of these two organizations that pull this all together and deliver it alongside our SCAW travelling volunteers.
In cooperation with SCAW over the past approx. 20 years, these organizations have improved the lives and given hope for the future of over 100,000 Honduran children.
We are very excited and humbled to be crossing this milestone with them on this distribution.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: September 1
Today’s school had a very confined centre court. The children were streaming in one closely guarded door as the street was full of excited parents, relatives and community members.
The school presented us with a very exuberant dance routine using vibrantly ribboned hoops and gymnastics.
The distribution of 486 bedkits flowed smoothly. As an added bonus for the children today they received medical attention from a team of health care providers.
Mawdy is an international organization in 23 countries and operates in Honduras to provide a suite of insurance services. They brought many staff and the health care organization they contract with (Integrasalud Hn) provided health care services to the children. Dental care staff applied fluoride treatment. Nurses and doctors gave out vitamins and deworming medication and did health checks as needed. Mawdy has been supporting SCAW with this one day of services for 3 years, and next year they want to extend it to two days.
This service is available for children, teaching and administrative staff of the schools, and parents, when the delivery of the bedkits allows it.
The family doctor who attended, identified the top three health challenges for Honduran children; access to care, tinea (fungal infections of the skin on the body and feet), and dengue (a mosquito-born viral infection). The mosquito netting included in the bedkits will be especially appreciated.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 29
So far, all the bedkits have been distributed on the grounds of schools. Most of the schools have a central courtyard (play or assembly area) ringed by classrooms.
Although gray cement abounds, great care has been taken to make these spaces bright and cheerful learning areas. The walls are painted in bright colours, lessons are posted on the walls, interesting art hangs from the ceiling, and eye catching displays adorn the spaces.
Each day we look forward to seeing the creativity these educators bring to their students to enhance their learning experience.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 28
On distribution day 4, we left the city to travel 20 miles to the forest. With our trusty Rotarian driver, Casar, we navigated hills, curves, bumps and dirt roads on our way to Los Limones in Central District, arriving at Sergio Palacios School. Upon arrival, our competent Rotarian and Rotaract teams initiated set-up of our shade canopy to provide a comfortable space for our distribution.
Our distribution team reviewed the premises to plan how to use the space and set up our camera, bedkits and left space to manage the flow of the children.
Upon completion of set-up, a welcome and thankful exercise was presented by the school along with prayers and a musical performance by an aspiring young female vocalist. We then completed our distribution of 431 bedkits to very thankful, happy and smiling boys and girls.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 27
Beating the Rain
As all of our sights in Honduras are school locations, today is no different. This primary Catholic school, Escuel Monsenor Fallis, is much larger than previous schools with a huge courtyard. The Rotarians erected a large tent which provided ample protection from the elements for the kids. Rain threatened all day but it was the wind that caused more complications with the huge tent nearly achieving lift-off numerous times. With approximately 600 bedkits to distribute today’s distribution is larger than most.
When we finished, Rotarians and Rotaracts invited our team to lunch at Portobello, where we all enjoyed pizza. With impeccable timing the skies opened and it poured!
The day wrapped up with us attending the weekly Rotarian Social, which was held at our hotel. Another successful day!
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 26
We arrived at the school, Pedro Nufio, which we had visited yesterday post-distribution to scope out the best site for picture-taking and to develop flow logistics. The municipality had set up a large tent providing shade over the small centre court for the children to enter, be dressed in t-shirts and given backpacks, and be ready to move for picture-taking.
The team was given a warm welcome and treated to a lively Honduran dance performed by girls dressed in brightly-coloured skirts.
The boys wore their straw wide-brimmed hats (chapellerie traclet).
Their smiles and joy were shared with us!
Many municipal volunteers, as well as Rotarian and Rotaracts, helped the SCAW team with all the steps involved in distributing the bedkits.
Some of children travelled an hour from other schools to attend and receive their bedkit. They were so thankful and happy.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 25
Distribution #1 is in the Books!
Today was a very successful start for Team Honduras. Five hundred and twenty-three bedkits were distributed today with relative ease. With Danielle on the photos, Masud lining up the kids, Cathy staging, Sue pulling labels, Jan checking labels and Bill handing out bedkits we preformed like a well-oiled machine.
This could not have been achieved without the unwavering support and hard work of the Tegucigalpa Rotary and Rotaracts, and of course our very generous donors. We hope all those adorable children are enjoying a good night’s sleep tonight.
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2025: August 24
The Honduras 2025 team has arrived and is already hard at work. We had our first meeting with some of the Rotarian team this morning. We examined all the items in the bedkit that the children will receive (spoiler alert: they are great!); were told of the locations; discussed the general site setup; and heard about all the hard work that has already been done by the Rotarians to make this distribution of 5000 bedkits run smoothly.
Tomorrow we meet the children and we are so excited!
Team Honduras, 2025
The Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 and SCAW 🇨🇦
SCAW Blog: Rwanda, 2025: August 23
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