Tanzania: Day 1 in Kisauke
The Flavour of Tanzania 2006Hello Everyone,
We were up and ready to roll at 6AM, full of anticipation -- a bit nervous, but nonetheless looking forward to the day that lay ahead for us.
With four people who have never been to Africa and with two of these on their first SCAW Distribution, I felt a little apprehensive. It usually takes several distribution days before the team begins to function properly. On this, our very first day, it didn't take me long to realize that we were going to be all right. We have a special group here.
Kisauke School was like any other Tanzanian School. It is located just outside of Dar es Salaam and is a cluster of five buildings, with a square in front of the buildings where most of the activity takes place, and the playing fields behind the school proper.
Tanzania is spending its "debt forgiveness" on education and health care. We could see the beginnings of a new building here as well as a general sprucing up of the buildings.
For a first distribution, it didn't take long for everything to begin running smoothly despite the heat and the unmerciful sun. The temperature was in the low 90s. The sun however, beat down on those of us who were unfortunate enough to have to spend much of the time in it. It was draining; it was tiring; it was strength sapping. I have never drunk so much water in my life. With all the water consumed, one would expect to have to run to the washroom often -- but not so. Your body uses up the moisture at a rapid rate.
The one constant was the children. To describe a Tanzanian child one uses words like: dignified, patient, mannerly, and well behaved. What a delight it was for us to witness their singing of the Tanzanian national anthem with heart and gusto followed by their school song.
I had the privelege of giving a talk in my broken Swahili to the kids, telling them who we were, that we came in peace and love, representing other people in the world who cared very much for them. It was well appreciated judging from their reactions.
This year SCAW has instituted a survey in an effort to find out as much as we can about our recipients' reactions and opinions about the usefulness of our bedkits. I spoke through a translator with about eighty people with a bedkit spread out before them. It was an interesting exchange. I used the opportunity to deliver the message that many of these bedkits were donated by children the same ages as their children, by churches, by service clubs, through "In Memorium," and by the average person. The parents indicated very strongly and unmistakably that they appreciated this help from overseas. It was heartwarming to see their reactions, all the while thinking of those children in our schools who so actively support their own SCAW projects.
We were spreading goodwill and happiness wherever we went and enjoying every minute of this precious time of sharing. Upon completion, we got into our van, waving goodbye to teacher and child, shouting out Kwahari -- Good bye -- to the sea of happy faces that surrounded us.
It is burned in our memories --- and another day is awaiting us with more joy, peace, and love to spread.
Until next time,
Tom Belton, signing out.
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Tanzania: Arriving in Tanzania
We send greetings to you from Tanzania. Our time here thus far has been very rewarding, and very busy. At times it is very challenging to get Internet facilities.The team is pictured from left to right: Grace Wood, Tom Belton (Team Leader), Maxene Henry, Gail Duncan, Helen Brown, and Laura Belton.
After literally months of preparation and the uncertain travelling climate after the events in England the week before we left, our team of SCAW travelling volunteers met at Toronto Airport at 11:00 AM on August 16th, all primed for what might lay ahead of us in the next three weeks plus. We had prepared as best as we could over the previous five and a half months ... and then we were off.
Fortunately we were not flying through Heathrow, but through Washington Dulles Airport. It took us a little over an hour to get to Washington and then seventeen long hours to Addis Abiba, Ethiopia through Rome. And that was a long day of flying -- fully twenty-five and a half hours. Our stay in Addis Abiba, although short, was very interesting since we met very interesting and friendly Ethiopians. They were most welcoming and graciously friendly. It kind of made us wish we were going to be staying there longer. Next time we will have to make a longer stopover.
We arrived in Dar es Salaam at noon on Friday, August 18th to be met by our hosts Mama Wandoa and her son, Alfred, and his three children: Junior, Annette, and Pee. They took us to the apartment we are renting where we rested up for dinner.
It wasn't long before I was behind the wheel of our car taking my team out for our initial dinner. Fortunately I was able to remember where the Slip Way was -- even after dark.
Saturday night we attended an AIDS Awareness meeting that Mama held with a youth group, detailing the topic of AIDS and AIDS prevention.
On Sunday we attended church with Mama where I gave my first try at Swahili, telling the congregation who we were and what we stood for -- yes, all in Swahili. It was a grind, but I was able to get through it in an understandable manner to the delight of the parishoners. After the service I presented a copy of the Ottawa Citizen's extensive coverage of AIDS and the recent AIDS Conference in Toronto to Mama and the Pastor. It was appreciatively received.
In concluding this first of what I hope will be many interesting reports detailing our experiences and adventures here in Tanzania, I wish to lay out the format for future reports. Each member of our team will try to send at least two reports so you can see our trip through their eyes. I want them to be as open and frank with their own analysis and descriptions of their experiences as they see it.
I sincerely hope that you will enjoy and learn about our important work from these reports.
We send you all our best wishes and love.
Cheers,
Tom Belton, Team Leader
SCAW 2006 Tanzania Travelling Team
Sri Lanka: Report 5
Dear SCAW friends,We made it back to Colombo last night after a 9-hour bus ride on winding roads.
To date we have distributed 4,500 bedkits, many in the agricultural area of the country where tea plantations are plentiful. The last two distributions will be today (Sunday), and then we go off to the airport tonight.
We got to some really remote parts of the country where the children were very needy.
Daily, we run across a number of the children that we would love to take home with us. It is not uncommon to hear a team member shout "suitcase child" meaning: "Can we take him or her home with us?"
The team has stayed healthy with only a few upset stomachs mostly caused by motion sickness from all the travelling.
Knowing children are the future of any country, you donors should feel good about doing your part to help these children get a good night's sleep, thereby being able to be more attentive in school so that they can get their education.
SCAW travelling team in Colombo
Sri Lanka: Report 4
Dear SCAW friends,Sri Lankans say, ‘’If you can drive in Sri Lanka, you can drive anywhere in the world."
We wholeheartedly agree with this statement! The road is shared by pedestrians, cyclists, motor bikes, "iron buffaloes", 3-wheeled tuk-tuk’s, cars, vans, buses, trucks, transport trucks, dogs, cows, and goats.
We have experienced this because of our extensive traveling to our distribution sites. Although the distances are not long, there are no highways, therefore it takes a long time to travel short distances.
Each day, we have been traveling to two different distribution sites, for an average of more than five hours of travel time. We would rather travel to the childrens’ villages, than have the kids walk or travel extremely long distances to the distribution sites.
We are excited to be heading off for five days into rural areas to continue with the distributions — but we will be without the convenience of internet correspondence.
SCAW Sri Lanka Team
Sri Lanka: Report 3
Dear SCAW friends,After walking long distances, children have been waiting patiently for the SCAW team’s arrival. The kids receiving bedkits are between the ages of 6 and 12 years old and are of equal number of boys and girls. They are also from a variety of beliefs and cultures.
The children generally seem to be well nourished and in good spirits. Upon recveiving a bedkit, the kids show their appreciation with a smile, giggle, and thank you's.
The children helped team member Liz Vanderwater celebrate her birthday by singing happy birthday and sharing the cake.
SCAW Sri Lanka Team
Sri Lanka: Report 2
Dear SCAW friends,At every distribution, the SCAW team has been greeted with a variety of traditional dancing, music, flag raising, the singing of the national anthem and the presentation of the temple flower leis — traditional Sri Lankan welcome — by the children.
In anticipation of the team’s arrival, the children have been practicing these performances for some time.
The children also welcome the team by presenting them with beetle leaves, at which time they show honour and respect for the team by kneeling and touching our feet three times.
Before the distributions begin, each team member, as well as local representatives, take part in the lighting of the lamp of light.
SCAW Sri Lanka Team
Sri Lanka: 500 Happy Children
 |
| From Sri Lanka Pho... |
Here is the SCAW Sri Lanka 2006 team picture: Seated on the left is Cindy Brown, then in the middle is Elizabeth Vanderwater, then on the right Marilyn Hill. Standing on the left is Ryan Rourke, I'm in the middle, and Bud Adams on the right. An awesome team, all of whom love children.
The first 500 of 5000 children went home happy today with their bedkits over their shoulders. Unfortunately it was raining, which caused some concerns but the job got done. The children who received bedkits today did not seem to be malnourished or hungry — just very poor.
Once again, the mosquito net is very popular — only about 5% of the children already have them — but 100% indicate that they would use one if they had one.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we are leaving at 6am for a three-hour drive to the first distribution then on further to another one where we will be staying overnight. On Thursday we head back to Colombo doing two more distributions on the way.
That's all for now. Got to hit the hay.
For the children,
Clarence
Uganda: The Distribution is Complete
The day has come to say goodbye to the sweet little faces of Uganda and travel home to our own families. We will take with us memories and happy thoughts of another 6,000 children sleeping on their new beds with a warm blanket to cover them and a mosquito net to protect them.
We will take home the pictures etched in our minds of the smiles and "Sanku's" [Thank you's] that we were given when the children were handed their new bed kits. And we will take home the new-found friendships developed with our team mates and the ladies of the Inner Wheel.
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
So instead we say: "See you next time."
Our team has just finished the final distribution in the photo at left. The child who received the final bedkit has six Canadians around him, holding on to one another and wishing that this moment of exhilaration could last forever.
We have represented our many donors and together we have brought meaning to the words of the late Murray Dryden: "It is every child's right to have a peaceful night's sleep."
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: Canadians do the African Dance
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
This is what you hear as you drive into a distribution site. Then comes the clapping, dancing and singing — including the very young, as you can see in the picture below. The song is often "We are happy to receive you. Welcome."
With such a great team that is so full of energy and love for the children, it is easy to become part of the Uganda customs. Joining in with the dance becomes a daily treat.
Two of our team members, Nancy and Sally Jo, have become true African-style dancers, taking pride in learning the dance moves. Nancy knows how to shake just right and Sally Jo adds the Canadian touch — much laughter accompanies their efforts.
Music and celebration is a very big part of Uganda. It is a great reward for our team to be part of the joy that a distribution brings to these villages.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: A Kind and Gentle People
The 2006 Uganda Distribution team has been on the road for a couple of days. This time they went to the western part of Uganda. They plan to return Saturday evening. So, in the meantime, here's a report of what they see while they're on the road.
As our bus passes along narrow bumpy roads our eyes meet those who are walking along the road or working in nearby fields. Their reaction is immediate: a beautiful smile and a friendly wave. Instantly you are made to feel welcome!
Children will run to the roadside waving frantically. Some will follow the bus for a short distance, calling to us in voices that express friendship and happiness.
"You are welcome in our community," is what you hear from the caregivers as we reach a distribution centre. Hands reach to touch ours and we feel very fortunate to be among friends.
Following the distribution our hosts will sincerely offer their homes for as long as we need to rest. As one local village member said in a soft voice, "You do not need a bed to sleep in my house."
2006 Uganda SCAW team
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
Children will run to the roadside waving frantically. Some will follow the bus for a short distance, calling to us in voices that express friendship and happiness.
"You are welcome in our community," is what you hear from the caregivers as we reach a distribution centre. Hands reach to touch ours and we feel very fortunate to be among friends.
Following the distribution our hosts will sincerely offer their homes for as long as we need to rest. As one local village member said in a soft voice, "You do not need a bed to sleep in my house."
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: Matoki, the Signature Food
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
In Uganda, you will find matoki — a food made from the inner pulp of a green banana. It is cooked over an open fire wrapped in banana leaves and served at any time of the day. The people of Uganda love their matoki and the Canadian team is trying its best to acquire a taste for it.
In remote villages matoki is a daily staple. The issue for these people is that their meals lack the important nutrients that a balanced diet requires. The tragic reality is that malnourished children become victims of the food they love!
Uganda: Agriculture
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
Millet (pictured at right) is a type of grain used to make a jelly-like bread with a mild flavour. For school lunches, children take a small plastic bag filled with maize, a corn which has been ground to a fine powder. Water is added to provide a filling but not very nutritious drink.
Other crops we have seen along the way include rice, pineapple — the sweetest fruit — and tea. Village markets display pyramids of tomatoes, mangoes, cabbages, cucumbers, and white potatoes, known in Uganda as "Irish."
Uganda is such a fertile land that it is hard to understand how so many of the children we see are malnourished.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: The Inner Wheel — Our Overseas Partners
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
Twelve sites were chosen with a coordinator for each one. They contacted suppliers to negotiate the purchase of bedkit items, a task made more difficult with this year’s requirement of including a mosquito net treated with anti-malarial material,
Selecting the children is accomplished through contact with tribal leaders, teachers, social workers and teachers - not an easy task. In one district there are one million children, all needy, but only 500 could be given what Murray Dryden called the most basic right of any child -”The comfort of a good night’s sleep.”
On distribution day the site coordinator arrives very early to organize the events to follow: Dressing the children in their SCAW clothing - rainbow colours of red, yellow, green and blue; counting the bags to ensure exactly 500 are piled up for giving after the photo; roping an area where parents and neighbours can observe without getting in the way. All this is done to ensure SCAW’s promise that only the most needy children will receive their gift.
The bonus for the Canadians is that the Inner Wheel ladies have become our friends. They ensure that we are well fed and comfortable as we travel from site to site. Their infectious laughter and good natured teasing will remain with all of us long after we return to Canada.
Thank you ladies of the Inner Wheel of Kampala.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: Salute to our Donors
We received so many photos from Uganda, we've added another distribution album showing some of the 6,000 children who will sleep more safely and more comfortably after the Ugandan distribution.
Sleeping Children Around the World is supported by free will donors. The children of Uganda and all the other countries we visit sleep more comfortably due to your generosity. The team continues to witness the absolute joy all of you have given these children. It is evident in their faces and it warms our hearts.
So many schools, churches, community groups and individuals donate bedkits — it is truly incredible! All across Canada as well as Internationally — we have already seen donations from Thailand, the UK and the USA on this trip — have given so thoughfully for the love of children around the world.
Donors are very creative in their giving as well. We often see bedkits donated for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and births. A special example is a couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations Sam and Mildred!They donated 64 bedkits and plan on using the photos they receive as invitations to the celebration of their lives together. The 2006 Uganda team would like to send a special "Congratulations" to Sam and Mildred! We have included a picture with 64 Ugandan children to help illustrate just how many lives you have influenced.
All of us want to thank all of you. We salute you for what you do to help these precious children.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
So many schools, churches, community groups and individuals donate bedkits — it is truly incredible! All across Canada as well as Internationally — we have already seen donations from Thailand, the UK and the USA on this trip — have given so thoughfully for the love of children around the world.
Donors are very creative in their giving as well. We often see bedkits donated for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and births. A special example is a couple celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations Sam and Mildred!They donated 64 bedkits and plan on using the photos they receive as invitations to the celebration of their lives together. The 2006 Uganda team would like to send a special "Congratulations" to Sam and Mildred! We have included a picture with 64 Ugandan children to help illustrate just how many lives you have influenced.
All of us want to thank all of you. We salute you for what you do to help these precious children.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: Medical Concerns
In a country where so many are poor, medical services are hard to access. Bedkit recipients have included a boy with severe cerebral palsy, another with polio, and several with birth defects that could have been treated with modern medicine. Many are infected with ringworm, a condition that is easily treated with inexpensive medicine if only the parent could afford it.Some of the children we see suffer from high fevers, a symptom of untreated malaria, and an unknown number are HIV positive.
In spite of these conditions, the children greet us with enthusiastic clapping and singing. Their bright smiles express their happiness and excitement at receiving a gift so large they can hardly contain themselves.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: The Very Young
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
While we were in the Tororo District we visited a medical centre in a very simple building a 45-minute drive by automobile from the town. As we disembarked from our bus we discovered that the centre had no doctor.
A single nurse provided help to mothers who give birth. The facilities in the centre were sparse. Old iron framed beds had thin mattresses and in some cases no sheets or blankets.
In the recovery room several men were recovering from simple surgeries. The medical centre did not have adequate space to provide a separate place for the mothers who were recovering.
As we left, we wondered aloud how life can be so unfair to mothers and children in conditions of extreme poverty.
2006 Uganda SCAW team
Uganda: A Birthday in Africa
 |
| From Uganda Photo Album |
She would probably share with you that her day began when her teammates gave her a gift of broken sunglasses — although by the picture to the right you can see that she pulled it off quite well.
At yesterday's distribution, one of the women from the village gave her a Jack Fruit.
Our local partners — the terrific members of the Inner Wheel — honoured her with a birthday cake, cards, and gifts.
However, she received the most precious gift of all when she walked off the bus. 500 Ugandan children sang “Happy Birthday” to her. (Check out the movie link below.) We know she was very moved by the super kids and felt honoured to be able to distribute 500 bedkits to very deserving children.
Her strength motivates us, her committment to the children encourages us, her photos inspire us, and her humour enhances all of our experiences in Uganda.
Happy Birthday, Kristein!
Leslie, Mary-Jo, Grant, Sally Jo, and Nancy