Chennai: A Train Trip

On Wednesday, February 6^th we awoke in Yercuad to a beautiful day. The valley was hazy but the sun would take that away soon. A few of us had a massage in the morning before our departure ... mine lasted for 1 1/4 hours. Awh...the feel of it was wonderful.

We made our way back down the twisting mountain road by bus to the railway station at Salem Station from which we had arrived only two days before. The station is a hub of activity at most times of the day, particularly when a train arrives or is about to depart. Literally throngs of people use this method of travel, finding it convenient, inexpensive, and a quick way to reach distances too far to drive by car or bus. The stations are similar to those in England -- wide open and long.

The station platform was filled with people when we arrived: vendors, a few beggars, and the railway police. A quiet female voice came over the PA system announcing the arrival of our train at about 5:00 PM. We boarded what we thought was our car only to find out a mistake in our reservations had been made. As soon as you board an Indian train, no time is wasted before it starts to trundle down the tracks. Therefore, we had to transfer through the throngs in each car back three cars to the only available seats in the economy sections. This car had only open windows covered with bars. There were emergency exit windows that could be opened in case of need. The seats were bland straight-back types with limited padding. The air conditioning was non-existent -- except for the breezes coming from all directions through the open windows.

It was exciting to say the least.

When we sat down we looked around our surroundings. The seats were mostly full with ordinary Indian people gong on their way. We lucked out as we were able to find seats together. At the ends of each car were the washrooms. One was a typical Indian one where you did your business through a slot in the floor. Another was a more western type that one could sit down on. Each contained a water tap where you could wash your hands. No soap or towels -- no matter. Inside each car was another wash station with a mirror and small faucet to simply clean up at.

The ride was a terrific experience. The wind coming in kept us cool on this sweltering day -- much better, I think, than if we had been in the A/C cars. The countryside ran past us as we rode through the farm lands of that area. We passed farmers busy in their fields -- both women and men. Small fields were the norm. No large tracts could be seen. They grow a variety of cotton, rice, coconut palms, sugar cane, papaya, and row upon row of sun flowers all with their backs to the setting sun. It was a beautiful panorama of crops and activities. Most of the toil was by hand although we saw more and more tractors being used. Roads crossed the landscape that allowed the farmers to get to market. Farm homes raged from the very primitive thatched-roof huts to solid and painted masonry buildings.

As darkness descended, lights began to appear at some homes. The light consisted of a strip of fluorescent tubes suspended from a pole. Where there was a light, there was only one to show the way for the inhabitants.

It was close to 8:30 PM when our train rolled into (now get this) "Card Party," a smaller junction town, where we disembarked to our waiting mini-bus. Ahhhh. A night's rest once again so we could recharge for tomorrow's adventure.

Tom Belton
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Yercaud, Feb. 5

Bedkit recipients at Government Higher Secondary School From Chennai 2008 Photo Album

Breakfast was typically Indian at our mountainside hotel featuring Idly (rice cake), Vadai (a vegetarian donut), Dosai (rice rolls), Pongal (rice pudding), Poori (wheat), Sambar and Chutney spicy sauce, sweet lime and an Indian spicy omelette. Well fortified and raring to go, our SCAW team accompanied our Rotarian hosts to Government Higher Secondary School near Emerald Lake in the heart of Yercaud.

Our day's objective was to distribute 760 bedkits to children age 6 to 10, half girls and half boys, whose parents' income did not exceed twenty-four thousand Rupees, or about six hundred and fifty dollars per year. The Yercaud Rotary Club had done a great job of screening the children, and of recruiting 30 volunteers to assist SCAW team members with the challenging logistics of helping the children to put on a new SCAW outfit, line up in an orderly fashion for their photos, walk to the table where a SCAW member noted their attendance on the preprinted check sheets, and proceed to the storage area where a SCAW member presented them with their new bedkit.

The Yercaud Rotary Club provides remarkable leadership in organizing projects to improve the lives of children and adults in the region. SCAW could not do its amazing work without their cooperation and assistance. In addition, the Yercaud Rotarians organize medical camps in an area covering 150 sq. km, have established a Polio Program, and arranged for the immunization of more than 4000 children annually in the 67 villages situated in the vicinity. They have stationed an ambulance in the area, and adopted selected schools in which they work to improve the infrastructure and facilities for the welfare of the children.

The happy look on the faces of the children when they receive their bedkits, and the sparkle in their eyes, make all our efforts on behalf of the many SCAW donors back home so very worthwhile. The cooler weather of the mountain setting in which we were distributing bedkits made for less fatiguing and more comfortable work conditions. Around 4 pm, we finished and made our way as guests of the Rotary Club to a hotel owned by a Rotary member for lunch.

Visiting Sister Louis Click to see more photos

On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at the Yercaud Social Service Centre where Sister Louis of the Order of St. Joseph of Cluny, an Irish Roman Catholic nun, has worked devotedly for 58 years to improve the lives of citizens and children of Yercaud. She was delightful to talk to, and appreciative of Jean Hutton's and Leslie Field's offer of school supplies they had brought with them from Canada to give where needed, as well as two hand-made shawls to keep some needy souls warm.

Sister Louis devoted service for 58 years underlines a great religious truth central to all major world religions:

• Hinduism teaches: "This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you."
• Islam teaches: "Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself."
• Buddhism teaches: "Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
• Confucianism teaches: "One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct and loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself."
• Christianity teaches: "Love your neighbour as yourself," and "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Back at our hotel, we prepared our reports although lack of high speed internet service in the town prevented our sending them. Then we checked our gear and plans for our journey to Vellore on Wednesday, and relaxed. Some members of the Team even took advantage of the spa services to tone up their bodies and tune up their energy levels for the challenging days ahead in a much hotter part of India.

On Wednesday, we departed by train to Vellore in southern India for the distribution of 720 bedkits.

Gray Cavanagh for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Yercaud, Feb. 4

From Chennai 2008 Photo Album

The overnight train to Salem Junction en route to Yercaud provided the SCAW Team with a challenge and excitement. The jam-packed station in Chennai with down- and up-stairs under the tracks and no escalators abundantly underlined our wisdom in repacking only carry-on luggage and backpacks, and leaving our large suitcases in the home of a leading Rotarian for safe keeping until our return to Chennai in 8 days.

Narrow double-decked berths in a smaller-than-Canadian passenger car that had seen better days, and a train that swayed and growled clickety-clack along the uneven tracks, added up to a new travel experience. Fortunately, no one on the team is seasick-prone. We were stuffed and stacked in our short berths, with only curtains for doors to our compact compartments. With one compartment for four and one for two, sleeping proved intermittent with the background noise of some snoring fellow travellers.

The Salem train station at 5:30 am was already a beehive of activity. With speed we collected our luggage and made it off the train in the 5-minute window before the train again disappeared into the night. With haste we found our bus, guided by the three gallant Rotarians accompanying us on this part of our distribution tour. In the twilight of dawn, we set off for Yercaud up the mountains, our driver taking the switchback climb with its hairpin bends at breakneck speed. Our bus with its manual transmission seems to have only one gear: "Go!" Yercaud, as a mountain town 4700 feet above sea level, is a prosperous tourist site in the hot season but much poverty becomes evident as one explores the villages in the vicinity.

The lengthy train and bus trip meant that after arrival the rest of the day was free, but our dauntless bunch eagerly embraced the Rotarians invitation to visit several local attractions. The president of the Yercaud Rotary Club runs a coffee plantation of 1800 acres with 1000 coffee plants per acre and is expanding into growing pepper, oranges, cloves, mangos, vanilla beans, and gorgeous Anthuriums and Birds of Paradise flowers. We visited the building where over 700 bedkits were stored in preparation for the next day's distribution. In the beautiful gardens surrounding the owner's estate home, we enjoyed a sumptuous and authentic East Indian lunch.

In the afternoon, the Rotarians escorted us to Semanatham Elementary School of just over eighty students who greeted us with increasing enthusiasm in response to our warm-hearted interaction with them. Some of the students were going to be receiving bedkits the next day and some had benefited from this experience the year before.

From Chennai 2008 Photo Album

The Rotarians took us to visit two village homes where children had received bedkits the previous year. The incredibly small homes -- only 10 feet by 16 feet -- were clean and well-kept with the mothers obviously taking real pride in the family's very few possession, especially the bedkit. Canadian children would be appalled to live in the dwellings and villages we visited, but having never known anything else, we found most of the village children, though seriously deprived, good-natured and surprisingly happy-go-lucky.

Astonishingly, the Rotarians informed us that the SCAW bedkit program has led to a 15 percent increase in attendance. Parents of students highly treasure what to them is an enormous God-sent gift and have learned that the bedkits are only given to children who are going to school.

Our Rotarian guided tour next took us to a Hindu cave shrine at the Shevarayan Temple, and then to the Agathier Herbarium, a Aromatherapy Shop, where the women in our group indulged in some cosmetic and health purchases. Tired, but elated by our day's adventures, we reached our hotel for a two-night stay. We actually saw several monkeys, but more entrancing was the spectacular view from the mountainside resort of distant Salem Junction and the road winding upwards.

Gray Cavanagh for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: A Day in the Life of Pradeb

From Chennai 2008 Photo Album

Every day is special when doing a SCAW distribution but today we all agreed as Canadians that it was extra rewarding. Pradeb, a young 9-year-old boy from the village of Anjugam Nagar, Ramafuram received a bedkit at the distribution of Thiruvallur. Pradeb and his mother walked 6 kms through the fields to reach our SCAW distribution. Afterwards we had the pleasure of returning to their home.

Pradeb comes from a family of four children, with two older sisters and an older brother. His father works 15-18 days a month and earns on average about 100 Indian rupees a day. His mother stays at home to raise her children and works hard to ensure they are receiving an education. The oldest daughter is already at level nine, and both girls are involved in sports. Pradeb will also be receiving an education.

Their home is 18 x 10 feet and is made of bricks with a thatched roof. The floor inside is like concrete. The mother prepares food such as chili peppers outside, and has her kitchen inside the house. Their washroom facilities are in a separate building adjacent to the house.

The government of India has given every family in this village one light bulb, a fan, and one full tank of fuel. Fuel costs about 240 Indian rupees for one tank. Each family will also be receiving a television for education.

It was a pleasure to visit with Pradeb and his family. He is a sweet boy with a huge smile and has a lovely family. It is very rewarding for our team to visit with this family, to better understand how a bedkit is used, and the purpose it serves inside one of the homes. Although this family thank us for the gift of a bedkit it was the SCAW team who felt very much that we had received something special today.

Julie Coad
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Mumbai: The Bedkit

A common question seems to be, “What is in the bedkit?” The following is a list of the items that we set out each day. We put down a white plastic ground cover first to make sure the bedkit stays clean and then proceed to lay it out for the photo.

• A thick colourful, striped woven, fringed, washable ground cover.
• A summer and a winter blanket
• Pillow with a cover
• towel
• 2 sets of clothing
• underwear
• sweater
• raincoat
• knapsack
• 6 erasers, 2 pens, crayons, pencils, compass set, clipboard, 6 exercise books
• a tiffin - type of lunch box
• water bottle
• large white packing bag made out of a plastic tarp material

This bedkit has been designed for this area of India. Another county's bedkit may vary in some ways. The intent is to provide a bedkit that suits the children's culture and needs, not one based on Western expectations. Opinions are sought from parents, children, and local Rotarians regarding future changes. Two bedkits return home with us and are compared to the previous years kits with the intent of monitoring quality.

On behalf of the team,
Cathy and Donna

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Photo Album

Photos from the Chennai 2008 Photo Album Click a photo to see larger versions in album.

Leave a comment here.

Mumbai: Day 3 & 4 Report

Day 3: Sunrise over the sea was our beginning to another warm Indian day. The front page of the newspaper told of these being the coldest days on record in 10 years but we find the 25° C to be perfect. Our trip today was to the country, a 2 ½ hour trip by van from Mumbai. We were practically hanging out of the windows trying to photograph all the wonderful scenes of India, including the people as they went about their normal lives working the rice fields or making clay bricks. There were lots of oxen teams working the fields and pulling loaded carts along the roads.

Should I mention the traffic? It is hard to believe people drive at any speed at all since the roads are crowded with all types of vehicles, people, and even oxen. The roads are marked for 2 or 3 lanes but in reality there are closer to 5 lanes all vying for the front on most major roads. The country road was a paved curving road that may, in places, have been 2-lane but certainly appeared to be one lane most of the time. Vehicles use their horns to indicate their presence and then speed up and pass. I think this requires great faith that there is not an oxen cart, bicycle, person or car coming the other way.

We did two distributions in the area of Karjat since the villages were not too far apart. The children were awaiting us dressed in their new outfits and sitting on tarps on the ground in cramped quarters. The area was quickly assessed for possible flow for distribution and then we laid out a bedkit for the photos. The school personnel and the Rotarians are invaluable as they assist in the lining up of the children and generally moving them forward for the photos. They translate our needs to the children and parents and we smile and gesture a lot and it all moves along with some degree of smoothness. Our first twenty children today were physically disabled from a nearby orphanage. Even with their tough lives they showed a determination to get about.

Many of the children we meet are physically tiny but are giants in their good behaviour and alertness to their surroundings.

The Rotarians took us for lunch at a private weekend home of Bipin Barot and his wife. What a spectacular site for their retreat, on a bank overlooking a rocky river side. Then we were off again. After our afternoon distribution we were entertained by some of the children who sang and danced a traditional dance for us. The performance was very touching and had obviously been practiced carefully and was presented with pride.

We were all exhausted when we piled out of the cramped van at the end of another busy day, ready for a quick supper and bed.

The current date/time in Mumbai, India:

Day 4: I can no longer go day by day because our lives are so busy we can’t write every day. Our distributions are running one into the other so we will do some overviews. We are consistently impressed by the patience, discipline, and anticipation of the children who are always sitting crosslegged on the hard ground waiting for us. Some days their wait is over 2 hours as we get delayed in traffic jams and accidents. (Note: They are served a healthy snack while they are waiting.) The children’s need is visual in their faces, their tiny bodies, and their bare feet. They are lined up for their photos and often appear timid and fearful of this event. This quickly gives way to amazement and delight as they discover the bedkit that we give out after the photos. For them, the photo would be gift enough.

When people are living in survival conditions, a mirror would be a frivolous extra. So for many the photos that we take of them are the first images of themselves that they have seen. We are finding that the people we are meeting, particularly in the rural areas, are delighted to have their photos taken. They poke their faces in front of you as you take out your camera. If we have time, we quickly show the digital photo to them and their reaction shows that they seem to be honoured by what we have done. Their behaviour is extremely respectful as they bless us by bowing to us, hands clasped together and saying “Namaste.”

Cathy and Donna,
On behalf of the SCAW 2008 Mumbai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Kilpauk

We had a busy and successful distribution of bedkits to 765 children from schools in and around the Kilpauk area today. As it was Saturday and not a school day, we had a number of volunteer helpers, notably from area Girl Guides. We estimate that there were one or two people who came with each child and many of the children’s teachers who also came to see the goings on.

Organizing that number of children is no small task and we marveled at the efficiency of the many volunteers. A special mention has to be made of the young people, most in the range of 11-14 years old, who helped us out. The girls kept the children filing from the entrance waiting area to the photography waiting area and helped us to organize them into smaller groups there. Once the children had their photograph taken and were moved to the area to receive their bedkit, the boys and girls who had previously brought the bedkits to the area in a long bucket-brigade line, then helped the children bring the
bedkits to the area where the parents were waiting for them. And then there were the local adult volunteers, many affiliated with the Rotary Clubs, helping with myriad other functions. It was a beautiful demonstration of the local commitment to the SCAW cause.

Beyond the on-site help, our hosts have certainly seen to it that we have been well fed! They held a lovely informal dinner at a local club last evening and a fine luncheon at one of their homes after today’s distribution. We were also invited to sample many sweet treats made by the Girl Guides after the distribution. We are all enjoying the great Indian cuisine and any hope of weight loss on this trip seems fairly unlikely at this juncture!

Cindy Harris
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Avadi

Some of our Overseas partners
From Chennai 2008 Photo Album
Click on a photo to see a larger version.)

Maya Angelou, a well-known poet, has written that, "Hope is born again in the faces of our children." We saw this hope and joy shine in the faces of 524 children today, as well as in the faces of their mothers, when we distributed the SCAW bedkits in a school yard in the town of Avadi outside of Chennai.

Chennai is a teeming city of almost 7 million people in the southeast of India. The weather is hot and muggy, the roads are dusty and congested with buses, scooters, cars, trucks, bicycles, and cattle, which sometimes lie or walk down the sides or even in the middle of the road. We rely on the Chennai Rotarians to get us safely to the Distribution site through the heavy traffic.

The Rotarians are a dedicated and extremely well organized service group who have prepared six thousand SCAW bedkits to be distributed by the SCAW travelling volunteer team during the next two weeks.

The 2008 Chennai bedkit From Chennai 2008 Photo Album

The bedkit contains 21 items:

• a cotton rug,
• foam mattress,
• pillow,
• pillowcase,
• two bed sheets,
• a blanket,
• a mosquito net,
• a shirt,
• a skirt or shorts,
• a T-shirt,
• a sweater,
• two towels,
• a school bag,
• a writing pad,
• a geometry box,
• pencils,
• a ruler, and
• a lunch box.

Your $30 donation for a bedkit goes a long way in India. Because the children see that someone cares for them enough to help them get a decent night's sleep, their world has become better.

Jean Hutton
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Mumbai: Another Message

I am writing from the Mumbai trip to say that we are having a terrible time trying to connect our computers to the internet. The first hotel service was down and the next two accommodations don't even pretend to offer the service. So our blog will be a bit sparse for now. Two notes are written but sit on Dave's computer awaiting a connection.

We have been incredibly busy the past couple of days. The Rotarians here are amazing as they have collected all the items for the bedkits and spent a long time organizing and packing them together into the large white sacks. All the clothing has to be sorted female/male and by size in order that it fits correctly. The local Rotarians also make contacts with schools, orphanages, and other places in order to select the neediest of children. Then they arrange transportation to bring these wee souls to the
distribution sites. This can be a distance of up to about 50 km and travel in India is very slow so these trips can take a few hours at least. After the distribution the children pile into their often very tiny vehicles for the return trip. Snacks are provided for the children as they arrive and have to wait for us. This is all at the expense of the local Rotary Clubs. So their contribution is huge.

With all they do, they can't thank us enough. They are overwhelmed with the generosity of the people who contribute to this charity. They told us today that if we could send more money they could easily find the children. I don't doubt it at all since the poverty here is unbelievable.

If each donor could but see the joy in the eyes of one child receiving a bedkit, he or she would know that this gift to SCAW was worth every penny.

Cathy,
Signing off for the SCAW 2008 Mumbai Team
Doug, Ted, Dave, Marsha and Donna

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: The Team has Arrived

The SCAW 2008 Chennai Team: (left to right)
Tom Belton (Team Leader), Julie Coad, Leslie Fields,
Jean Hutton, Cindy Harris, and Gray Cavanagh.
(Click to enlarge.)

Dear Friends of SCAW;

Greetings from Chennai to everyone.

Our Team arrived in Chennai at 12:40 AM after a long 30-hour trip from Toronto that included a 4-hour stop in Paris. We were greeted by two of our host Rotarians and nice warm weather. To say we were weary would be an understatement.

To the schools in Spencerport, New York, Orleans, Toronto, Ontario, and Calgary, along with the church Sunday Schools in Kanata and elsewhere, we say "Hello" and "Thank you for your support." We feel your presence with us.

Our team hopes that the reports that are to follow will offer everyone an insight into this very important distribution. Each of our members will take turns giving their impressions and sharing their thoughts with you. It is our aim to describe things in a way that will make feel like you are here with us.

Our first Distribution is tomorrow, Friday, February 1^st — by the way, we are eleven and a half hours ahead of the time in Ontario. Our first three distributions are in the Chennai area. They should appear on your computer quite soon after they occur.

On Sunday night, February 3^rd, we leave Chennai on an extended 8-night trip to 4 rural locations to distribute 2,758 bedkits. Depending on our abilities to establish internet connections, you will hear from us. Should it not be possible, don't despair as we will send these reports upon our return to Chennai.

Thank you for your interest and support. We are looking forward to a wonderful experience ahead of us. The satisfaction in knowing that we are representing all our donors by distributing these much valued bedKits is what empowers us.

So tighten your belts, our travels are about to begin.

Regards from us all.

Tom Belton, Team Leader
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team

Leave a comment here.

Chennai: Leave your comments here

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the link.

After you click on the word "comments" or the link "Post a comment" you will be sent to a page that includes a graphic like the one at right.

1. Type your comments in the box.
2. Type the blue letters you see as Word Verification (to prove you're a human).
3. Choose an identity.
   1. Your Google/Blogger account, your AOL account name, or any Open ID (if you have one),
   2. Your real name or nickname, or
   3. Anonymous. In this case, please be sure to include your name at the bottom of your comment.
4. Click on the blue button to preview or click on the orange button to publish your comment.

Note: You cannot post comments on the Picasa pages.

Kolkata: Final Report

Our travels are over, and we are now getting ready to leave Kolkata. Margaret and Mary-Jo have already gone, Irene and Katharine leave tonight, and Jane leaves late tomorrow, Jan 31^st.

On our trips to and from distribution sites, it was interesting to see the activities in the countryside. We saw fields of sugarcane, rice paddies, garden vegetables (onions, potatoes, cauliflower), bright colourful flowers (huge dahlias, gladioli, mums), and yellow mustard, which provides a spice and cooking oil for frying fish and the most delicious french fries I have ever had! The odd vineyard could also be seen in some areas.

We drove past groves of mango and orange trees, banana trees and coconut trees. The coconut provides not only juice and the actual coconut as we know it, but the hairy part of the coconut provides filler for mattresses, cattle bedding, and brooms.

Teams of water buffalo ploughed through the soil, driven by men in bare feet, of course. Cattle and goats wondered freely on the roads and streets. Everywhere we looked there were dogs searching for food or lounging in the sun. Any horses we saw were quite emaciated and were used in the tourist areas to pull buggies and provide rides, for a price. While we saw many chickens wandering around, the outbreak of avian flu forbids the selling or buying of chicken and chicken products. However, as one person noted, it is not illegal to eat chicken. Hmmm.....

In the small villages could be seen women working cow dung into small patties and sticking them to the walls of houses, to dry in the sun. These patties are then used for fuel. I think that I will stick to making the simple mudpies as opposed to cowpies.

We noted that India is having the same problem as Canada, in that good agricultural land is being used for large developments, displacing not only animals but also the poor people who have set up a rudimentary shack in which to live.

Brick making was seen, and men, women, and children were involved in some way in the making of the bricks. Loads of bricks were carried on the head, to central areas where they were piled for sale. If you worked really hard, you could make as much as 50 rupees a day, which is the equivalent of about $1.25 a day.

Furniture making was also seen in small shops, and the variety of items showed intricate carving and work. I am sure that only the elite classes would be able to afford, or have the space, to use these items.

This trip has been an educational and rewarding adventure, and I shall certainly miss the wonderful, hospitable Rotary friends we have made. However, I think we have convinced one lady to travel to our country and so we shall perhaps see her soon.

Kathy Watt
... submitted on behalf of the Kolkata Team 2008

Leave a comment here.

Kolkata: 6500 Bedkits - Mission Accomplished

Today we received two brief messages from Kolkata. We were told that internet connections were not reliable. However, we learned that the Kolkata 2008 distribution had been completed.

Irene Harrison told us: "We finished today ... a rather long and tiring distribution of almost 1,100 kits. Again we were required to shoot the photos indoors, but the smiles of the children remained the same. Time has flown and we shall soon be home."

Later in the day, we received the following report from Gautum of the Dum Dum Rotary Club: "Today at about 16:30 the distribution of the 6,500^th bedkit was completed. We all enjoyed working with Irene and her team. Despite the bad weather we completed the distribution as per schedule. Regards."

Leave a comment here.

Kolkata: The Second Last Distribution

We got an email from Gautum of the Dum Dum Rotary Club in Kolkata:

"Today we have completed about 5,400 bedkits of our distribution. Suddenly weather in Kolkata is bad. It is raining and cold too. However we are carrying on with the distribution. Tomorrow is our last distribution day. Regards."

Leave a comment here.

Kolkata: Going to the Country

Good morning,

We are heading out to the countryside for a couple of days, 200 kms from Kolkata, to do two distributions.

It rained yesterday and photos were done in a sparse, crowded classroom. It was pouring rain this morning again and we may not be able to capture the scenery of the outlying districts in our pictures.

Our hotel is a popular venue for wedding and anniversary celebrations and we have had the honour of being invited to participate simply by walking down the hall. It's been a wonderful opportunity to sample the culture and customs of Indian society.

West Bengal is plagued with the avian bird flu and we are all on a diet of fish and vegeterian dishes. The food is wonderfully prepared and we are not missing the chicken.

Thanks for all the comments.

The SCAW 2008 Kolkata Team

Leave a comment here.

Mumbai: Two Days of Distributions Completed

Day 1: We were greeted at 1:00 a.m. at the Mumbai airport by warm, summer evening temperatures. There is no indoor greeting area but instead we spilled outside right away. We all just stopped and appreciated the balmy weather. Raj, the local Rotarian who has arranged much of our distribution details, found us easily and we all piled into his car with all our gear and precious labels.

The first distribution was that afternoon after a much appreciated sleep. Our first challenge was dealing with the Mumbai traffic, noise, and crowds of people who merrily walk down the side of the road without any apparent care for traffic. With some challenges we made it to the distribution site where we gave out 170 bedkits.

The children were lined up in their crisp, clean new outfits and were amazingly well-behaved and polite. How touching it was to have a small boy reach out a hand to shake ours in thanks or to have a young girl bend down and touch our feet in deep gratitude. Suddenly the impact of this gift of a bedkit hit home. It is unbelievable generosity from strangers to these truly needy children.

The local Rotary Club is a young club with very dedicated members who packed the kits, entertained the children, and helped in every possible way to make the distribution go smoothly. At the end they treated us to some fruit and presented each of us with a kind of Basil plant. This plant represents purity and good health if you eat a leaf each day.

As we were still dealing with the time change and long flights, we were happy to reach our hotel, have a meal, and go to bed.

Current Weather:

Day 2: Believe it or not, today was Friday, a surprise to some of us who were still living Thursday in Ontario time.

We had two distributions today and so started at 8:00 a.m. to head off to the first site at a school in Goregaon West. School was in session with 1000 of the children attending in the morning and 700 different children going in the afternoon. A few of these children were from the village and many were from farther away. The distribution of 227 bedkits was carried out in the school yard amidst this busy scene. The children were delightful and thrilled to be with us. Their need is apparent.

Once again, the Rotarians and the teachers were very helpful and fed us fresh oranges, bananas, sandwiches, and cookies for lunch. It is always interesting to talk to the local people. We were invited into a grade one classroom and were part of the opening prayers and national pledge. The children also were thrilled to recite some poetry for us. This particular classroom had over 50 children with one teacher and there were very few supplies. This teacher of 13 years demonstrated an amazing positive attitude with grace and dignity.

Meanwhile, in the school yard, we watched the older enrolled students come outside for a physical education class. To the regular beat of a drum, they demonstrated incredible co-ordination and synchronicity as they performed their exercise routine which included wooden dumb bells.

Then we were off to the next site at the local Mumbai YMCA with 248 bedkits to distribute. We learned that each distribution is a bit different and flexiblity and patience are the keys to success. Once again we were very impressed with the excellent behaviour of the children and the help of their teachers. These children make it all worthwhile and we enjoy ourselves as we work.

Signing off for tonight because we are still tired.

The SCAW 2008 Mumbai Team:
Doug, Dave, Ted, Marsha, Donna and Cathy

Leave a comment here.

P.S. Hope you are enjoying the snow. The people here say it is cold. It is approaching plus 30° Celsius.

Kolkata: 992 Bedkits on Wednesday

Hi All,

On Wednesday the 23rd of January we had a distribution closer to Kolkata. It was only 6 km away and it was a holiday for the "freedom fighters" so the traffic was lighter. It still took us a half hour to drive to the Sudhir Memorial Institute, a school with 1200 children in Grades 1 to 12.

The day was warm with partial sun. Many of the children could speak a little English while others seemed quite overwhelmed by all that was going on. We finished our distribution of 992 bedkits and were invited to the principal's office to freshen up and receive lunch: traditional Indian food of rice, dahl, fish, and fresh fruit.

On the way back to the hotel, since we had finished earlier than expected and the traffic was light we went to visit a Jaine Temple. It had very beautiful grounds and the temple itself had tall spires, columns, and figures. Inside it was all done in mosiac, with coloured glass and mirror on the walls and ceiling, marble floors, and inset shrines backed with mirrors representing infinity. The temple had taken twenty-five years to complete. The Jaine belief is a break away from Hinduism and more towards Buddhism. It is a belief in all life and minimal possessions. The believers sweep with a broom in front of themselves before walking so as not to step on anything and will wear a mask so they don't inhale an insect!

The children at the temple were very attracted to us, greeting us in English and shaking hands. They all had to touch us and learn where we lived. We all felt very famous!

The SCAW 2008 Kolkata Team

Leave a comment here.

Kolkata: Celebrations

Everybody loves a parade and this was quite evident on our first weekend in India. January 20 was the Festival of Muharram, a Muslim holiday. On our return to Kolkata from Kharagpur, traffic frequently had to detour, which simply means that a four-lane highway suddenly became a two-lane highway to accomodate parades. We would see colourful lines of people streaming across fields and along laneways to join the throngs of people lining the highway to watch the passing procession. In the parade were large brightly-coloured, sparkling-tinselled replicas of shrines carried by groups of people. Music, singing, and laughter added to the happy festivities.

January 23 was another special day which warranted a day off for schools: students and teachers. This day was a celebration of the Indian Freedom Movement. Open truckloads of people sped up and down the streets shouting and waving flags, in plus 28° C. This was quite a contrast to what we heard from Ontario where the temperature was minus 17° C -- and where schools were closed in some areas due to a snowstorm.

The people of Kolkata certainly show a deep commitment in honouring their traditions and customs.

The SCAW 2008 Kolkata Team

Leave a comment here.

Mumbai: The Team is in Transit

On Tuesday afternoon, our second team to India left from Pearson Airport. They'll be distributing 8,500 bedkits in the next few weeks.

Sleeping Children's Mumbai travelling team consists of (left to right) Donna Chantler, Marsha Hardy, Ted Swanston, Doug Cunningham, Cathy Gregory, and Dave Dryden.

Leave a comment here.