Togo: A day of rest
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| Click on photo to see a larger version From Togo 2008 Photo Album |
Our team had brought toys and children’s clothes that we distributed to mothers in maternity wards and to children whose parents have died of AIDS.
At one orphanage, we met a gospel singer who, through her own efforts, rescues street children from certain death. She is responsible for the survival and strength of 34 children.
Our hearts were filled with amazement. She funds her work through sales of her very popular CDs.
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| Click on a photo to see a larger version and to browse Togo 2008 Photo Album | |
Grant Clark,
on behalf of the Sleeping Children 2008 Togo travelling team.
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Togo: Three distributions completed
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| From Togo 2008 Photo Album |
Our team has completed three distributions, experienced a torrential downpour that turned roads into small lakes, and experienced temperatures that make the hottest days in Ontario, Canada seem cool.
We send special greetings to all those school children that have made donations to Sleeping Children Around the World.
We wish that each of you could be with us to touch the hands of the children receiving your bedkit.
Whether it is a needy child in Togo, or a child from other countries our charity serves, their joy is overwhelming. Their eyes burst with happiness when they see all the items they will receive in their bedkit.
I am especially proud of the children from the Norfolk, Brant, Haldimand Catholic Elementary Schools, whose generosity has made a difference to children in need.
Grant Clark,
on behalf of the SCAW 2008 Togo travelling team.
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Togo: Photo Album
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| Photos above from Togo 2008 Photo Album Click on photo to see a larger image and to browse the photo album. | |||
Uganda: The team is ready
Here's the team that will be representing SCAW during this year's distribution:
(Left to right, Back row) Jean-Pierre Hamelin, Debbie Will-Dryden & Sieg Will (Team Leaders), (Front row) Valerie Greenfield, Sue Small, Jeffrey Bamford.
Togo: First distribution completed
Our first distribution (today) ran smoothly and we distributed 500 bedkits to very happy children.
This post includes pictures promised yesterday.
The top picture shows our team and the Overseas Volunteer Organization (OVO), who are members of a not-for-profit organization called Action Enfance et Développement Togo (AED-Togo), whose primary goal is the care of women and children affected with AIDS.
The bottom picture shows our Canadian volunteers: (Left to right) Sarah Compeau, Helene Compeau, Grant Clark & Leslie Banner (Team Leaders), Loreen Cumming, and Doug Cumming.
Sarah Compeau
for the SCAW 2008 Togo travelling team.
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Togo: The team has arrived
The current date/time in Lome, Togo:
We have arrived safely in Togo, West Africa.
We just wanted to say we're safe ... and hot ... and we hope to send some pictures tomorrow.
Sarah Compeau
for the SCAW 2008 Togo travelling team.
Leave a comment here.
Togo: Leave your comments here
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Philippines: 6,000 Bedkits Delivered
April 12th: Mission AccomplishedThe 2008 Philippines Sleeping Children Around the World Canadian travelling volunteers with the last two bedkit recipients in Meycauayan, Philippines.
(Left to right) Dennis Jones, Patti Jones, Ken Graham (Team Leader), Andrea Tynan, Brenda Porter-Lockhart, Wayne Witney.
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Philippines: Two more distributions to go
We had only one distribution today. At this one, I was able to observe the checking-in process whereby each child is verified against the master list before being assigned their tag/recipient number which they wear until just prior to having their picture taken.Upon further investigation of the various classrooms, where groups of 50 children waited patiently for their turn, I observed a special needs child with his mother. When I mentioned this to one of the local support people they were already aware and were moving this child to the first position to avoid delays for this family. I was told that this is SOP (standard operating practice) for this group; I should have known, since they really do seem to think of every detail. Today in particular, there were 80 local volunteers including the mayor plus twenty teachers who covered the costs associated with transporting the children to the distribution site.
One other practice by Sleeping Children Around the World is the survey; typically two parents/guardians are selected at each distribution site who are asked to scrutinize the bedkit contents and answer a series of questions. Their well-thought-out responses will no doubt help to ensure that all the bedkit items meet their needs.
As two SCAW team members set up the bedkit for the display, another reviewed three randomly-selected bedkits to ensure that all itmes were contained within (See list of bedkit items). I can assure you that our Philippines OVO [Overseas Volunteer Organization] has excellent quality control with respect to this important detail.
This will likely be the last live report from us. Later today we are going to be travelling for about five hours to the next site where we will stay tonight and have two final distributions tomorrow. Then we willl wrap up with a meeting with the Philippines SCAW core committee to discuss how things went.
Another successful SCAW distribution: moving us that much closer to the millionth bedkit.
Signing off,
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
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Philippines: Photo Album
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| Photos from Philippines Photo Album 2008 |
He and his daughter had a one-hour ride home -- both of them, with the bedkit, on the bike.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
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Philippines: Distribution in Angeles
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| From Philippines Photo Album 2008 SCAW Canadian travelling team: (Left to Right) Back: Patti Jones, Andrea Tynan, Ken Graham (Team Leader), Brenda Porter-Lockhart. Front: Wayne Witney, Dennis Jones. |
In all cases, we are welcomed with open arms and sincere appreciation. In some cases, we are also treated to some cultural dances or children in costume which is wonderful.
While booking into our hotel in Angeles after a very long day, our spirits were lifted when a young man, working in the hotel, introduced himself as a bedkit recipient 20 years ago in the same area. He had recognized the SCAW name from one of the Kiwanian's t-shirts. You'll be hearing more about this in the donor newsletter that will accompany the pictures we send out when we return.
We are so proud to be representing all the Sleeping Children donors each and every day.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
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Philippines: 650 Bedkits on April 6
Less travel time today.
We were on location and ready to begin by 8:30 am. Following the smooth distribution of 350 bedkits, we were able to walk around the surrounding area and visit a 3,000 square metre community where approx 300 families live.
One hundred of the bedkits were distributed to children who live here and we were welcomed and thanked as we walked down the narrow alleys. There will be more information about this in the newsletter to follow. The bedkit recipients are easy to identify as they are all wearing bright t-shirts (red, green, orange or blue) and colourful printed shorts decorated with Nemo, Miss Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, and Sponge Bob. They also have huge grins on their faces.
At the afternoon distribution of 300 bedkits, we were greeted by singing children.
All went smoothly and the children were given a bag of snacks by our Overseas Volunteer Organzation as a reward for their patience.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
Leave your comments here
We were on location and ready to begin by 8:30 am. Following the smooth distribution of 350 bedkits, we were able to walk around the surrounding area and visit a 3,000 square metre community where approx 300 families live.
One hundred of the bedkits were distributed to children who live here and we were welcomed and thanked as we walked down the narrow alleys. There will be more information about this in the newsletter to follow. The bedkit recipients are easy to identify as they are all wearing bright t-shirts (red, green, orange or blue) and colourful printed shorts decorated with Nemo, Miss Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, and Sponge Bob. They also have huge grins on their faces.
At the afternoon distribution of 300 bedkits, we were greeted by singing children.
All went smoothly and the children were given a bag of snacks by our Overseas Volunteer Organzation as a reward for their patience.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
Leave your comments here
Philippines: The 2008 Bedkit
Here is a list of the items in this year's Philippines bedkit:
- 3 pair cotton shorts
- 2 t-shirts
- 1 long sleeve jersey
- Plastic ground mat
- mosquito net
- blanket
- pillow
- pillow case
- raincoat
- bath towel
- washcloth
- handkerchief
- socks
- flip flops
- backpack
- 4 notebooks
- 3 pens
- 5 pencils
- dozen markers
- ruler
- plastic envelope for school supplies
- 3 toothbrushes
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
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Philippines: 700 Bedkits today
Today started early. We were enroute by 6 am and we didn't arrive until almost 11 am. Some of the children had travelled for as long a time as us, since they came from islands. Despite a further delay due to a torrential downpour, all 350 kits were distributed.
Following lunch we travelled to Imus, passing Lake Taal and the Taal valcano which was spectacular. Since we were already behind schedule, a police escort was arranged and we arrived at 4 pm. We made record time and distributed all 350 kits to the children who had patiently waited. We finished up just before sunset.
A wonderful day and many happy children who will, no doubt, sleep well tonight.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
Leave your comments here
Following lunch we travelled to Imus, passing Lake Taal and the Taal valcano which was spectacular. Since we were already behind schedule, a police escort was arranged and we arrived at 4 pm. We made record time and distributed all 350 kits to the children who had patiently waited. We finished up just before sunset.
A wonderful day and many happy children who will, no doubt, sleep well tonight.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
Leave your comments here
Philippines: The team has arrived
Current Weather:
We arrived safely and the team is well and raring to go.We spent Day 1 getting orientated and viewing the location where all 6,000 bedkits are stored. We also viewed the assembly process which our overseas volunteers have down to a science.
Our first two days of distributions have gone very well and the recipients and their parents are most appreciative. Tomorrow is an early day.
Brenda Porter-Lockhart
for the 2008 SCAW Philippines Travelling Team
Leave your comments here
Philippines: 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.
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Philippines: Getting Ready for April
Sleeping Children Around the World has completed its first distributions of 2008 and has provided bedkits to 926,350 children since its founding by Murray and Margaret Dryden in 1970.Teams are now returning from India to Canada but other teams are already preparing for trips later in the year. Our next trip is to the Philippines in April.
That team of travelling volunteers met at the beginning of February to make plans. The Philippines team is (from left to right) Brenda Porter-Lockhart, Wayne Witney, Ken Graham (Team leader), Andrea Tynan, Patti Jones, and Dennis Jones.
Click the photo for a larger version.
Mumbai: Distribution Complete
We have returned to Mumbai and yesterday the gentlemen in our crew finished distributing the last few bedkits while the ladies went, you guessed it, shopping. We had a grand time wandering around some of the shops in the business district. The trick was working the taxi system
As we exited the Y where we are staying, we were approached by a wonderful taxi driver who offered us a fixed rate of 150 rupees to take us exactly where we wanted to go. We thought that was a great deal at about $4.00 Cdn. so we hopped in and made it to the shops. On the way home we realized that we didn't have the address of the Y with us but had an idea where it was. We decided to go back into the last shop and have the man there explain to a taxi driver where we needed to go. The driver said, "Oh yes!" and we got in.
This time we were running the meter and he told us to just multiply by 13 and we would have the price. As we were driving through the rush hour streets of Mumbai (not an easy feat for any driver) we were watching the meter click upwards. As we finally approached the Y, the meter was climbing close to 40 and we envisioned paying over 500 rupees. Our hearts raced a little faster and we began to feel that we had been very fortunate that morning. When we finally stopped and the driver pointed to his little fare book, instead of being 41 x 13 rupees (533 rupees) it was only 72 rupees. We were so thrilled at the rate that we gave him a hundred and left him smiling broadly at the wonderful tip we had given. The trip cost us under $2.00 with the 25% tip included.
Cathy Gregory
for the SCAW 2008 Kolkata team
Leave a comment here.
As we exited the Y where we are staying, we were approached by a wonderful taxi driver who offered us a fixed rate of 150 rupees to take us exactly where we wanted to go. We thought that was a great deal at about $4.00 Cdn. so we hopped in and made it to the shops. On the way home we realized that we didn't have the address of the Y with us but had an idea where it was. We decided to go back into the last shop and have the man there explain to a taxi driver where we needed to go. The driver said, "Oh yes!" and we got in.
This time we were running the meter and he told us to just multiply by 13 and we would have the price. As we were driving through the rush hour streets of Mumbai (not an easy feat for any driver) we were watching the meter click upwards. As we finally approached the Y, the meter was climbing close to 40 and we envisioned paying over 500 rupees. Our hearts raced a little faster and we began to feel that we had been very fortunate that morning. When we finally stopped and the driver pointed to his little fare book, instead of being 41 x 13 rupees (533 rupees) it was only 72 rupees. We were so thrilled at the rate that we gave him a hundred and left him smiling broadly at the wonderful tip we had given. The trip cost us under $2.00 with the 25% tip included.
Cathy Gregory
for the SCAW 2008 Kolkata team
Leave a comment here.
Chennai: Behind the Scenes
The Rotary Club of Ambattur is our OVO (Overseas Volunteer Organization) and the team behind the scenes for the Chennai, India distribution.
They are an impressive group who oversee three major projects:
The hospital property was purchased and is run by a board of directors comprised of the Rotarians. A group of Rotarians are also onsite to volunteer their time to oversee it. The hospital offers service to the people of India for a small fee for services such as: eye care, rehabilitation, general medical issues, injuries, dentistry, etc. It is a fantastic hospital offering health care to the people of India.
The school for under=privileged children is where our last distribution occurred. It is 2500 sq feet and has about 530 students, both boys and girls. They have equipped classrooms including a video lab, computer lab, and library. The students must pay a fee of 250 rupees at the beginning of the school year to attend. If they cannot afford it the Rotarians find a sponsor to support their education. The students also have a chance to achieve a Murray Dryden Scholarship for academic achievement. This school is also overseen by a group of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Ambattur.
The third important project that this group is involved with is the Sleeping Children program. The Rotary Club of Ambattur does a fantastic job of making this project a success. They accomplish incredible background preparation work over the year.
They start by making presentations to various Rotary Clubs in the area to bring them on board for this project. If this partnership can be formed, the Rotary Club then invites them to see a distribution in progress. Areas are selected for distributions, then a whole process of selecting children and venues in these villages occur. A massive tracking system takes place. Items for the bedkits are ordered from the various manufacturers and, a month prior to the distribution, these items are packaged by the various volunteers and hired employees so that the bedkits are ready when the SCAW team arrives. A lot of work goes into the preparation and the Rotary Club of Ambattur does a fantastic job to make sure it is a smooth clean process.
The Canadian SCAW team of 2008 want to say thanks for a job well done to the Rotary Club of Ambattur, the many volunteers involved both in Canada and India, and the donors and sponsors who make this project happen.
Julie Coad
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team
Leave a comment here.
They are an impressive group who oversee three major projects:
- Their hospital,
- Their school for under-privileged children, and
- Sleeping Children Around the World distributions
The hospital property was purchased and is run by a board of directors comprised of the Rotarians. A group of Rotarians are also onsite to volunteer their time to oversee it. The hospital offers service to the people of India for a small fee for services such as: eye care, rehabilitation, general medical issues, injuries, dentistry, etc. It is a fantastic hospital offering health care to the people of India.
The school for under=privileged children is where our last distribution occurred. It is 2500 sq feet and has about 530 students, both boys and girls. They have equipped classrooms including a video lab, computer lab, and library. The students must pay a fee of 250 rupees at the beginning of the school year to attend. If they cannot afford it the Rotarians find a sponsor to support their education. The students also have a chance to achieve a Murray Dryden Scholarship for academic achievement. This school is also overseen by a group of volunteers from the Rotary Club of Ambattur.
The third important project that this group is involved with is the Sleeping Children program. The Rotary Club of Ambattur does a fantastic job of making this project a success. They accomplish incredible background preparation work over the year.
They start by making presentations to various Rotary Clubs in the area to bring them on board for this project. If this partnership can be formed, the Rotary Club then invites them to see a distribution in progress. Areas are selected for distributions, then a whole process of selecting children and venues in these villages occur. A massive tracking system takes place. Items for the bedkits are ordered from the various manufacturers and, a month prior to the distribution, these items are packaged by the various volunteers and hired employees so that the bedkits are ready when the SCAW team arrives. A lot of work goes into the preparation and the Rotary Club of Ambattur does a fantastic job to make sure it is a smooth clean process.
The Canadian SCAW team of 2008 want to say thanks for a job well done to the Rotary Club of Ambattur, the many volunteers involved both in Canada and India, and the donors and sponsors who make this project happen.
Julie Coad
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team
Leave a comment here.
Chennai: 923 Bedkits today
T. Nagar: 12 Feb 2008
Our biggest distribution to-date we gave out 923 bedkits today!
So many of the children for their ages were undersized from their look -- lacking adequate nutrition, in need of dental and medical attention which they could not afford, physically-challenged with deformed hands and deformed feet, barefoot - some by choice and some not owning sandals, many as we know from our visits to their humble homes with only reed mats to sleep on.
After the long patient line-up in the humid heat, the arranging of groups this day sometimes as large as twelve, the check-in at the count table to ink their thumbnail and verify their identity, and finally their move to the secure area reserved for handing out the BedKits, their young faces displayed such a gamut of emotions.
Some at first look apprehensive yet eager, the youngest at times are just a little scared, the older youngsters who grasp the procedure usually exude anticipation and a certain aura of excitement, some look excessively tired because they had to arise very early for the long trek to the bedkit site.
Once presented with their bedkit by a member of the SCAW Team, they broke out in smiles and their attempts at English to say "Thankyou," even though they only speak Tamil. Our initial greeting to put the children at ease is often "Vanakam," which means "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon," depending on the time of day
It is this moment when the efforts of thousands of donors and hundreds of volunteers come into fulfillment.
It is this moment that makes all the incredible hard work and careful organization of the local Rotarians in Chennai and outlying districts so worthwhile.
It is this moment which provides the emotional elation which warms the hearts of the SCAW Overseas Volunteers and the Administrative Staff at the SCAW headquarters.
It is for this moment and the photograph of the impoverished child they helped that thousands of donors made a sacrifice in their own way to make life better for someone in great need.
Gray Cavanagh
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team
Leave a comment here.
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| Bedkit recipient and his mother with Gray. From Chennai 2008 Photo Album |
So many of the children for their ages were undersized from their look -- lacking adequate nutrition, in need of dental and medical attention which they could not afford, physically-challenged with deformed hands and deformed feet, barefoot - some by choice and some not owning sandals, many as we know from our visits to their humble homes with only reed mats to sleep on.
After the long patient line-up in the humid heat, the arranging of groups this day sometimes as large as twelve, the check-in at the count table to ink their thumbnail and verify their identity, and finally their move to the secure area reserved for handing out the BedKits, their young faces displayed such a gamut of emotions.
Some at first look apprehensive yet eager, the youngest at times are just a little scared, the older youngsters who grasp the procedure usually exude anticipation and a certain aura of excitement, some look excessively tired because they had to arise very early for the long trek to the bedkit site.
Once presented with their bedkit by a member of the SCAW Team, they broke out in smiles and their attempts at English to say "Thankyou," even though they only speak Tamil. Our initial greeting to put the children at ease is often "Vanakam," which means "Good Morning" or "Good Afternoon," depending on the time of day
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| Indian bedkit donor family and some of the SCAW team. From Chennai 2008 Photo Album |
It is this moment that makes all the incredible hard work and careful organization of the local Rotarians in Chennai and outlying districts so worthwhile.
It is this moment which provides the emotional elation which warms the hearts of the SCAW Overseas Volunteers and the Administrative Staff at the SCAW headquarters.
It is for this moment and the photograph of the impoverished child they helped that thousands of donors made a sacrifice in their own way to make life better for someone in great need.
Gray Cavanagh
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team
Leave a comment here.