Tanzania: Whose Child is This?

From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album

Day 8 - Mvuti

Whose child is this?

A boy perfect
Except he had no words
Only grunts and unexpected
High-pitched giggles as though laughing at the trick
Fate had played on him.

He stood in line with the children
But they shied away from his
Mangled right arm.

Sometimes he dropped unexpectedly
To the ground as though he derived
Comfort from the warm sand if not from the
Smiles of other children.

His bedkit and new clothes safely in the arms of his mama
He returns, dressed again in tatters, to stare with big dark and
Knowing eyes at each SCAW volunteer in turn.

Maybe he sees the sorrow and concern for his
Welfare in our hearts.

He reaches with his good hand to
Gently touch Judy’s blond hair.
And he wanders off again.
What if his mama has AIDS or Malaria?

Whose child is this?

Linda Webb
for Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: A Peaceful Day

Mama Linda & Mama Wandoa From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album

Day 7 - Mtambani

A beautiful day in Mtambani, a small community 45 km northeast of Dar es Salaam. As we travelled from the city heading to our destination we caught glimpses of the calm and serene Indian Ocean. We knew we were in for a peaceful day. Peaceful it was!

The school’s 1200 eager, smiling, and curious children awaited. Once again, we were the guests at the school’s outdoor opening exercises. Their drumming and singing chilled our spines. Classes were summoned by the ringing of the school bell — a metal tire rim hanging from a branched tree stump struck with large rock — a privilege treated quite seriously by a senior student.

Karen and I had the supreme pleasure of visiting a Level 4 classroom. All 73 students were crammed in cheek by joule. In spite of their learning environment, they sprang to attention as we entered the classroom. How excited they were to learn the “Head and Shoulders Song.” This was truly a rewarding experience for two retired teachers. Another fantastic day in the sun and we can hardly wait until tomorrow when we travel a greater distance to reach our distribution site of Mvuti.

On behalf of 700 children, we thank you donors for the priceless zawadis (gifts) of bedkits.

Michael Foster
for Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: Education is Our Liberation

From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album

Day 6 - Pugu Kajiungeni

Pugu Kajiungeni is 50 km south of Dar es Salaam – (The same challenging traffic, same humungous potholes.)

Our team was on the road by seven this morning in order to join the children in their opening exercises. Just when we began to think our days couldn’t be more interesting, we were once more taken aback.

We were greeted by swarms of excited children. Wonderful to feel so welcome ... but logistically daunting.

With astounding speed the confusion was, as if by magic, transformed. Twenty two hundred children, standing four deep, formed a huge square around a group of older children with three pairs of drummers. All was silent as we were introduced.

What followed can hardly be described. Rich voices joined as one, first singing the Tanzanian national anthem then a school song, “Education is Our Liberation.”

So much rhythmic clapping, so many joyous faces, so much emotion. Does it get any better?

We can hardly wait for tomorrow.

Karen Shouldice
for Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: A Colourful Day

From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album Click button above to see slideshow again. | Click here to go to the Tanzania photo album

Day 5 - Vikindu

This was truly a beautiful day for 700 bedkits and the half-way point of our distributions. Vikindu is located 75 km south of Dar es Saalam in the coastal region of Tanzania.

We had a busy time fighting traffic made up of cars, bicycles, buses, and many people on foot as we travelled to this region. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a paradise of colour, spirited people and many Asanti Sanas (Thank you very much).

The true colours of the Tanzanian mamas' clothing shone as they waited for the distribution to begin. Mamas, babas, guardians, or significant people in the child’s life must be present to take their child and the bedkit home. Many children had already arrived after many kilometers of walking. Others were just arriving in the back of a large open-topped truck. Fifty-five smiling children, their helpers, and one classroom teacher had also arrived.

With the possibility of a threatening tropical rain, we were forced to move the photographs inside. The teachers were more than accommodating in giving up their classrooms for additional space to make this a pleasurable and rewarding experience for all. They thanked us repeatedly for coming to their village community.

The Tanzanian team thanks everyone involved especially Mama Wandoa for the selection of this site. We thank all the SCAW donors for their generous donations to make this distribution and others possible.

Mike Foster
for Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: Not all God’s children got shoes

From Tanzania 2008 Photo Album

Day 4 - Mkuranga

I got shoes, you got shoes ...
Not all God’s children got shoes ...

Mkuranga is a typical Tanzanian village in an idyllic tropical setting in the coastal region about 120 km south of Dar es Salaam. The children live in less than idyllic circumstances.

Poverty seemed compounded by physical handicaps, skin ailments, and malnutrition. These wee ones had calloused hands from working alongside their parents.

At this site we noticed that most of the children had no shoes. They had walked long distances in bare feet. Big soulful eyes stared up at us as we placed the bedkits on their heads. Some managed a shy smile or a whispered “Asante” (Thank you), but the grins got bigger and wider as they were escorted to the arms of their mamas or babas.

Dear donors ... We wish you could have seen what your gifts meant to these 700 children today.

Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: Never Enough

Day 3: Kigamboni

A glorious day for a ferry ride across the Bay of Dar es Salaam ... but it turned out to be a bittersweet day. Following a bone-jolting ride over potholed dirt roads, we arrived at the distribution site located near a leper colony. It was abundantly clear that not only were the children in dire need, they also required medical attention that we take for granted in Canada, but is inaccessible to the average Tanzanian.

The crowd increased hour by hour as word spread throughout the village that SCAW had actually arrived with bedkits. Disbelieving parents realized that the promise of bedkits was a reality. Soon thousands surrounded the site and the desperation of the parents was palpable as they realized that 700 bedkits would not begin the fill the needs of the village.

Mama Wandoa, as always compassionate and understanding, had to stand firm in her choice of children.

A challenging day ... but 700 children in Kigamboni are sleeping more comfortably tonight.

Thank you, donors.

Lala salama (Sleep well) to you to.

Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: The SCAW Team

A photo of Team Tanzania for 2008 -- on location in Tanzania.

Members of Sleeping Children's travelling team are: (Left to right) Linda Webb (team leader) from Etobicoke, Michael Foster from Brantford, Karen Shouldice from Etobicoke, Warren Wagstaff from North Vancouver, Judy Owens and Grace Owens from Boston. Click photo to see a larger version.

More photos will be posted next time we can make a connection.

Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: Two days in

We are having the worst time with the Internet here. I got up at 4:30 this morning to see if i could get through and even though I had a signal, Hotmail would not open.

Anyway, it seems to be working now so I will try again. Distributions are going well. We just got in from our second day.

More later (I hope),

Linda Webb
for Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

Day 1 – Kwala

We arrived to cheers of Kwala Oye! Kwala Oye!

The entire village, led by Mr. Gilbert, the District Commissioner, came to greet the SCAW team. Swahili cheers and songs rang out ... a moving experience for us. It was interesting to note that Mr. Gilbert stressed that it was a day for the children and that the bedkits were for their personal use ... not for Mamas and Babas.

The excitement rose as we prepared the site for the distribution but the discipline and politeness of the children was remarkable. They patiently waited their turn, sometimes caring for their smaller brothers and sisters and carrying them effortlessly on their backs.

Some had walked 34 kilometres and waited as long as six hours to receive the bedkit because of a malfunction with one of the delivery trucks. As always, the indomitable Mama Wandoa took control and worked out the logistics.

The children were easily coaxed to smile prompted by our “Checka! Checka!” (Smile! Smile!) The individuality of each child shone through ... some were shy, others confident, a wink and mischievious grin ... just like children everywhere.

The current date/time in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania:

A day of wonderful memories for the SCAW team.

We’ll sleep soundly tonight.

Team Tanzania

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Tanzania: Distribution has begun

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The distribution of bedkits in Tanzania has begun. Tanzania children -- 7,000 of them -- will be receiving bedkits that include:

• mattress
• sheet
• blanket
• Olyset LLIN (long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net)
• t-shirt
• school uniform shirt
• kanga (wrap)
• socks
• flip-flops
• carrying bag

Our overseas partner is the Upendo AIDS Centre, under the direction of the indomitable Mama Wandoa Mwambu.

Members of the Sleeping Children travelling team are: Warren Wagstaff from North Vancouver, Michael Foster from Brantford, Karen Shouldice from Etobicoke, Judy Owens from Boston, and team leader Linda Webb from Etobicoke.

More to come later,

Linda Webb
for the 2008 SCAW Tanzania team.

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Tanzania: The team has arrived

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The Sleeping Children Around the World travelling team to Tanzania arrived in Dar es Salaam this morning.

The photo shows part of the team that left from Pearson Airport on Monday evening: (left to right) Karen Shouldice, Linda Webb (Team Leader), Warren Wagstaff, and Michael Foster. (Click photo for larger version.)

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Tanzania: Leave your comments here

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Kenya: Mission Accomplished

The Final Distribution

The last day of the Kenya distribution occurred at St. Benedict’s Primary School in Nairobi where a total of 779 bedkits pushed us to the 6,500 total for Kenya.

When you consider that the decision to return to Kenya was only made near the end of March, this was a huge commitment by both the Rotary Club of Nairobi and by our Sleeping Children team.

By working together, the job got done and there was tremendous joy from 6,500 Kenyan children and their parents and relief that the distribution was complete with no major issues. Keep in mind that the March distribution was set up for 5,000 bedkits. When it was postponed and increased to 6,500 bedkits, it meant that Rotary members were taking on the task of of increasing the number from 4,000 in 2007 to a whopping 6,500 in 2008.

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Nairobi and to our donors who gave the wonderful gift of sleep to 6,500 needy Kenyan children.

Duncan Macgregor
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: Second last day

Day 8

Today, a total of 429 bedkits were distributed in a town called Kijabe, a missionary town.

The children receiving bedkits included some children from a Displaced Persons camp. One of the children from this camp made a verbal presentation to us and her story of how her family was displaced after the December elections and subsequent rioting left us all in tears. However, "Jennifer" was showing her leadership qualities at the Kijabe Primary School and there was a joyous event at the school as SCAW bedkits were distributed to needy children in the Kijabe area.

This is the first time that Sleeping Children has distributed in Kijabe, a town about an hour outside of Nairobi but 7,000 feet above sea level. The SCAW team also had the opportunity of visiting the Bethany Kids Hospital in Kijabe run by Canadians.

We have one more distribution to go to reach 6,500 bedkits!

Duncan Macgregor
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: Africa Inland Church, Nakura

Day 7

The Day 7 distribution took place at the Africa Inland Church in Nakura. Nakura sits on the edge of Lake Nakura National Park, one of the most popular parks in Kenya for viewing wildlife. It is unlikely that many of the tourists are aware of the poverty and illness in the town that they pass to reach the park.

This was the first sunny day of the Kenyan distribution but fortunately the overseas volunteers for the day, the Rotary Clubs of Nairobi and Nakura had arranged for tents to be put up with chairs for each of the children. The children were occupied throughout with the leadership of Girl Guides and teachers who led them in several hours of dancing and singing. The majority of the children today were either orphans or children with HIV/Aids.

At the conclusion of the day, the team started surveys of the parents as to the contents of the bedkits, letting them view the bedkit and then answering questions on how the bedkits can be improved, what is most useful, least useful, etc.

For this group of parents, grandparents and guardians, there appeared to be satisfaction in all of the contents!

Alan Ingram
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: 800 Children at a time

Day 5

Today we returned to the desperate slum area of Mathare, located north of Nairobi.

At the Kiboro Primary School we experienced many heart stopping moments as we photographed and distributed your 800 bedkits to the beautiful children who were brought from many schools in the area.

The SCAW team, accompanied by our local OVO representatives, then walked from the school to the humble home of Boniface, a recipient of a bedkit in 2007. He is a grade seven student who was proud to have us come to meet his mother and sister in the Mathare slums. There, in his 8 X 10 foot tin-walled home without water, he showed us his mattress and mosquito net that are used regularly.

We had to pinch back tears and show Boniface our joy to feel so welcomed in his home.

Day 6

On Saturday, June 21, we were at Grissa Primary School, in the rural town of Thika located one hour north of Nairobi. Slums are in many areas of the country and this industrial town was home to the second biggest slum in Kenya.

Despite a slight mist of rain, 800 bouncing, dancing, smiling, and joyful children from the streets, handicapped homes, and nearby schools totaling 11 different districts arrived all at once for their gift from Canada.

This was a well-organized distribution, where all children were given a hot lunch, with music and activities: just a big party in the school yard. Even the goats showed up nibbling the grass.

What a joy it is to have our team leader, Duncan, playing the cazoo and the rest of us singing "When You’re Happy and You Know It," with 800 children all holding hands in a circle: a true circle of friends of all ages. What a party we had!

Hats off to the volunteer Rotaractors who showed up and led the kids through the process with a smile, holding their hands and hoisting the bag onto the wee childrens heads to be carried off.

During the distribution inside, parents and the curious were held outside the gate. We lined up all the recipients with their bedkits to release them all at once. The line appeared to be the tail of a colourful kite -- oranges, blues, yellow and greens -– a rainbow of love, safely escorted by Security into the slum area where their parents were waiting.

Janice Gillespie
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: Our many helpers

Day 4

Today’s distribution was in a school of over 2,000 students in Mathare, one of the largest slums in Nairobi.

The work that we do could not be done as smoothly without the many volunteers who help us daily: including Rotoractors (Junior Rotarians), volunteers from various service organizations, school–based volunteers, and several excited senior students.

They assist as needed with preparing students for the photos, arranging the bedkits for distribution, entertaining the students as they wait patiently in line, escorting the little ones to their awaiting parents, and helping us with our attempts to speak Swahili.

What a joy to wish 800 happy Kenyan students “la la viema” – "sleep well."

Janice Gillespie
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: Day of the "Singing Rainbow"

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Day 3

We arrived at Kayole Primary School to be welcomed by a wonderful, excited gathering of 800 children –- already dressed in their SCAW outfits of orange, green, yellow, blue, red -- and standing in class lines.

As we entered the school court this rainbow of children broke into cheers and waves, followed by songs sung by all.

Incredible.

The school has over 2,000 students, and all of them were excited by the day's events.

We met some children attending Kayole school who have AIDS but who were part of the classes and enjoying the experience just like all the others. We watched the boys playing soccer in a red clay field which resulted in some really dirty knees in some of our photos.

These deserving children live in the Kawangware slum. They come to school either by walking or “transport” which is the local bus service. Some are picked up at 6:00 am and stay at school til 5:30 pm each day. We were surprised to discover that these children are at school all day without a mid day meal.

A rewarding day and one that we will all remember as the day of the "Singing Rainbow."

Megan Johnson, first time SCAW volunteer
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: Another 796 bedkits distributed

Date & Time in Kenya:

Day 2

Today, we were in two locations in Nairobi: ACK Church in the Westlands area, and Dagoretti Muslim School, in the Kawangware slum area. Most of the children were either orphans or had one single parent who was not working.

The team has come together very well in only our second day and we have certainly distributed on behalf of our donors to very needy Kenyan children.

This brings our total to 1594 bedkits in our first two days and we take our hats off to our Overseas Volunteer Organization, the Rotary Club of Nairobi, for their wonderful efforts on behalf of SCAW.

George Foster
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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Kenya: The team has arrived

The SCAW team arrived safely Saturday night and had a wonderful sleep at our lodgings.

Sunday began with our first breakfast together, followed by an interesting short tour of Nairobi City Centre. We met the Rotary Club key contacts for lunch at the local Sports Club, and enjoyed a meal and meeting together.

The Rotary Club members are ready for us and we are ready to begin the distribution tomorrow morning!

We enjoyed a wonderful home cooked meal at a Rotarians restaurant this evening, celebrating Father's Day with our dads in the group: Alan, George and Duncan.

It is the start of an exciting stay in Kenya!

Duncan Macgregor
for the 2008 SCAW Kenya team.

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