Chennai: 567 Bedkits in Thiravullur

From Chennai Photo Album 2009

February 1, 2009

Wow! What a day!

We started our day with our second distribution of this trip. We travelled through busy Sunday morning traffic to Thiravullur where we were greeted by over 50 young volunteers - from the National Service, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Junior Red Cross - and the local welcoming committee which included Mr. Vanket, whose grandfather founded the school at which we were distributing.

After we were formally welcomed and each presented with a ceremonial necklace, we quickly set to work distributing 567 bedkits; in this task our job and process was pleasantly assisted by the young volunteers.

Having finished our distribution, we headed off to Vellore and the Golden Temple, enjoying a delightful traditional South Indian meal at a popular highway stop on the Chennai - Banlgadesh highway, hosted by our accompanying Ambattur Rotarians who explained our foods to us.

On our arrival in Vellore, we headed to the magnificent Golden Temple. The structure is incredible, recently completed with a long walkway on which the Amma's sayings are displayed. The temple itself is completely covered with gold. In the evening we attended a puja and had a personal audience with Sri Narayani Amma, the 33-year old founder of the Golden Temple. We will be spending the night at the retreat attached to the temple.

I must say, it was a unique way to spend my birthday.

Kathy Greiner
for Team Chennai 2009

Leave your comments here

Chennai: 310 bedkits in Avadi

Kristein and new friend. From Chennai Photo Album 2009

I have looked forward to a distribution in India since I was young and listened to my grandmother's stories of her trip to India with SCAW. She was a part of the first distribution in 1981 with Rtn. V.R. Janardhanam.

I was lucky enough today to walk in my grandma's shoes and distribute bedkits with this very same man. 81 years old now, he was the man responsible for bringing SCAW to Chennai and still remembered my grandmother, Fletch Manning.

India has been very gracious to us since our arrival. The Avadi school prepared us a traditional breakfast consisting of Idli, Pongal, Vada, Red Chili Chutney, Green Chili Chutney, coconut Chutney, Sambhar and Mollaga Poole. This was delicious. They also provided us with 310 beautiful children and a group of senior high boys to help. What a great day!

I believe that nothing should be prized more than the value of a day!

Kristein Johnson
for Team Chennai 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: Blog #6

From Kolkata 2009 Photo Album

The Journey Comes to a Close

Today we delivered our 6,500^th bedkit. It was with mixed feelings that we finished our distribution. We will miss all the smiling faces of the children, but we are glad that we could help so many children. Now time for a little shopping and celebration with the Rotarians before we all part ways.

Thank you for following us on our journey. Keep an eye out for our newsletter!

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Chennai: The team has arrived

Left to right: Tom Belton (Team Leader), Kathy Greiner, Jeff McDougall, Kristein Johnson, Mary Jo Lang, and Andy Greiner. From Chennai Photo Album 2009

Greetings from Chennai.

After over 20 hours of flying, we arrived to the greetings of our Rotary hosts at the Chennai International airport at 12:30 AM local time. Having left behind the near blizzard conditions in Ontario, stepping off the plane into 30+ degree humid weather was a bit of a shock to us all.

So here we are enjoying our "relax day."

On behalf of the Team, I welcome all our friends and relatives along with the elementary students of Leo Bernabi School in Spencerport, New York and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha School in Orleans, Ontario, who will be following our trip as donors and strong supporters of SCAW. It is our aim each day to describe a summary of our activities, observations, and impressions of what we see, while trying to give all of you a snapshot view of India and the very important contribution SCAW performs here with the children who are so much in need. Each of our team will share their experiences on a rotating basis to give varied points of view.

Our first distribution takes place tomorrow when we go to Avadi, a suburb of Chennai and distribute 310 bedKits.

We hope you enjoy the experience with us.

Best wishes from us all.

Tom Belton
Team Leader, for Team Chennai 2009

Leave your comments here

Chennai: Post Your Comments Here

To add your own comment, enter it in the box at the bottom of this page. Then click on the button to "Post Comment." As a courtesy, please include your name at the end of your comment.

Kolkata: Blog #5

The Journey Continues ...

Travelling nearly 3000 km. over the last eleven days has truly provided an amazing adventure. Our driver, Tapan, has not only exhibited superior driving skills but has been a source of information on everything from identifying a flower to Indian culture. AND he found the women the ONLY western toilet outside of Kolkata!

Even when the van broke down the adventure continued. As the roadside mechanic came to our rescue, we visited the tiny temple next door where we learned a little more about the Hindu faith. All this as we drove to a very remote distribution where the children had been brought from small tribal villages. Very shy, they took time to respond to our attempts to play.

Yet another unique distribution could only be reached by river barge. The Bengal tigers we hoped to see enroute failed to appear! Children were ferried from the shore to the barge where they were dressed for pictures. Never phased, Irene managed the photographs on a tiny corner of the deck.

Bravo to the Rotarians whose 'outreach' initiatives have not only brought medical teams to these isolated islands, but, working with SCAW, they have provided nearly two hundred kids with bedkits.

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: Blog #4

From Kolkata 2009 Photo Album

The Journey Continues ...

As Team Kolkata travels to distributions around the city, we gain new insights into the Indian culture. Passing through Tangra, Kolkata's China Town, we learned that many in that community are leather workers. Their influence on Indian cuisine is evident as menus feature many traditional Chinese dishes.

Each day we hear touching stories from parents, teachers, and caregivers who bring children for bedkits. One such story was related to us from a woman whose group is working to educate sex trade workers -- 35 of their children receive bedkits. Many disadvantaged children have come to the distributions. We have seen the developmentally challenged and physically disabled, the blind and deaf, and albino children suffering from the intense hot climate. Each instance never fails to move us. We were equally touched when we visited Mother Theresa's Home for children. Our India experience only serves to renew our passion for SCAW and the hope it provides.

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: 2009 Photo Album

Kolkata: Blog #3

From Kolkata 2009 Photo Album

The Journey Continues ...

We have finished up our 3-day road trip and have seen so much Indian culture throughout our time here. In Contai, the Rotary members enthusiastically sang their national anthem, and we responded with a wonderful rendition of O Canada. We had quite a touching moment when one little boy came late with his mother because he had just come from the hospital. After receiving his bedkit, he showed us each a sign of respect and appreciation when he knelt down and touched each of our feet. We were overwhelmed by this gesture of gratitude.

We continued to see wonderful glimpses of Indian culture at unexpected times. At Tata, some of the girls were moved inside, during a very hot day in order to keep them out of the sun. While inside, these girls entertained each other by performing local and tribal dances. The energy in the room was amazing, the dancing was beautiful, and their spontaneity was delightful.

We were introduced to the melodious sounds of the harmonium and the robust singing of a young student. He had a beautiful voice and his song showed yet another side of Indian culture. Throw in a bit of history at the Ghandi Museum at Barrackpore and it has been another interesting, successful, and educating day.

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: Blog #2

From Kolkata 2009 Photo Album

The Journey Continues ...

Wrapped in warm hospitality, sustained by a wonderful variety of Indian food, and buoyed by the warm smiles of the children, Team Kolkata is right on schedule and going strong.

India continues to reveal amazing insights, but its most amazing assets are its kids. Some have been disabled, others of members of no written language, still others attend satellite schools in very remote villages. What they have in common is a bed in which to sleep.

A one hundred kilometre trek to the industrial city of Haldia provided a myriad of sights and sounds as we passed rice fields and small roadside markets amidst the incessant honking of horns. Our driver Tappan gave our novice members their first taste of skilled highway driving in "Indian" style.

Hopsitality from the Rotarians has been outstanding, both in the local Club of Dum Dum and in the other Partnering Clubs in the outlying regions.

Thanks to all our donors. Keep those bedkits coming.

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: Blog #1

Current Weather:

The Journey Begins ...

After a flight of 24 hours the pilot announced that we would land in Kolkata in 20 minutes. Excitement and joy overcame us. To our dismay, we continued flying and after an hour or so we were informed that we could not land in Kolkata due to heavy fog.

Our first sights, sounds, and smells of India were in Hyderabad, 12,000 km away. We arrived in Kolkata 36 hours later after a resting sojourn in Hyderabad.

From the Kolkata Airport, after a warm reception from the Dum Dum Rotary Club, we travelled to our first distribution at a Methodist Church School. We were greeted by warm, smiling, and very patient children.

After the distribution, the principal toured our team through his school and we enjoyed the Rotarian's warm hospitality with fruit and cake. We then made our way to the our lodgings to settle in at our home away from home.

Team Kolkata 2009

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: Reporting by telephone

Message received by telephone from Kolkata this morning.

The team wants you all to know that they have arrived safely and are proceeding with the distribution of 6,500 bedkits in Kolkata, India.

"We've got the blogs written but we can't get an Internet that works. We were wondering if you could put something on the blog for us telling everyone that we are fine and distributions are going well and we'll have some pictures and some written words for them as soon as we can get the Internet to work here.

"We're having a great time here in India except for the frustration of the Internet.

"God bless and talk to you later."

Ron King
for the Kolkata 2009 team

As soon as more information arrives, we'll post it here.

Leave your comments here

Kolkata: The team prepares

To subscribe to
SCAW Live Report
enter email address
below:


Delivered by
FeedBurner

Be sure to answer
confirmation email
or you won't
be subscribed.

This year, 2009, is our year of the millionth bedkit.

Many teams are getting ready for our banner year. Here is the first.

In a photo taken in the SCAW headquarters living room this week, the Kolkata team gathers for a team photo: (Left to right}: Irene Harrison (Team Leader), Janet Wilson, Shannon Rourke, Jan Pearce, Ron King, and Mary Ann King.

Click for larger photo

Kolkata: Post your comments here.

To add your own comment, enter it in the box at the bottom of this page. Then click on the button to "Post Comment." As a courtesy, please include your name at the end of your comment.

Bangladesh: Wrap-up

Dhaka: The Last Day

Up at 5 AM today to get the 24 hour check-in and seat selection for our 5 AM flight early Saturday morning. Looking forward to a flight of 18+ hours is a good motivator to try to get good seats! Unfortunately, the Internet in Dhaka ground to a halt and it took two hours to get our boarding passes.

Then an early morning walk in the "park," breakfast, packing, reports, picture organization, and a wrap-up meeting with Mr Hadi before a culinary delight this evening at the Hadi's home.

We dressed for the occasion in our new finery with the ladies in saris and the men in white Punjabi suits. Very spiffy. Check out the photo. We think an appropriate team name is Sari Sisters and the Men in White. What do you think?

Our job is done and this was a very successful distribution thanks to the exemplary leadership of Richard and Joan Hryniw and a cohesive and enthusiastic team.

Thank you donors and volunteers for your ongoing support of Sleeping Children. Eight thousand kids have big smiles thanks to you.

Photo (Left to right) Back row: Doug Jamieson, Marg Garrett, Richard Hryniw. Front row: Doug MacDougald, Maxene Henry, Joan Hryniw.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here

Bangaldesh: Mission (8,000 Bedkits) Accomplished

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 16: Tongibari

We are finished — making it 8,000 bedkits, with today's six hundred at the village of Tongibari.

This village is now home for two hundred displaced families that lost everything during monsoon season when the river washed their homes away. After the distribution we visited some of the homes in the village that had received bedkits the previous year. It is hard to describe the sense of sadness that enveloped us as we tried to comprehend how little these people have and what joy and comfort such a simple gift as a bedkit brings.

We saw cow dung drying on sticks that is the source of fire, simple huts with one or two small spaces to live in, and men working at an ad hoc cement block manufacturing site hauling gravel to the cement mixer and carrying the mixed wet cement by hand to the block forms. These men work incredibly long and hard for about $1 per day.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Two pictures stick out from the ones added to the Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album today: sandals lined up outside a simple hut (take your shoes off before entering my home no matter how humble); kids wearing their new shorts from the bedkit already swimming in the local water hole and showing off their muscles for the camera. Kids are kids.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Joan is happy because we stopped in this little village at the fabric store and she bought 11m of cloth. The store owners hardly knew what to think as a van pulled up, six foreigners jumped out and filled this little hut, talking and taking pictures, while the rest of the village gathered for the spectacle.

Tomorrow we get organized to head home: tired, fulfilled and numb from the sensory and emotional overload.

Good night and we will talk tomorrow.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here

Bangladesh: Another day in Shibpur

Blowing bubbles. More pix in Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 15: Shibpur

Fabulous day in the Shibpur area again although a different locale than yesterday. Seven hundred happy kids later we bumped our way home over the road from hell for the last time. Tomorrow is our last distribution and is in the opposite direction out of Dhaka with I am sure completely smooth roads. ;)

Marg brought bubble blowing supplies today and it was great fun playing with the kids. You know, rich or poor, kids just want — beyond basic needs — to be loved and have fun. It just warms your heart to see the laughter and joy that Marg brought to the kids today.

Doug learns a new trade. More pix in Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

And some of us just never grow up. With 740,000 bicycle rickshaws in this city it seemed reasonable to drive one, so Richard, Doug J., Marg, and I headed to rickshaw central (taxi stand equivalent) a few blocks from our hotel. I picked out of the crowd the driver with the smile and a gleam in his eye and offered to take him and Richard for a ride. He was a good sport, hopped into his rickshaw with Richard and away we went down the street, ringing the bell like mad, elicting cheers from the shop owners and bystanders and getting a wide berth from all the other rickshaw drivers when they saw who was driving. Marg and Doug J. meanwhile were running along attempting to take pictures and laughing -at or with - I am not sure. All part of experiencing a new country.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here

Bangladesh: Interviewing parents

The Canadian travelling team, the kids, and the community. From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 14: Shibpur

For the past three days we travelled in and out of Dhaka on a short-cut that took about and hour out of the trip but it is, as Richard describes it, a "noggin' knocking road."

We drove up to the distribution site at a small school and yard flanked by little huts all roped-off. There were 700 kids inside and two or three times that number of family and community surrounding the area. Spontaneous clapping, along with the Bangladesh national anthem sung by the kids, greeted us as we walked in. We reciprocated with a rather good rendition of "O Canada" (I am biased, but this is a singing team) and got down to work.

For the donors receiving pictures from this site the background is the family and community members with the odd dog and chicken thrown in. There were not many other options today for the photo background but, in fact, it is nice because it gives you a real perspective of what we were in the middle of.

Singing "O Canada." From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Marg did a series of interviews today on the specifics of the bedkit as well as the stories of some of the families. Here is her summary of these stories:

"Of the ten families interviewed today, the number of children ranged between 4 – 9. When asked about the value of the 2 most valuable items, most answered the blanket and mattress, second most valuable item was the school back pack. Without exception the one item they wished added was school supplies. They all were very appreciative for the entire kit contents as there are no finances available to buy any of it."

"The annual income for the families interviewed ranged from 12 000 taka to 20 000 taka (170 – 285 Canadian dollars). The family wage earner was always the male, although one woman sometimes worked in the fields with him. Many were farmers of rice or vegetables, few owning any land."

"Many men were day labourers working at anything available. Idleness is not wanted. All of the women delivered their babies at home with a midwife who was often a relative. One said 'close to her heart.' The monthly pension for 60 years old is 200 takas. All their children were currently in school. They started at ages 4, 5, or 6 years old. When asked how old they would be when they left school ... the answer: 'when he has a moustache.'"

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

I wandered off to a little hut before we left and communicate with a young couple with two little boys. They were thrilled to have their first family photo taken. I wish I could have printed it off and given it to them.

Doug MacDougald & Marg Garrett
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here

Bangladesh: Faces of Bangladesh

Happiness, sadness, grief, joy, concern, anxiety, relief all show themselves to us in the faces and eyes of children and adults.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here.

Bangladesh: Lions Club distributions

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 13: Balaboo

We are, with today's 700 bedkits in Balaboo, half way through the Lions Club portion of this Bangladesh trip. Mr Hadi and his wife have done an exceptional job of choosing bedkit materials and organizing the distributions.

Again today we were in a school and we set up inside since it has continued to rain with very high winds. The school and yard was a great spot for our distribution. The family and community were cordoned-off but close enough to see what was going on.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

It also allowed us to interact with the families and even though we do not speak Bangla it was easy to communicate in this festive environment. It also made for great photo opportunities and kids and adults love seeing their picture on the camera.

All it took was one photo and we were surrounded by kids jostling for position for the next.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Back into Dhaka we took a walk down a small back street where the commerce of the city happens. These streets have many very small "hole in the wall" businesses that service the city. The accompanying picture shows team leader Richard Hryniw ready for a haircut.

Today was happy families and kids, happy OVO, and a happy Sleeping Children team.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

Leave your comments here.