Mumbai: Versai
An early start and Mumbai rush hour -- is there any other time in Mumbai? -- and we headed off to Versai to be greeted by crowds of people and a hall full of anxious and expectant children. All were dressed in their best, the girls in pigtails with red ribbons -- all sittting on the floor in perfect behaviour.
Once we got everyone organized the distribution went well with the Rotarians taking an active role supervising the kids as they waited their turn for photos and the treasured bedkits. It is wonderful when the SCAW team is as excited as our hundreds of recipients!
Faith Clark
for Team Mumbai 2010
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Once we got everyone organized the distribution went well with the Rotarians taking an active role supervising the kids as they waited their turn for photos and the treasured bedkits. It is wonderful when the SCAW team is as excited as our hundreds of recipients!
Faith Clark
for Team Mumbai 2010
Post your comments here
Chennai: T. Nagar
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
Sarada Vidyalaya Girls’ Higher Secondary School
Today was another exciting and successful distribution. We were able to sleep in till 7 AM this morning and have time for coffee and breakfast since the location was not very far from our hotel.
We were in the bus at 8 AM and on our way to our location, which was a high school for girls. The children were mostly bused in and some were close enough to walk. There were not the usual crowds of waiting parents since most of the children had arrived by bus with their teachers.
Today’s distribution provided 774 children with bedkits. Many, many children will be able to sleep more comfortably tonight.
We were ably assisted by hordes of high school students. The young women were pleasant and friendly and very good with the children. They were especially helpful with the little ones who were hesitant and anxious about the whole process.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
Many of the older children had learned a few English words. When asked, “How are you?” they clearly responded, “I am fine.” They were also able to respond to “What is your name?” The high school girls translated for me when a child did not understand.
After the long line of children had made it through and received their bedkits I was able to take a photo of a large group of children sitting outside the distribution area with their teachers waiting for their bus. I asked them to hold up some special signs for me to thank my friends at home. They thought I wanted their autograph so the papers were passed around the group and I now have the autographs of some very special children. I also got the picture I wanted though. They all love having their pictures taken.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
Although tired, dusty, and dirty, the whole team headed back to the hotel uplifted by the many children who had brightened our day.
Jan Gayman
for Team Chennai 2010
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Pune: The team has arrived
Good morning,
Now there are three SCAW teams in Mumbai staying under the same roof!
This morning in the dining-room we met up with the two other teams: the Mumbai team, beginning their second day of distribution and the Belgaum team doing a city tour today.
The trip here for five members of the Pune team was uneventful and pleasant. The team members are getting themselves oriented before moving on to Pune on Thursday. The sixth member of our team will be joining us later today, as Suman has been in India since December.
All our best to family and friends at home. We are looking forward to the orientation/preparation opportunity in the next couple of days, and then on to Pune, and 4000 children.
For the children,
Team Pune 2010
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Now there are three SCAW teams in Mumbai staying under the same roof!
This morning in the dining-room we met up with the two other teams: the Mumbai team, beginning their second day of distribution and the Belgaum team doing a city tour today.
The trip here for five members of the Pune team was uneventful and pleasant. The team members are getting themselves oriented before moving on to Pune on Thursday. The sixth member of our team will be joining us later today, as Suman has been in India since December.
All our best to family and friends at home. We are looking forward to the orientation/preparation opportunity in the next couple of days, and then on to Pune, and 4000 children.
For the children,
Team Pune 2010
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Pune: Post your comments here
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Mumbai: Navi & Sion distributions
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| From Mumbai Photos 2010 |
We started off to our first site Navi Mumbai to deliver 130 bedkits. We arrived to a very warm welcome at the front door by the Rotarians with a little ceremony that involved each of us receiving a Bindi, a sprinkle of rice on our heads and a tray with incense waved in front of us. We then entered the school where we were to meet the children that were arriving for their gift from our Canadian donors.
We set up the location and we were set to go! The first couple of groups of children were very shy and looked scared -- but as they travelled through our line they were starting to see that we were not scary after all and the smiles were starting to show. Some of them would walk right up and be so very proud as they would practice what English they knew and others just stood and smiled. They are so very sweet with their big brown eyes and their adorable smiles.
I had tears in my eyes when I noticed that some of the children arrived with no shoes on and some others had holes where their toe was sticking out. This is the reason we are here to help bring a little sunshine to them.
We were then off to our second village Sion and we handed out 105 bedkits there. The children again were so happy and thankful for their gifts that we gave them.
Julie Merkley
for Team Mumbai 2010
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Chennai: Avadi
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
After about a forty-minute drive through the usual crazy traffic we arrived at the beautiful Jayagopal Garodia Higher Secondary School in Avadi for our distribution of 477 bedkits. The organizers were very efficient and prepared so that our set up took the least amount of time so far. We were told about the history of the school which helped us understand the layout, construction, and goals the supporters had set for the education of their children.
We were fortunate to have the assistance of senior male students. They were energetic, cooperative individuals who helped make the delivery go very smoothly. They treated the little ones with care as they helped them from one point to another; as well as moving all the heavy kits from a secure room to the area we needed the bedkits to be for delivery to the children.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
I was fortunate to be at the “giving the bedkit” station today. It allowed me to hear their “thank you” and to see their lovely faces light up. They all just warm you from the inside out.
By the end of the delivery, the heat and work has you pretty tired; but, I had one more cause for joy yet to come. The senior boys heard that I tap dance and asked me to do so for them. I did and it was pure delight seeing what fun they had from it.
Thank you children for being the treasures that you are.
Patsy Leamon
for Team Chennai 2010
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Chennai: Thiruvallur
We were up bright and early today, meeting our bus at 6:45 AM. Our hotel generously opened an hour earlier to accommodate our breakfast needs, and off we set for Thiruvallur, a small town located northwest of Chennai. This marks the third time I have been there making a distribution.
We arrived at a school that is sponsored by a Family Trust set up by the great grandfather of one of the Rotarians from the Ambattur Rotary Club. This generous family sponsors some five schools in the Chennai District. They support all the activities of this and their other schools, educating some 10,000 children. The school follows the State Educational Programs, but is dependent on the Family Trust for funding. This type of arrangement is not uncommon in India and accounts for a large portion of the schools. Those students who attend these schools are very fortunate indeed as the education and care is better than in the regular public system.
In Thiruvallur, we were going out some 548 bedkits to the needy. This distribution is much like the others, so I want to point out a few things of interest to you.
Today we interviewed three sets of parents along with their child receiving the bedkit. These interviews allow an exchange of ideas and opinions between the parent and child and SCAW, evaluating the bedkit as well as giving us some backgrounds about the status of things in the area where the bedkits are going. We found out:
"Why?" I asked.
Because he would lose work. You see, he was a farm labourer who couldn't work in the fields during rainy times. Most of the people here live a "hand-to-mouth" existence and don't have savings or Employment Insurance to tide them over between work stoppages. The very existence of their family depends on steady work. No work = no food. And besides, this family has a young girl who lost her left leg when she was two years old through an accident. They need the support. Needless to say, the gift of a bedkit was very much in need and appreciated.
During the interviews, I was able to explain to the parents and child just how these bedkits came to be. They were donated by people who care. These donors know that they are donating a bedkit to someone who doesn't have a bed to sleep in. They consciously wanted your child to have a bedkit. Schools are a very important group that support the SCAW program. Children in these schools hold fund raisers; sales of toys; car washes; bake sales; used-book sales; doing chores around their homes; etc. This was very much about "children helping other children who need bedkits."
While the parent and child were listening to what I was saying, I could see they were visibly moved when they learned of the involvement of "children helping other children." They heard that the pictures taken of them earlier, would go to the donor to be hung up in schools, hung up in homes, in bedrooms, fastened to fridge doors by magnets, and otherwise displayed prominently in homes and offices, with pride. It was the donor's connection to your child and the bedkit they had paid for.
Thank you, donors, for making all this possible. Another 548 young minds and bodies are sleeping more comfortably tonight.
Respectfully submitted by
Tom Belton, Team Leader
for Team Chennai 2010
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We arrived at a school that is sponsored by a Family Trust set up by the great grandfather of one of the Rotarians from the Ambattur Rotary Club. This generous family sponsors some five schools in the Chennai District. They support all the activities of this and their other schools, educating some 10,000 children. The school follows the State Educational Programs, but is dependent on the Family Trust for funding. This type of arrangement is not uncommon in India and accounts for a large portion of the schools. Those students who attend these schools are very fortunate indeed as the education and care is better than in the regular public system.
In Thiruvallur, we were going out some 548 bedkits to the needy. This distribution is much like the others, so I want to point out a few things of interest to you.
Today we interviewed three sets of parents along with their child receiving the bedkit. These interviews allow an exchange of ideas and opinions between the parent and child and SCAW, evaluating the bedkit as well as giving us some backgrounds about the status of things in the area where the bedkits are going. We found out:
- All three children do not have any mosquito nets.
- All three children slept on a woven mat on the clay floor of their home.
- All expect to improve their grades using the items in the bedkit.
- All will be sleeping under their mosquito nets tonight.
"Why?" I asked.
Because he would lose work. You see, he was a farm labourer who couldn't work in the fields during rainy times. Most of the people here live a "hand-to-mouth" existence and don't have savings or Employment Insurance to tide them over between work stoppages. The very existence of their family depends on steady work. No work = no food. And besides, this family has a young girl who lost her left leg when she was two years old through an accident. They need the support. Needless to say, the gift of a bedkit was very much in need and appreciated.
During the interviews, I was able to explain to the parents and child just how these bedkits came to be. They were donated by people who care. These donors know that they are donating a bedkit to someone who doesn't have a bed to sleep in. They consciously wanted your child to have a bedkit. Schools are a very important group that support the SCAW program. Children in these schools hold fund raisers; sales of toys; car washes; bake sales; used-book sales; doing chores around their homes; etc. This was very much about "children helping other children who need bedkits."
While the parent and child were listening to what I was saying, I could see they were visibly moved when they learned of the involvement of "children helping other children." They heard that the pictures taken of them earlier, would go to the donor to be hung up in schools, hung up in homes, in bedrooms, fastened to fridge doors by magnets, and otherwise displayed prominently in homes and offices, with pride. It was the donor's connection to your child and the bedkit they had paid for.
Thank you, donors, for making all this possible. Another 548 young minds and bodies are sleeping more comfortably tonight.
Respectfully submitted by
Tom Belton, Team Leader
for Team Chennai 2010
Leave your comments here.
Mumbai: Day Two
India is a country of contrasts. I woke up to the noise of the air conditioner muffling the mosque's call to prayer, the crows cawing, and the start of the traffic. I opened the balcony door and looked on to a city waking up. Two men that slept on the sidewalk were rolling up their piece of cloth. Others were washing their yellow and black taxis. Children were yelling in the park with no grass but a dirt playground. I was hit with the difference between this and my home in Canada.
From this experience I realize many people sleep on the ground and know that the children we will give the bedkits to will sleep better. I am anxious to get started tomorrow.
I thank the people of Canada who have contributed to these bedkits.
Joyce Poth
for Team Mumbai 2010
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From this experience I realize many people sleep on the ground and know that the children we will give the bedkits to will sleep better. I am anxious to get started tomorrow.
I thank the people of Canada who have contributed to these bedkits.
Joyce Poth
for Team Mumbai 2010
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Chennai: Nellore
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
DK Government Degree College for Women
Well, today had its good and bad times, mostly I would have to say good. We were able to distribute 652 bedkits to mostly younger children. They were brought in to us at the school mostly from the countryside by bus, rickshaw, and, I expect, by car. Some were in wheelchairs or carried by a parent or guardian, from what I expect to be the grim results of polio. Some were blind and some were deaf. Some cried from fright but mostly we could get a heart-warming smile of excitement and pleasure.
The day started for us when we left the hotel in Chennai at 6 AM. It was to be a 165-kilometer drive to reach Nellore, north of Chennai. Along the way we stopped for a coffee and some breakfast that was brought to us in a bag. We encountered the usual traffic problems. One case in particular was a long bus blocking our two lanes of a four-lane highway forcing us to travel the wrong way on the other side for a short distance. Scary!!! We finally arrived at our destination about 10 AM.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
During the whole day these girls constantly assisted us. Every time you turned around there was one waiting to help. The result of this is that the distribution was the fastest, most-organized and pleasant we have had so far.
After the distribution was over we were pleasantly hosted to another surprise catered lunch at the home of the Rotarian in charge of the Nellore distribution, Mr. Prabakar Reddy. We arrived back at our hotel around 10:00 PM after negotiating another traffic jam.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
I am going to climb into my bed tonight knowing 652 children have a decent place to lay their heads as well, thanks to many of you.
Doug Cunningham
for Team Chennai 2010
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Mumbai: The team has arrived
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| From Mumbai Photos 2010 |
The Mumbai 2010 Team are pictured at right: (Left to right) Julie Merkley, Richard Poth, Lynette Jenkins (Team Leader), Joyce Poth, Faith Clark, Russ Hope.
Please do remember if you send us a reply is is public information for all to see.
We hope to provide many updates.
Richard Poth
for Team Mumbai 2010
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Mumbai: Post your comments here
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Belgaum: The team ready to go up, up, and away!
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| From Belgaum Photos 2010 |
The 2010 Belgaum team are: (Back Row) Suzanne Andrew from Lucknow, ON; Dave Kiddle from Milton, ON; Duncan Macgregor (Team Leader) from Toronto, ON; (Front Row) Judy Skelton from Toronto, ON; Anne Andrew from Lucknow, ON; Judy Dryden from Victoria, BC.
The Belgaum Team will start distributing 4,000 bedkits with the help of the Rotary Club of Belgaum on Thursday, February 11th.
We're keeping Murray's Dream Alive!
Team Belgaum 2010
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Belgaum: Post your comments here
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Kolkata: Mission Accomplished
Sixty five hundred children in West Bengal are having a better night's sleep.
We have, along with the Rotary Club of Dum Dum, extended the generosity of SCAW donors to many needy and deserving children. We gave relief to those recently hit by a devestating tornado near the border of Bangladesh, visited families in villages whose gratitude was overwhelming and sobering, and gave a measure of comfort to many confined in the crowded city of Kolkata.
Thank you to all donors who made the trip possible. It was a most satisfying and rewarding experience for all of us. And Kudos to the Rotary Club of Dum Dum, who have encouraged the involvment and partnership of forty other participating clubs, enabling us to venture into remote areass.
The Kolkata distribution was a great example of friends and partners, perhaps divided by oceans, culture and diversity, but united in purpose, coming together to bring smiles to so many children and their families.
Team Kolkata 2010
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We have, along with the Rotary Club of Dum Dum, extended the generosity of SCAW donors to many needy and deserving children. We gave relief to those recently hit by a devestating tornado near the border of Bangladesh, visited families in villages whose gratitude was overwhelming and sobering, and gave a measure of comfort to many confined in the crowded city of Kolkata.
Thank you to all donors who made the trip possible. It was a most satisfying and rewarding experience for all of us. And Kudos to the Rotary Club of Dum Dum, who have encouraged the involvment and partnership of forty other participating clubs, enabling us to venture into remote areass.
The Kolkata distribution was a great example of friends and partners, perhaps divided by oceans, culture and diversity, but united in purpose, coming together to bring smiles to so many children and their families.
Team Kolkata 2010
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Chennai: Day Four
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
On arrival at the distribution site we were welcomed in the usual manner with dots of cumin and saffron put on our foreheads during the welcoming ceremony. We were then taken into the hall where the children were sitting to much applause from the children. There were the usual speeches by certain dignitaries. However the big attraction for us were four dances done by four groups of students from the school.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
When all this was finished we started the distribution. The pictures were taken under cover so the children did not have to line up in the sun. I have never seen such patient children anywhere. They had been seated in a very hot room and there were no complaints. They were very good about waiting their turn.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
The children gave us a rousing send off when we left. We took off into the busy traffic going east in the two westbound lanes of a divided four lane highway. After a couple of kilometers there was a break in the divide and we were able to go in the correct lanes. Life is sure exciting in India.
Helen Ruth Brown
for Team Chennai 2010
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Chennai: Sivakasi
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
The first distribution was outside of Sivakasi and consisted of 300 bedkits. The distribution point was a marriage hall. When we arrived the area was already teeming with children and parents and curious onlookers. Then the fun began.
The children were waiting for us inside the hall and had been dressed in their new clothes. When we entered the room to meet the children we were greeted with loud applause and heartfelt cheering. Meeting the kids and seeing their bright eyes and excited smiles made the whole trip worthwhile. This is what I came for: the kids.
After setting up the equipment we began the work of taking a photo of each of the 300 children who had waited patiently and expectantly for their chance to receive a bedkit.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
The instant they were through the gauntlet however, their mood changed dramatically. They turned into carefree, smiling, laughing kids. All the shyness was gone and they could hang out with their friends while waiting to be transported back to their homes.
This is a magical time in a distribution. The kids demanded to be photographed in groups and yelled hysterically when shown the photo. They were in a playful mood and enjoyed playing catch with the rubber ball I brought with me. Tiny hands were thrust forward a dozen at a time for the chance of a handshake accompanied by excited squeals.
The best job in the world is to be the team member who hands out bedkits to the kids. They’ve made it all the way to the end of the maze and suddenly they are able to wrap their arms around their very own bedkit. It’s time for the big, big smile and a well coached "thank you" before they are able to join their friends and talk about this eventful day.
All the challenges of the trip melt away with the wide smile of a small child receiving a precious bed kit. To the donors I want to say, "Thank you for this gift -- it benefits not only the child but also the adults who share their experience." The $35 donation is a gift to the whole community.
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| From Chennai Photos 2010 |
On Wednesday we are making another distribution in Sivakasi before boarding the train once again to return to Chennai.
Bill Baker
for Team Chennai 2010
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Chennai: The Vellore distribution
Monday, February 1, 2010
Our second distribution was in Vellore. It took place in a marriage hall, a very interesting venue.
It got off to a roll after a special welcoming ceremony from our Rotarian hosts. We were introduced to the children, teachers and parents. Then our fearless leader, Tom, gave a short talk to the children. He talked about all the special donors who care about them very much. A giant poster filled the entire wall behind the stage. "Thank you SCAW," was written in large letters across a weigh scale balancing a child and the world. "Rotary Club of Ambattur," was spread in large letters across the bottom. It was a very special welcome for our team.
This is my first trip with Sleeping Children Around the World. I felt much more at ease with the process and my duties today after my initiation in Killpauk yesterday.
One of my jobs today was handing out the bedkits to the children. It was wonderful seeing their happy faces.
We had a very successful and rewarding day in Vellore.
Jan Gayman
for Team Chennai 2010
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Our second distribution was in Vellore. It took place in a marriage hall, a very interesting venue.
It got off to a roll after a special welcoming ceremony from our Rotarian hosts. We were introduced to the children, teachers and parents. Then our fearless leader, Tom, gave a short talk to the children. He talked about all the special donors who care about them very much. A giant poster filled the entire wall behind the stage. "Thank you SCAW," was written in large letters across a weigh scale balancing a child and the world. "Rotary Club of Ambattur," was spread in large letters across the bottom. It was a very special welcome for our team.
This is my first trip with Sleeping Children Around the World. I felt much more at ease with the process and my duties today after my initiation in Killpauk yesterday.
One of my jobs today was handing out the bedkits to the children. It was wonderful seeing their happy faces.
We had a very successful and rewarding day in Vellore.
Jan Gayman
for Team Chennai 2010
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Kolkata: Service Above Self - Love and Care for Children
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| From Kolkata Rotary Photos 2010 |
First, the bedkit items have to be procurred at the best price, so that your $35 donation goes as far as possible. Then these items are rolled into bedkits which have to be stored and transported to the various distribution sites.
At this stage, all the children have been selected and a way of getting them to the distribution site has to be organized. The sites have to be large secure areas to allow the flow of dressing, photographing, and giving out the bedkits without keeping the children waiting in line too long. Some have already travelled for several hours to get there. The Rotarians and their wives come to all the distributions to process and help the SCAW team wherever possisble.
Then there is the SCAW team of six volunteers which has to be met, housed, fed, and transported. WOW!!!! But that is not all. During our visit to Kolkata, Peter and I developed a very scary cough which did not seem to want to leave. Two Rotarian doctors visited us at the hotel, night and morning, prescribed treatment and medication and looked after us in every way possible.
The Rotarians of Dum Dum -- for more than ten years with SCAW -- have been living up to their motto which is the title of this blog post.
Jill Adams
Team Kolkata 2010
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Chennai: The beginning
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| SCAW Chennai 2010 Travelling Team (Left to right) Back: Janet Gayman, Doug Cunningham, Patsey Leamon, Front: Tom Belton (Team Leader), Helen Brown, Bill Baker From Chennai Photos 2010 |
Hello to all of you who have an interest in our purpose and journey covering the next 2 1/2 weeks. We have a nice blend of volunteers on this trip. Each of them will be taking time during the trip to express their viewpoint on their experiences. The aim is to give all of you a "picture on our world," painted in the words of each of us. Of special interest to all is that this blog is being joined and used by Leo Bernabi School students and staff in Spencerport, New York, to follow the journey of the bedkit money they raised during their December Fund Raiser.
After twenty-one hours of flying, our team arrived in Chennai on time at 12:15 AM to be greeted by our loyal and gracious Rotary Club of Ambattur with welcoming garlands and warm greetings. After checking into our hotel in Chennai around 2 AM, we settled down to a well-needed and deserved rest ... thankfully.
Our first distribution of 541 bedkits began after a day of rest in a suburb of Chennai named Kilpauk. The temperature here was a balmy 34 degrees Celsius (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit). The sun beat down on many of us as we happily gave out bedkits and greetings and signs of love to the children. Here we met a number of mentally-challenged children. Needless to say, our hearts went out to these, the most needy and vulnerable. Their sweet innocent faces are etched in our memories.
Our trip will be a very demanding one, requiring a lot of travel, so if you don't see us each and every day, it is likely because we haven't had the time or facilities to sit down and send a report. Just to give you a glimpse of these demands: today we are in Vellore where 800 children will be receiveing the gift of a much needed bedkit. We arrived here at 8 PM last night, checked into our hotel, had a meal, and went to bed. Today we must rush to catch the 8:50 AM train to Sivikasi. We have to travel about four hours to catch the train again -- this all after the distribution. We do two distributions in Sivikasi and Sattur (located in the South of India some 100 KM from the tip) and then go back on the train to Chennai. Believe us when we say, this is a most hectic schedule and typical of many trips for Sleeping Children travelling volunteers. Considering we are in the sun and heat all day, it can get quite exhausting.
Well it is time for us to pack up and leave for today's distrbution.
It is our hope that everyone will find these blogs fitting our intentions. We want you to feel a part of what is actually happening.
Until our next contact, the team sends all our greetings and best wishes.
Tom Belton, Team Leader
Team Chennai 2010
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