Nicaragua: 469 Children in Managua

Day 2

A hot humid morning after a night of heavy rain. So much rain, a turtle had taken shelter in the restaurant with us at supper the previous night. Made for great pictures!

Our inner-city distribution this second day was at a local school which serves the poor of the poor in this capital city. Throngs of children and parents blocked the streets waiting for their bedkits. Police and security maintained order.

Over the course of the next six hours, 469 children had their pictures taken and left with smiles on their faces and bedkits in-hand.

The Rotarian Governor of Central America visited the school. The school children danced honouring him and the team.

A tired group of school youth and volunteers and the SCAW team shared a wonderful Nicaraguan lunch, thankful for a successful day of knowing these children would sleep better tonight.

Regards, Janet Helmer
for Team Nicaragua 2010

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Bangladesh: Habiganj and Srimongal

From Bangladesh 2010

Distribution 7

After a day of rest in Dhaka we were off to an early start -- before 6 a.m. -- to Habiganj and Srimongal, where we completed our first two-site day with two distributions. The first, at Habiganj, was for 380 bedkits, and the second at Srimongal, for 220 bedkits.

The distribution at Habiganj was held at the ancestral home of Gulru, wife of Rowly, one of the members of the Rotary Club of Dhaka. As usual, we tried to have some local flavour in the photo background - this time we used two baby goats. However, our background disappeared part way through the distribution when the young goat herder took away his goats because he thought they were getting too hot in the brilliant sun.

From Bangladesh 2010

The Srimongal distribution included children from twelve different ethnic groups, including Tipura and Kashia hill tribes and Tamils from South India - all attracted to the area over the years because of work available in the tea plantations surrounding Srimongal. This distribution proceeded very quickly since, for the first time during our distribution, the children were already dressed in their new clothes and ready to have their photos taken when we arrived.

At both locations, as we have become accustomed to and despite the best efforts of the organizers, many more parents and deserving children showed up than were selected -- hoping to be the recipient of a bedkit. Despite knowing that their child was not selected, they watched the full distribution and left only after the last bedkit was gone. This only emphasizes, once again, how valued our bedkits are to these poor communities.

From Bangladesh 2010

On the way to our overnight bungalows in the tea plantation we passed tea pickers on their way home from their day’s work. They were carrying freshly-picked tea leaves on their heads to the weighing station. The weight determined their salary for the day. On average these workers receive about 45 taka (60 cents) for their day’s efforts.

From Bangladesh 2010

Needless to say, many of the recipients of our bedkits today were the children of these workers. Before continuing, we stopped at a tea house to taste their special 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 layer teas.

Andy Greiner
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Nicaragua: 500 Children in Dario

A five o'clock start today in order to reach our first distribution site in Dario, Nicaragua. It became quite the adventure when the team had to transfer to the back of a local pick-up truck in order to navigate through the deep, gooey mud and gigantic ruts and potholes -- left over from the still-lingering rainy season.

Our distribution was a huge success thanks to the help of many local volunteers and our Rotarian partners. Five hundred very happy children went home with their new bedkits; some by horseback, many sitting in the back of big trucks, and lots on foot for a long walk home.

They will all surely sleep well tonight and so will our team after a very busy day!

Patti Jones
for Team Nicaragua 2010

p.s.: The computer froze. Pictures to come.

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Bangladesh: Back in Dhaka

From Bangladesh 2010

Travel Blog

Khulna to Pabna to Domar to Dhaka, a three-day Bangladesh road trip that took us -- as the distribution blogs said -- to the Northwestern area of Bangladesh.

The faithful readers of different distribution’s blogs and reports understand well the crazy, chaotic yet rhythmic flow of traffic with such an eclectic range of conveyances so I won’t bore you with further descriptors. However, the pit stops are all unique: for example, stopping for a mid-afternoon snack at a street vendor (we have great confidence in our robust immune system!) and sampling his Deem Chop (deep fried battered hard boiled egg), Aloo Chop (deep fried battered potato), and Pakura (deep fried battered vegetables) all washed down with street tea. Yummy! Oh, did I mention the dried cow dung fuel sticks firing up the oil pot? We have taken a pact to not eat anything deep fried and battered for at least a month after we come home.

From Bangladesh 2010

At every stop the friendly curious crowd gathers and it is great fun to “kid around” as we wait for our snacks and meet some of the cool characters that are part of the crowd: a kid with his very iffy go-kart made with three sticks and roller bearings and a happy guy with his “pan tongue.”

From Bangladesh 2010

Many people chew pan, a beetle nut leaf wrap (nicotine) with twenty-one different ingredients including spices and sweets that leaves a red stain on teeth and mouth.

But most importantly this road trip was all about camaraderie amongst our extended Rotary and Sleeping Children members as we “help the world, one child at a time” reaching out to the poorer areas of Bangladesh.

... Stayed tuned, more travel ahead -- including a tea plantation distribution, Hill tract kids receiving bedkits for the first time and much more ...

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Nicaragua: The team arrives

Our Canadian SCAW team has landed safely in hot and sunny Managua, Nicaragua. After a quick wash-up, we met to "rehearse" our bedkit set-up and then on to meet with our Rotarian partners.

After finalizing plans for the next twelve days, we enjoyed a scrumptious Nicaraguan dinner in a local outdoor restaurant, eating under the palm trees and serenaded by a local musician. We are so ready to sleep tonight, yet so eager to get started with the children tomorrow.

Patti Jones
for Team Nicaragua 2010

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Bangladesh: Our day in Domar

From Bangladesh 2010

There is a special reason why we travelled so far to the northwest region of Bangladesh for a bedkit distribution in the village of Domar. Khaliq, one of the Rotarian coordinators was born in this region and lived there until he was a year and a half. His family taught him he has a responsibility: “You received the nutrients of the land and you need to repay this debt.” Thus we travelled with Khaliq to one of the poorest areas of Bangladesh to help the children.

We woke up to our first day of overcast with the occasional sprinkle of rain.

When we arrived at the village all 310 children who were to receive bedkits and their families were gathered under a very large tent. Khaliq’s uncle, Abbasi, had organized approximately forty-five minutes of entertainment while the six of us from SCAW set up the distribution flow and photography area. There was plenty of singing by the children. And just before the distribution started Kathy and I sang "O Canada" to the crowd. It’s highly unlikely we will be found at a stadium conducting opening ceremonies anytime soon.

From Bangladesh 2010

Part way through the distribution there was a pause while some of the children changed into their new clothes. Doug and Mike went into the crowd to have fun with the bubble-makers we brought with us. One benefit of today’s weather was that the bubbles lasted longer than usual. The children thoroughly enjoyed that impromptu entertainment.

When we set up our photography area we placed two rickshawvans in the background with both owners agreeing to leave their vehicles for the couple of hours required to take pictures. But half way through when our backs were turned one of the drivers snuck in and was taking his away. We were able to convince him with some taka-help ($) to leave it but found out at the end his child had received a bedkit early in the distribution and his wife and child were waiting for him to take them home! Oops, the challenges of communication!

From Bangladesh 2010

After the last bedkit was handed out we all agreed that today’s distribution ran smoothly and that Khaliq’s uncle, Abbasi, had done an excellent job of organizing today’s event and venue. The special part of today’s venue was it allowed the families and community to be very close to our team and the distribution site with, by the end, the crowd cheering and clapping the completion of every photo.

Steve Allen
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Nicaragua: The team prepares

From Nicaragua 2010

On October 31^st the Nicaragua team met at SCAW headquarters, the Dryden family home at 28 Pinehurst, to sort the labels for their distribution of 5,000 bedkits in Nicaragua this month.

The six-member team is (Left to right): Patti Jones, Joan Hryniw (Team Leader), Garrick Byers, Dennis Jones, Janet Helmer, and Judy Dryden.

You can see photos of the label sort in the Nicaragua 2010 Photo Album.

Early on the 1^st of November they boarded the plane for Nicaragua.

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Bangladesh: Day 5, Pabna

It takes a village …

As we arrive by bus at today’s distribution site in the town of Madpur on the outskirts of Pabna, we see a sign hanging over the entrance to the driveway welcoming the SCAW Canada and Rotary Club of Dhaka Team.

From Bangladesh 2010

We exit the bus and begin walking a gauntlet of applause from the children, parents, and grandparents. Many of the village locals have come just to watch. While many foreigners visit Bangladesh they usually stay in the major cities so few (if any) of today’s onlookers have ever seen a white person. The colour of our pale skin draws lots of attention and the kids (and adults) are eager to touch us, to feel something new.

This is a new location for a SCAW distribution, Gulnar Children’s Hospital. Our host comes from a long line of physicians and the hospital is named after his departed Mother’s family name.
A colourful tent has been set up as change rooms for the children and to keep them shaded from the scorching sun. This is the poorest area we’ve been to so far, and some of the children arrive without shoes or shirts. This reinforces why we are travelling many hours to reach these poor communities. We spend a few minutes with the bubbles and the duck puppet to help the children - and parents - feel more at ease. The parents and grandparents have just as much fun blowing the bubbles as the kids do.

From Bangladesh 2010

The venue is small and the distribution of 280 bedkits gave us a great opportunity to interact with many of the parents and local onlookers.

As the distribution wraps up we spend a few minutes to hear from local dignitaries, the site sponsor, and the children and parents. Those who have received bedkits are ever so thankful, while the parents of those who didn’t receive this year speak clearly into the microphone about how they hope and pray that the program will continue and that their children will be blessed enough to get one next year.

From Bangladesh 2010

After packing up the equipment we are offered a tour of the hospital and we jump at the opportunity. The hospital sees between fifty and seventy-five children a day, even though the facilities and staffing are meagre (at best). The doctor mentions the desperate need for pediatric doctors and nurses to come and help.

As we walk back to the bus we are reminded that it really does take a village…

Danielle Lalonde
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: 372 Bedkit in Khulna

Bangladesh 2010

The team is sending lots of photos so please check out their Photo Album.

Click on the photo at right and select Slideshow when you go to the album.

Today we delivered 372 bedkits with the sponsorship and assistance of seven Rotary Clubs in the Khulna area. There were children from over ten schools, some coming from as far as seventy kilometers.

The venue was at a Rotary-funded school and we were given a rousing reception by the school children at the school; we enjoyed taking pictures of the children and shaking hands with them so much that their teachers were forced to hush them back into the classrooms.

We chose a good shady spot for the setups for the picture-taking, among trees and down-loaded the bedkits into piles organized by bedkits for girls and boys in two sizes.

From Bangladesh 2010

We were greatly assisted in the distribution by the members of the Dhaka Rotary Club, as well as three Rotaractors: Shohel, Didar, and Forhad from Dhaka. As well, we had assistance from the Boy Scout Club in Khulna and others.

The delivery went so smoothly that we freed up Kathy to do a couple of interviews with parents that were quite interesting.

One very interesting event was to meet up with Rtn. Ferdousi Ali, the first woman Rotarian in Bangladesh.

Khulna is an industrial city and a major port in Bangladesh with a population of over three million people and is close to a UNESCO heritage site.

Andy Greiner
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: From Barisal to Khulna

We left Barisal at 6 AM on the Rocket, a paddleboat steamer built in 1929 in Calcutta. The 5 AM arrival to the dock area was alive with rickshaw horns and driver shouts (possibly curses) as the traffic snarled to a standstill. We finally gave up and lugged our gear to the steamer.

It was then the harbour’s turn to come alive as a beautiful dawn broke over the Kittankhola River and as we started the journey down ten different rivers arriving in Khulna late evening.

From Bangladesh 2010

We stopped at numerous interesting ports allowing a glimpse of life so different from ours. Kids especially would crowd around us at the docks, friendly and curious about us as to why we were here.

These rivers with the myriad of boats and ships move goods and people the same way as our highways do. Of course fishing boats zigzag all over the river as they work at feeding the people of Bangladesh. We enjoyed Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh for lunch and caught in these same waters.

This was a day of relaxation spent mostly on the front deck of the Rocket enjoying the unfolding river in the company of the Sleeping Children and Rotary Team, and after 2,832 bedkits in three days we needed the rest.

From Bangladesh 2010

In addition to great food, scenery, and camaraderie, we also enjoyed the services of the shoeshine guy that was on the ship. He proceeded to shine, buff, and primp ten pairs of boots, sandals, running shoes and flip flops – anything we had on our feet! He clearly was an artist at his craft, spent one and a half hours doing this work, and his regular charge would be 100 taka ($3). We gave him 1000 taka ($15) and made his day – but disaster struck as he was packing up his tools. The 1000 taka bill slipped out of his shirt pocket and disappeared in the wind over the river. What a look of despair on this poor man’s face but we quickly gave him another 1000 taka’s and all was and is right with the day.

It is all fun as we help the world one child at a time.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Barisal, The Third Distribution

From Bangladesh 2010

What a day of excitement, colour, high intensity and fun!

We were greeted by a family gathering of thousands. Not only did the 1,032 children show up from the local village and surrounding districts, but all the local families were there to witness the distibution of today's bedkits.

What friendly people and so glad to see us. The children were welcomed not only by us but also by the large number of volunteers that helped. They smiled, clapped and "thumbs'd up" when they received their bedkits. Lots of hand shaking and practising of their English: "Welcome and Thank you."

From Bangladesh 2010

We had lots of fun with this distribution and many of us were being constantly touched by these children.

We finished the evening with a local supper provided by Captain Moazzam, President of the Rotary Club of Dhaka with pigeon and prawns on the menu. An hour evening ride in rickshaws throughout the village ended a wonderful day for all of us.

Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Overnight to Barisal

From Bangladesh 2010

What an action packed 24 hours since the last blog. An hour and a half of chaotic gridlock to the harbour and boarding the Sunderban, the launch (ferry) for the overnight to Barisal, experiencing the very interesting and exotic harbour life through the evening and an early arrival the next morning to start the 1,000 bedkit distribution after having breakfast in a good Bangladeshi “joint” (restaurant).

From Bangladesh 2010

We were not very rested on arrival in part due to trying to sleep on a packed and noisy ship but mostly because of Steve’s early morning mishap. Mike and I shared a very small cabin with enough room for two cots and Andy and Steve were two rooms away. I woke up about 2 AM to guys yakking outside our room and went out to find Steve looking a little distraught with the story of going to the common washroom at the end of the corridor, locking the cabin door from the outside -- there is no latch thus it does not open from the inside if locked -- when leaving and with no pockets shoved the key under his arm. While in the washroom the key fell and bounced into the floor level toilet and then proceeded into the Padma River, part of the Ganges River. So Steve had a dilemma with Andy locked in the cabin at 2 AM! After finally finding someone to help it became apparent there was no spare or master key and so the noise out in the corridor was four guys with a box of hundreds of keys trying them one by one with Andy watching through the cabin window. Planning was well underway to break into the room when near the bottom of the pile of key, one worked! Crisis averted but way too much excitement in the middle of the night!

From Bangladesh 2010

After a long and challenging distribution (More about that in the next report.) we unwound into the early evening with a long rickshaw ride through the beautiful countryside outside Barisal. From the looks and hoots from people along the way you can bet there are not many times six Canadian are riding rickshaws through the tiny villages of that part of Bangladesh. Wonderful experiences!

Tomorrow is a day off and a day on the “Rocket,” a river paddleboat taking us to our next distribution.

Maybe we will see a Bengal tiger?

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Day 2 - 783 kids

Click for the Photo Album. More photos from Bangladesh 2010

Hey, do we have a team!

Day 2 and 783 bedkits later, worked through some distribution wrinkles yesterday and everyone had fun today -- especially 783 kids!

A recuring theme is kids just want to have fun and today was full of laughs, bubbles, frisbees, thumbfights, "quacker" (Mike's stuffed duck) and boy do you know it is working when the kids are giving a thumbsup when the bedkit picture is taken. How cool is that?

All good here in Bangladesh everyone. We are rushing out the door to catch an overnight launch (ferry boat) to our next distribution. Stay tuned!

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Our first distribution

After months of waiting for our first distribution assignment, here we are – standing in Bangladesh waiting for the first bus of children to arrive.

The first bus pulls up shortly after 8 am, followed by another ten minutes later, then another, then another. Within the hour a sea of children filled the distribution courtyard.

Some travelled as far as 150 km, and many arrived without so much as shoes on their feet. A small grin creeps across our faces as we know that when the kids open their bedkit they’ll find a pair of brand new flip flops.

As wave after wave of children come and go from the courtyard it becomes apparent to us how much time and effort was put forth by the Rotary Club of Dhaka to arrange and organize today’s distribution. Hats off to their team.

First stop – changing into their new donated outfits. The girls appear from the change room in beautiful and colourful salwar kameezes. The boys have new pants and a warm shirt for the approaching winter months.

Next stop – picture time. The children are set up. Some sit, some stand. “Everyone smile.”

And now, for the best part – the bedkit. We share a word or two with each child ... whatever we can communicate in the two different languages. Some hesitate as they take the big bundle. Some of the smallest kids quickly and easily hoist the heavy bed kits up onto their heads and head for the gate with a huge smile across their face.

As they leave we are overwhelmed with the pride and emotion of being part of such a great experience.

After the last child gets on the last bus, the joint SCAW/Rotary Club of Dhaka Team celebrates a successful Day One over a meal.

Good Night from Bangladesh,
SCAW Newbie #1: Steve Allen
SCAW Newbie #2: Danielle Lalonde
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Getting ready in Dhaka

From Bangladesh 2010

First day with all of the team together in Dhaka with the last of us arriving early this morning.

We spent the day acclimatizing, meeting the Rotary club group for the pre-distribution meeting, visiting the warehouse where the bedkits are stored, and getting ready to rock 'n roll tomorrow for a test by fire with 1,114 kids receiving bedkits. This is way over what we will normally do but stay tuned on our various travels to the outlying areas of Bangladesh and it will become clear why we are packing a bunch in early.

From Bangladesh 2010

We also strolled the streets seeing the unusual sights of Dhaka life including a market with the boys pretty excited about selling their vegetables and a guy quite happy about his prowess with fish.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Preparations

From Bangladesh 2010

The Rotary Club of Dhaka is in full swing for the upcoming Bangladesh distribution. All of the 6,000 bedkits have been packed and are in the process of being shipping to the various parts of Bangladesh that will be visited over the next two weeks during the distribution.

464 bedkits are being moved from the storage warehouse into the awaiting truck bound for Cox's Bazar. Over the next couple of days all bedkits will have been shipped and reached their final destination in preparation for the arrival of the Bangladesh 2010 team from Canada.

Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Team is collecting

From Bangladesh 2010

The Bangladesh Team 2010 is getting organized. Some have already left for Bangladesh and the rest will arrive Monday Oct 25th in Dhaka, a city of 15 million and the capital of Bangladesh with a population of 156 million. This is a country that is twice the size of New Brunswick with a population of greater than 1000 people per square kilometer. It is hard to imagine isn’t it living here in North America?

We have a great itinerary planned and it will take us to the four corners of the country with 6,000 bedkits distributed to 6,000 of the poorest kids in some areas Sleeping Children have never travelled to.

We will travel by most available conveyances: overnight steamer ferry, river paddleboat, bus, train, car, plane and rickshaw! – these are the ones we know!

The team is excited and challenged, but able, and thanks everyone involved in Sleeping Children Around the World for “helping the world, one child at a time.”

Stay tuned to our blog.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Read about the trip in the Stratford Beacon Herald.

Bangladesh: Volunteers prepare

This weekend the SCAW Bangladesh team met at 28 Pinehurst to prepare for their distribution of 6,000 bedkits later in the month.

Shown at the front door is the Canadian team: (Left to right): Steve Allen, Kathy Greiner, Doug MacDougald (Team Leader), Mike Foster, Danielle Lalonde, and Andy Greiner.

Meanwhile, preparations were also taking place in Dhaka where the Rotary Club of Dhaka team had a quality assurance meeting at the warehouse where the bedkit items are stored.

They are (Left to right): Bayezid, Khaliq, Ranjan, Masud, Faruk, Apu, and Rowly.

Watch this space for more reports as the teams get together in two weeks.

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Bangladesh: Leave your comments here

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