Chennai: Ambattur
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| From Chennai 2011 |
Today -- our last distribution -- was at Ambattur. It is unbelievable that the end has come. So many days ago we were all waiting with anticipation to begin our journey to distribute 6,000 bed kits to help the children of India. Now it has come to fruition, and what a journey it has been. We have touched many children's lives, but they, in turn, have touched all of our lives -- ten fold.
Ambattur school is for underprivledged children, and was founded by a Rotarian. In 1979 the school was made up of buildings with thatched roofs. Today it has permanent block buildings. There are plans for more expansion when the funds become available. There are approximately 560 boys and girls who attend the school. The school has grades up to grade 10. The government pays the teachers up to grade 9, and the Rotary Club of Ambattur pays for the grade 10 teachers.
Rotary handed out scholarships under Murray Dryden's name today to many students They receive 1,200 Rupees, which is approximately $30.00. The students will receive this money for the next five years to assist in their schooling.
The young boys and girls who received the bedkits were happy to be photographed by our most able Team Leader Doug. With a little coaxing from other team members they put on their best happy face. Due to the language barrier we really don't know what they were thinking about us when we tried various tactics to bring that smile to the forefront. I think it would be fun to find out.
Untill we meet again,
Poyitu varugiren (Goodbye)
Karen Morgan
for the Chennai 2011 Team
p.s.: The concluding event of our distribution was the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Rotary Club of Ambattur and SCAW co-operating with friendship to deliver 77,150 bedkits since 1987. A wonderful social evening was held at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Chennai with approximately 80 persons in attendance. Leaders from both organizations were honoured with tributes and gifts. Enthusiasm and commitment for the future was assured.
Don Harris
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Pune: The team prepares
The Pune team met at 28 Pinehurst to get ready for their trip to Pune India.
They'll be leaving in one week to distribute 5,000 bedkits.
In the photo are Front row, Left to Right: Eileen Cockburn and Debbie Dryden (Team Leader). Back row: Christine Magee, Kevin Cullingworth, Sieg Will (Team Leader), Betty Cullingworth, and John Cockburn. Missing is the eighth team member, Riley Magee.
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Chennai: 707 Bedkits on February 7
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| From Chennai 2011 |
The girls choosen to assist in the distribution were the most intelligent, sweet, beautiful teenagers you could ever hope to meet. The bedkit recipients were positioned for photos, guided around and assisted with the heavy bedkits in a courteous, motherly way. India's future is promising with such excellent educated young woman.
The distribution of 707 bedkits went smoothly and after a bag lunch we were treated to singing and dancing presentations under the direction of the school's music teacher.
Everywhere we have travelled teachers, principals, parents, and Rotary club members praise Canadians for their generosity, compassion, and love for their children.
It was such a delightful day.
Don Harris
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Pune: Leave your comments here
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Chennai: Nellore
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| From Chennai 2011 |
This would be the start of another great day for the SCAW team and 600 children. As we drove towards our destination of the D.K.Government Degree College For Women, we were surprised and pleased to see several large billboards advertising SCAW's 2011 distribution with photos from the 2010 distribution on it.
Upon entering the large open courtyard of the school, we were ceremoniously decorated around our necks with huge garlands of red roses that went to our knees. Then as we walked towards the outdoor stage where the children's photos would be taken, things became quite dramatic as suddenly we were showered with hundreds of flower petals by students of the college. Many official looking young men with cameras began taking our photos and we all got a taste of what celebrities experience.
We got a chance to visit some of the classrooms where children were waiting for the big day all dressed in their new clothes from the bedkits. The promised gift would be theirs today! We were greeted with lots of excitement, smiles, and laughter which we hoped would translate into smiling children once in front of the displayed bedkit and camera.
Soon the lines of children appeared and with the help of the students, Rotarians and their wives and teachers, we were able to have a very smooth process of photo-taking and darling needy children receive their bedkits.
Dante seemed to be quite a distraction to the students at this all female college but after some autographs and photos, he continued to focus on getting the little ones to smile for Doug to take the pictures.
Don at one point had about 20 TV station's microphones pressed towards him as he gave a detailed explanation about SCAW and how local needy children are being helped by kind and loving people in Canada and their local Rotarians.
It was a very good day had by all!
Roberta Harris
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: Vellore
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| From Chennai 2011 |
By 6 am on Friday we were on the road to Vellore about three hours drive away. The city was already alive with buses, motor bikes, tuk-tuks, and bicycles and all with horns blowing.
Our distribution site in Vellore was Kumaran Mahal, a marriage hall. It was quite elaborately decorated with paintings and statues. Here the Hindu weddings and receptions take place.
After some discussion the site for the photographs was selected and set up. From that point on the distribution of 850 bedkits ran like clockwork. The children came from outlying schools in buses at scheduled times, which meant that the children were not waiting too long to get their photos taken. They were delightful and most were enjoying this new experience of meeting strange people and having their photos taken. Some of the children had shaved heads. We learned that it was a Hindu custom for the child's hair to remain uncut until the age of 5 yrs. It was then given back to the Gods and sold to support the temple.
Leaving Vellore by van we headed for Nellore. It was quite an adventure as our driver lost his way. We turned around in Chitoor where many, many people were gathering to go to the Tirubathi Temple. Our journey continued along busy country roads pitted with pot holes. Seven hours later we reached the city of Vellore tired but happy to reach our destination.
Eileen Rademacher
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: Sattur
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| From Chennai 2011 |
When we arrived at a wedding hall that was our venue for the distribution there was a large bright welcome sign for Sleeping Children Around the World. There was also a motif on the ground which was made of crushed rice and coloured powder. This motif consisted of flowers and birds, which was quite artistic and beautiful.
After introductions and speeches, we were entertained by four groups of young dancing girls prior to the distribution. Each group had their own distinctive dance routine and was much appreciated by us all.
Most of the children who we distributed bedkits to were from the outlying rural areas. They were all so patient waiting for their turn to have their photos taken and then to receive their bedkits.
To see the wonder and happiness in each child’s eyes was a sight to behold and will forever be with all of us. It has certainly been a great experience to be a part of Sleeping Children Around The World, to share our encounters with children in need, and to know that we are helping -- one child at a time.
Karen Morgan
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: Sivakasi
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| From Chennai 2011 |
The children are given a breakfast at this school as they are very poor and their breakfast provides the children with at least one good meal a day. After speeches and introductions, Team SCAW and the Rotarians began presenting 512 bedkits. The children's behaviour was superb and the process flowed very efficiently.
The children were very deserving of their bedkit gift. None of the children had shoes or sandals. Half of the mothers attending were barefoot. The children had thin arms and legs and in height were much smaller than Canadian children of the same age.
Every child thanked us in English and with a huge smile they embraced the bedkit which often was larger than the child themself. Rotary arranged volunteers who helped the children in carrying the bedkits away.
The children were well-groomed for this event with flowers often in the girl's hair and they looked so beautiful dressed in their new clothes which were provided in the bedkits. Later in the day Team SCAW visited the only factory of the surrounding villages which offered the parents employment. This was a matchbox factory where lucky mothers felt privileged to pack 3000 matchboxes by hand each day to receive a daily wage of $2.10.
Our Rotarian host are great people to work with -- providing us with complimentary meals and even a special fireworks display this evening.
Don Harris
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: Tiruchchirappalli
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| From Chennai 2011 |
We were greeted by our wonderful Rotarians and brought to a lovely hotel in the city of Tiruchchirappalli (Trichy). We awoke the next morning to a delightful buffet before we set out for our third distribution.
Travelling on the country road for a short period of time we reached our destination at a college gymnasium that is still under construction. Here we set up the bedkits and the children started to arrive. Some of them had been travelling before sunrise to receive a bedkit -- what real troopers these young children are.
Working with SCAW comes with great happiness knowing that we all made and are making a difference in many peoples' lives; and seeing these children smile when they receive the bedkit comes with the greatest feeling of all -- the feeling of love, the love one gets after helping one another.
Dante Racioppo
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: Avadi
Our first distribution of 412 bedkits at Avadi was very successful.
The children arrived nervous and excited, but the kindness of the Rotarians and their helpers made the day run smoothly.
I was able to talk with several of the mothers of the children who received bedkits. These women were so grateful for the contents, as they had a chance to touch and handle the items of an open one. Such an appreciation was so heartfelt that I truly was humbled.
A great day was had by all.
Roberta Harris
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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The children arrived nervous and excited, but the kindness of the Rotarians and their helpers made the day run smoothly.
I was able to talk with several of the mothers of the children who received bedkits. These women were so grateful for the contents, as they had a chance to touch and handle the items of an open one. Such an appreciation was so heartfelt that I truly was humbled.
A great day was had by all.
Roberta Harris
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Chennai: The team has arrived
Today we attended a pre-distribution meeting and met all our fellow volunteers. The Rotarian Club of Ambattur presented us with tee shirts to commemorate their 25th Anniversary working with SCAW.
Every effort will be made to send daily reports as we ere expecting to travel on several nights.
Eileen Rademacher
for the Chennai 2011 Team
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Kolkata: Mission Accomplished
Click photo to go to the Kolkata Photo AlbumBoo hoo, it's over.
I would be lying if I said we didn't have tears in our eyes as we escorted the final six children hand-in-hand to receive their bedkits. As we realized that we will no longer have the daily contact with the children we reminisce about our time together with the children and each other and laugh and get sad over our life-changing experience.
Thank you to all the donors. We have been blessed by having the opportunity to be the ones who physically handed a bedkit to each and every child.
As we head home to our own families we will each be leaving a little bit of our hearts here in Kolkata.
Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: Day 8
The Bedkit
Today we had the privilege of seeing how the bedkits that were distributed last year are being used in the children's homes. At the distribution in the village of Howrah, an hour and half north of Kolkata, we visited two homes of past recipients. An extended family of nine shared a pristine two-room mud hut. This home had hard-packed dirt floors with and bamboo and mud walls that are said to last five to six years.
The cherished items they received last year are well used and are in top condition. The mosquito net and mattress were on the family bed and offered comfort and protection for the whole family. The baby was sleeping in a saree hammock and toothbrushes were placed in a cupholder on the mudbrick wall in the small shared courtyard. No matter how poor the people or how small the homes, they are organized, tidy, and spotlessly clean.
Each of the recipients had said these gifts had improved their lives and they were extemely grateful. The families invited us back anytime we were visiting Howrah.
We continued our day and successfully distributed 731 bedkits to the children.
Marianne Langford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: Day 7
The long, winding, and bumpy road to our Day 7 distribution in Kakdwip took us to a small remote village along the way. It was the home of one of our overseas volunteers. We stopped for a short coconut break. We wandered along the narrow pathways in the village and we were invited in as honoured guests by the the villagers.
It was an extended family of four brothers, their wives, children, grandchildren, and mother all living under one roof. it was a cottage industry where two of the son's wives were adding bead work and intricate details to colourful saris. They told us that they work between two and three full days to earn about 300 Rupees (about $ 6.50) when the saris are completed.
After a short visit and introductions we continued the forty-five kilometres to our bedkit distribution for the day.
We spent four hours under sunny skies and 35°C to complete our 737 bedkit distribution.
From the smiling faces we know there will be 737 children getting a good night's sleep so they are ready to face the next days challenges and attend school.
Thanks to our donors.
Edie Haslauer
for Team Kolkata 2011
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It was an extended family of four brothers, their wives, children, grandchildren, and mother all living under one roof. it was a cottage industry where two of the son's wives were adding bead work and intricate details to colourful saris. They told us that they work between two and three full days to earn about 300 Rupees (about $ 6.50) when the saris are completed.
After a short visit and introductions we continued the forty-five kilometres to our bedkit distribution for the day.
We spent four hours under sunny skies and 35°C to complete our 737 bedkit distribution.
From the smiling faces we know there will be 737 children getting a good night's sleep so they are ready to face the next days challenges and attend school.
Thanks to our donors.
Edie Haslauer
for Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: A Visit to Mother's House
We had the privilege to visit Mother Teresa's house in Kolkata.
All of us were touched by the serenity of the residence close to the chaos of the street. Some time was spent in reflection at her tomb and we viewed her spartan room.
A brief visit to one of her orphanages was moving. It's miraculous that a tiny woman from Albania had such an impact on the disenfranchised of the world.
Murray Dryden's project started from a small distribution and grew until the millionth bedkit was given last year.
We feel blessed to be a part of the Drydens' vision and feel gratitude to the donors who help us carry forward the sharing of bedkits.
Gail Tedford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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All of us were touched by the serenity of the residence close to the chaos of the street. Some time was spent in reflection at her tomb and we viewed her spartan room.
A brief visit to one of her orphanages was moving. It's miraculous that a tiny woman from Albania had such an impact on the disenfranchised of the world.
Murray Dryden's project started from a small distribution and grew until the millionth bedkit was given last year.
We feel blessed to be a part of the Drydens' vision and feel gratitude to the donors who help us carry forward the sharing of bedkits.
Gail Tedford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: Day 5
We're on the road to Basirhat. It's a long drive along a bumpy and windy road. There are detours and town signs that are not complete.
We see a 16-foot van turn on a 12-foot-wide street.
We're heading to the Ganges and are within a 5-minute walk to the border of Bangladesh.
We're welcomed by conch horns trumpeting and anointed with oil ... the smell of incense ... candles blowing and a Hindu blessing ... presented with bouquets of flowers and showered with marigold petals. We have all been on vacations before as tourists ... now we feel like travellers immersed in the local customs and ways of India.
Eight days ago, when landing in Kolkata, who would have thought that today when we sat down to eat with our Overseas Volunteer Organization partners after a long and dusty day we would find ourselves mixing our Dal and rice with our fingers and eating with our hand just like our new friends.
Oh Kolkata!!
Warren Wagstaff
for Team Kolkata 2011
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We see a 16-foot van turn on a 12-foot-wide street.
We're heading to the Ganges and are within a 5-minute walk to the border of Bangladesh.
We're welcomed by conch horns trumpeting and anointed with oil ... the smell of incense ... candles blowing and a Hindu blessing ... presented with bouquets of flowers and showered with marigold petals. We have all been on vacations before as tourists ... now we feel like travellers immersed in the local customs and ways of India.
Eight days ago, when landing in Kolkata, who would have thought that today when we sat down to eat with our Overseas Volunteer Organization partners after a long and dusty day we would find ourselves mixing our Dal and rice with our fingers and eating with our hand just like our new friends.
Oh Kolkata!!
Warren Wagstaff
for Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: The fourth distribution
It can't be!!!
On our fourth distribution day, we arrived in the village of Barrackpore, about an hour outside Kolkata, to an open field surrounded by waiting parents and children. The Rotary Club members were eager to help us transform this barren area into our SCAW distribution site.
After setting up the bedkit display against a beautiful rustic background for the photos of the children, we waited for the trucks with the bedkits to arrive. We went to meet the future bedkit recipients and their parents.
As we meandered through the long colourful line, shook hands, and photographed the incredible faces, I began to shake a little boy's hand. He was wearing a blue knit sweater with two white reindeer. As i shook his hand and looked at the sweater, my thought process was as follows: "I've seen that pattern on a sweater before ... It is definitely Canadian ... It looks familiar ... My boys had sweaters just like it."
And then it hit me. My mother knit my sons sweaters just like it years ago. I gave them away to a charity a few years later. In my emotional reaction to this discovery, I checked for a label to make sure I wasn't going crazy and that maybe it was a storebought purchase. No label. It was a hand-knit sweater. What are the chances that this could be one of the two sweaters my mom knitted a lifetime ago? This little boy halfway across the world may be wearing a sweater my boys wore. I am shaking as write this blog still in disbelief thinking that this could not possibly be a reality.
I just know that this SCAW distribution in a little village outside Kolkata is where I am supposed to be at this point in my life and that, maybe, my mom agrees.
Marianne Langford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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On our fourth distribution day, we arrived in the village of Barrackpore, about an hour outside Kolkata, to an open field surrounded by waiting parents and children. The Rotary Club members were eager to help us transform this barren area into our SCAW distribution site.
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| From Kolkata 2011 |
As we meandered through the long colourful line, shook hands, and photographed the incredible faces, I began to shake a little boy's hand. He was wearing a blue knit sweater with two white reindeer. As i shook his hand and looked at the sweater, my thought process was as follows: "I've seen that pattern on a sweater before ... It is definitely Canadian ... It looks familiar ... My boys had sweaters just like it."
And then it hit me. My mother knit my sons sweaters just like it years ago. I gave them away to a charity a few years later. In my emotional reaction to this discovery, I checked for a label to make sure I wasn't going crazy and that maybe it was a storebought purchase. No label. It was a hand-knit sweater. What are the chances that this could be one of the two sweaters my mom knitted a lifetime ago? This little boy halfway across the world may be wearing a sweater my boys wore. I am shaking as write this blog still in disbelief thinking that this could not possibly be a reality.
I just know that this SCAW distribution in a little village outside Kolkata is where I am supposed to be at this point in my life and that, maybe, my mom agrees.
Marianne Langford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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Kolkata: Poetry from India
Hold on to your hats!
Women carrying bowls of dung,
Mangy dogs, baby goats,
Cocky roosters and runaway cows,
Dotted lines that don't mean a thing,
Whoever honks the loudest merges,
Signs, that say, "Obey traffic rules,"
Green bananas lining the streets,
Chickens huddled in large cages,
Villagers meeting at the market,
Locals waiting in the rice paddies,
Open-air butcher and barber shops,
Rickshaws, carts, bicycles, and buses loaded with bedkits,
Multi-coloured sarees,
Children with smiles,
Sunset over the Indian mustard fields.
Another day of grateful children, families and SCAW volunteers!
Marianne Langford
for Team Kolkata 2011
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