Kolkata: Trip Reports Posted
The donor newsletter for the Kolkata 2011 bedkit distribution has gone to print and can be downloaded from the Sleeping Children Website. |
| Kolkata 2011 |
If you would like to read the reports on the web, you can read them in their entirety here.
Here is a download link for the PDF version of the newsletter.
Pune: Day 5
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| From Pune 2011 |
We were greeted with song and snacks, drums and dance, bindi blessings and turbans. The entire village came out for our decorated oxen cart arrival. A procession of the village's men led us to the smiling children. Even the school yard was decorated with many, many colourful designs. Thoughtfullness and celebration was evident in every step of our day.
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| From Pune 2011 |
Our overseas partner, the Rotary Club of Pune, has worked extensively with the teachers of the region to use the bedkit as an incentive to promote education for 1st to 4th form children. The enthusiasm of the children made us think that there is definite hope for education in this region!
Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: Mission Accomplished in Yellapur
Including the 4,000 bedkits delivered
in Belgaum this year, our total is
now 1,135,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
in Belgaum this year, our total is
now 1,135,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
5,000 more bedkits = 1,135,130 bedkits
Big day for the team … our last day of distribution with 150 bedkits at Yellapur.
Different terrain as we left the fields behind and drove into the forest. Lots of monkeys lined the road. The distribution site was a beautiful ashram … a centre for education, meditation, and spirituality.
As we entered the gates, we were struck by its tranquility and beauty. We were welcomed with flowers, handshakes, a Hindu blessing on our foreheads, and an English meditation book.
This is a new distribution site. The children were bused to the site and fed well during the day. The distribution was completed quickly and efficiently. We were then taken inside the temple and served a traditional lunch.
What a wonderful way to end our two-week journey.
Congratulations to the Rotary Clubs, the Inner Wheel, all the volunteers, and especially our donors.
Jeff Bamford,
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Vagabondish, The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond.
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Pune: Day 4
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| From Pune 2011 |
We often wish we knew the stories of the labels, how the donor came to hear about Sleeping Children and take action. Today we had the pleasure of knowing the story of a few of the labels- the labels from the Oakville Speed Skating Club.
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| From Pune 2011 |
This Christmas, the Club chose to support SCAW in lieu of Christmas gifts for the coaches. Today we gave out the sixteen bedits that the Oakville skaters had purchased for the kids in this village. We brought the Oakville Speed Skating club banner with us and had the children sign their name to it.
Cheers to the Oakville Speed Skating Club for making a difference in the lives of children!
Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: Ranebennur
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
We arrived at Ranebennur at about 0930 hours after a trip through cotton fields. The roadway was full of carts piled dangerously high with cotton and all pulled by oxen. We received a royal welcome at the hands of the Rotarians and were bedecked with garlands of flowers, presented with roses, and offered incense. Lastly we received the red forehead Hindu blessing.
The children as usual were excited and entranced by the entertainment provided by the SCAW team. They even learned how to sing "We will rock you" fully accompanied by the percussion on the wooden desks offered by myself and Tamara.
The distribution itself took place in a courtyard surrounded on two sides by a balcony. The parents occupied the balcony and but for the occasional exchange with their children were perfectly behaved and provided an interesting backdrop.
We took a protracted lunch break and thus the distribution was long as we didn't finish until 1730 hours followed by a two-hour trip back to our hotel in Hubli.
It was a tiring day but the smiles of 697 children and the expressions of gratitude from the parents made it all worthwhile. As we were packing up to leave I heard some of the kids singing "We will rock you" as they left. I think we left more behind than just bedkits -- hopefully some good memories and the sense that there are those who care for them.
Tom Todd,
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Chic Savvy Travels, A Backpacker's Guide for Grown-ups
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Pune: Our third distribution
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| Riley Magee in Pune 2011 |
The SCAW foundation has once again had a successful allocation, warming the hearts of many Indian families. At the beginning we explained our reason for being there and introduced what they would be receiving later that day. As our team held up the different items in the bedkit, a wave of smiles appeared on the children’s faces.
The gratitude and appreciation the families displayed was really extraordinary.
Riley Magee
for Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: All’s Well In Hubli
Another big day for Team Belgaum.
We boarded the bus at 8:30 a.m. and headed to our next distribution – 900 bedkits to the children in need in and around Hubli. The distribution was only 10 minutes away from our hotel so we spent very little time on the bus today.
We arrived to a sea of welcoming parents, children and Hubli Rotarians and members of the Inner Wheel as shown in the video at right.
This welcome never gets old – it is always such a wonderful feeling to be able to walk out of the bus and greet as many people as you can before it is time to get to work.
The distribution began roughly at 9:30 a.m., following a ceremony headed by the local Rotarians. The distribution itself took place at a very large school – The N.L.E. Society’s Rotary English Medium Primary School. The stations were spread out, yet organized. The kids change-rooms were inside the classrooms on the main floor. The children were led up the stairs with a snack in hand to one of many classrooms where they waited for their turn to “come on down” and receive their bedkit. Because the school was so large, we worked with the Rotarians to set up a parent gallery so they could watch their kids get their picture taken and receive their bedkit, and then off they would go for the rest of the day.
Although this day was just like any other distribution day –- warm sunny weather, smiling children, grateful parents, and a strong group of volunteers working together for a wonderful cause –- there were always those little moments in between all the hard work that made each day special and unique. Such as today: an eight year old daughter of a Rotarian (pictured at left) was my little helper -- helping me organize the lines, ensuring the children’s ID cards were hidden away in their pockets just before picture time, and helping me entertain the kids while they waited. She was the perfect little helper, a very special person, and a great addition to the SCAW team today.
We wrapped up at around 3:00 p.m. and headed back to our hotel for our first real chance to relax since arriving in the Karnataka area. Tonight, we will spend with our hosts from the Rotary Club of Hubli.
Yes, all is well in Hubli
Tamara Kaftalovich
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Chic Savvy Travels, A Backpacker's Guide for Grown-ups
Post your comments here.
We boarded the bus at 8:30 a.m. and headed to our next distribution – 900 bedkits to the children in need in and around Hubli. The distribution was only 10 minutes away from our hotel so we spent very little time on the bus today.
This welcome never gets old – it is always such a wonderful feeling to be able to walk out of the bus and greet as many people as you can before it is time to get to work.
The distribution began roughly at 9:30 a.m., following a ceremony headed by the local Rotarians. The distribution itself took place at a very large school – The N.L.E. Society’s Rotary English Medium Primary School. The stations were spread out, yet organized. The kids change-rooms were inside the classrooms on the main floor. The children were led up the stairs with a snack in hand to one of many classrooms where they waited for their turn to “come on down” and receive their bedkit. Because the school was so large, we worked with the Rotarians to set up a parent gallery so they could watch their kids get their picture taken and receive their bedkit, and then off they would go for the rest of the day.
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
We wrapped up at around 3:00 p.m. and headed back to our hotel for our first real chance to relax since arriving in the Karnataka area. Tonight, we will spend with our hosts from the Rotary Club of Hubli.
Yes, all is well in Hubli
Tamara Kaftalovich
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Chic Savvy Travels, A Backpacker's Guide for Grown-ups
Post your comments here.
Pune: Another smooth distribution
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| From Pune 2011 |
We started our work by joining in with a parade of children clapping, dancing, playing musical instruments, leading us into the school yard. Some of our team members had the honour of riding in a cart behind an oxen which had been decorated in a myriad of colours for the event. The scaw distribution was a definite cause for celebration in this village!
We joined our Pune Rotarians in welcoming some Business School students who were brought by their teacher to participate in the distribution. These bright and eager students were there to learn about teamwork, about volunteerism, about community involvement, and they were a delightful addition to our International team.
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| From Pune 2011 |
The work went smoothly, the children were happy, a good day had by all!
Debbie Dryden
for Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: 500 Bedkits in Bailhongal
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
By 10:40 a.m. we arrive at the destination site and are greeted by a mass of people. This is a distribution of 500 bedkits so there are at least 1,000 waiting. Our welcome is always emotional and overwhelming for us. We feel the crowd's anticipation and excitement that we are there. Flowers are presented to the team.
We spend time with the parents, children, and young uniformed Cadets who are volunteering their time to assist us. These young people speak some English and want to know about Canada and ask if we like India. The distribution begins and the first children are brought forward for their pictures to be taken. All goes well and the 500th bedkit is presented bringing our total distributed to 2,250 just over half way to the 4000.
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
Into the van and off to lunch. It is 3:50 p.m. The team is delighted to see our hosts have included french fries with our meal! When we are finished there are more handshakes and congratulations on a successful distribution. Back into the van and we are off to Hubli 95 kilometers away. We are told it will take a little over an hour to get there but two-and-a-half hours later we pull into our hotel. It is 7:30 p.m. As we are checking in, a bride, her parent, and her attendants walk through the lobby on her way to be married.
In India, every moment is a picture.
It has been a good day.
Lesley Todd
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Vagabondish, The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond.
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Pune: Rural India
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| From Pune 2011 |
Today we left the "Oxford of India" (Pune's nickname, based on the large number of universities and colleges found in the city) and travelled over seventy kilometers to a very small rural village.
We travelled with the director of education for the region and he was able to fill us in on some of the details of the children. These children do go to school, public school, where classes are large and qualified teachers are few.
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| From Pune 2011 |
When we spoke with the children we told them of the donor's wish for the child "to get a good night's sleep, so that they can be healthy and learn at school." In consultation with the teachers, we also added that we hoped that the bedkit would help the kids go to school EVERY day.
Debbie Dryden
for Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: One thousand in one day
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
The Belgaum Rotary team runs like a well-oiled machine. They have a great system and do double checks on counts and kids along the way. We at SCAW always give out the exact amount of kits on a distribution ... never 999 or 1001 ... our goal for today was 1000 and we succeeded.
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
Sue Orr
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Vagabondish, The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond.
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Belgaum: Harugari and Ugar
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
During the distribution I had the opportunity to talk with some of the parents with the help of an interpreter. I was humbled by their stories, their hardships, and their dedication to provide for their children as best they can. Several of the women were the sole support for the family. They work in the fields or as homemakers in several homes and live in conditions we cannot imagine. Each parent I interviewed said the family all sleeps in one small room on the floor. The bedkit is so important to them for what it adds to their lives. Each item is valued. They were thankful their child was chosen to receive the bedkit but noted many other children were also in need.
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
Following this distribution, we headed to Ugar where we were treated to lunch before the distribution of another 150 bedkits. This distribution was effectively organized by the Ugar Women's Association.
In each distribution, I am struck by the dedication of the volunteers in all our distributions who put in long hours over several months planning the details of the distribution. They are dedicated in their efforts to improve the lives of the people in their community.
As always, smiles on the children continue to be the reward for a long journey and a long hot day!
Jeff Bamford
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Chic Savvy Travels, A Backpacker's Guide for Grown-ups
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Pune: The team has arrived
We just wanted to let you know that the Pune team arrived yesterday in Pune.Unlike yesterday, today we have access to a computer connection - yahoo!
We are doing some touring of the city, seeing Gandhi's National Memorial, and getting ready for tomorrow's distribution of 440 bedkits.
We are happy to be here!
Debbie Dryden
for Team Pune, 2011
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Belgaum: Our first Distribution
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
Seven tired volunteers boarded the bus for a three-hour trip to our first village at Athani where we distributed 350 bedkits. The cheers of the excited children were overwhelming.
After a few magic tricks and song-songs, we settled in and started our distribution. Out of 350 children, forty were orphans.
Everything went smoothly without any hiccups. When done, we packed up our gear and loaded the bus for another two-hour trip to another village called Nipani where we handed out 100 more bedkits. This was the first ever SCAW distribution held in Nipani.
In all, we had a successful and rewarding day.
Vic Wilbee
for Team Belgaum, 2011
More blogging at Vagabondish, The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond.
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Belgaum: Waiting for the first distribution
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
We were invited to several homes where the previously distributed bedkits were proudly displayed and maintained in a pristine fashion. (Pictured at right.) One of the mothers explained that her daughter wore her dress on "special occasions."
We also visited the homes of children who will receive bedkits tomorrow. Nothing I was told could have adequately prepared me for the experience. The huts they live in have no furniture. They sleep on a dirty concrete floor. Up to 10-12 persons share a room 10 by 12 feet.
They basically have nothing. One young boy kept asking me a question that his teacher interpreted for me. he said, " Take me with you to your country." I hope he gets a bedkit tomorrow.
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
The second is where the printing, and packaging of all the written material is undertaken -- again a family business run by three brothers. They work hard for the children and local cottage industry is supported -- yet another benefit of a SCAW donation.
I can't wait for my first distribution tomorrow.
Tom Todd
for Team Belgaum, 2011
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Belgaum: Preparing in Belgaum
The Belgaum Team has arrived safely in Belgaum and we were met by our Friends and Partners from the Rotary Club of Belgaum.
It was a nice ending to Valentines Day. Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
Tomorrow we will visit some recipient homes and factories where some bedkit items are produced. Then we will have our opening meeting with the Rotary Club of Belgaum - the core group who works with us throughout the distributions in the Karnataka area.
Stay tuned.
Duncan Macgregor
for Team Belgaum, 2011
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It was a nice ending to Valentines Day. Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
Tomorrow we will visit some recipient homes and factories where some bedkit items are produced. Then we will have our opening meeting with the Rotary Club of Belgaum - the core group who works with us throughout the distributions in the Karnataka area.
Stay tuned.
Duncan Macgregor
for Team Belgaum, 2011
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Belgaum: The team is in India
"The Belgaum Team arrived safely in Mumbai last evening and will arrive in Belgaum on Monday evening. We are all well - just a little short of sleep."
"Happy Valentines Day!'
"Duncan Macgregor
for Team Belgaum, 2011"
"P.S. Will send our next message after we arrive in Belgaum."
Post your comments here."Happy Valentines Day!'
"Duncan Macgregor
for Team Belgaum, 2011"
"P.S. Will send our next message after we arrive in Belgaum."
Belgaum: The team is off to India
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| From Belgaum 2011 |
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Belgaum: Post your comments here
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