Bangladesh: Madhpur Pabna
Today we were in the Pabna District in the local village of Madhpur. The distribution site was located at a Dhaka Rotarian’s ancestral home where the family also operates a hospital for the local people.
We arrived to a huge celebration. It seemed like the whole village had turned out for the festivities.
The site was decorated with gala banners that might not be out of place at a wedding festival. It was like a sea of blazing colours. We had so many people looking over the walls and visiting the area to see what was happening as we prepared for the bedkit distribution.
We eventually got our bedkit and location set when a workman accidently struck a plastic water line buried three inches underground and flooded the photo area. We picked up the bedkit and moved to higher ground until a solution could be found.
Meanwhile, Sally Jo Martin, Sleeping Children’s resident pied piper, entertained the children in the sweltering heat. Eventually we got underway and moved the 700 children through the process and out to their homes.
The children were smiling happily although they must have felt they had waited hours. After a reception and greetings from the local dignitaries, we had a light Bangladeshi lunch of rice and chicken and then we were on our way for a three-hour drive for a night’s stay before tomorrow’s distribution.
Tomorrow we will pass the halfway point in our trip and will have handed out over 3,000 bedkits.
George Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click to post comments. | Click map for larger view. | Slideshow below
We arrived to a huge celebration. It seemed like the whole village had turned out for the festivities.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
The site was decorated with gala banners that might not be out of place at a wedding festival. It was like a sea of blazing colours. We had so many people looking over the walls and visiting the area to see what was happening as we prepared for the bedkit distribution.
We eventually got our bedkit and location set when a workman accidently struck a plastic water line buried three inches underground and flooded the photo area. We picked up the bedkit and moved to higher ground until a solution could be found.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
Meanwhile, Sally Jo Martin, Sleeping Children’s resident pied piper, entertained the children in the sweltering heat. Eventually we got underway and moved the 700 children through the process and out to their homes.
The children were smiling happily although they must have felt they had waited hours. After a reception and greetings from the local dignitaries, we had a light Bangladeshi lunch of rice and chicken and then we were on our way for a three-hour drive for a night’s stay before tomorrow’s distribution.
Tomorrow we will pass the halfway point in our trip and will have handed out over 3,000 bedkits.
George Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Bangladesh: Isherdi
Whew! It's been four days since arriving in the early morning of last Thursday after a door-to-door twenty-seven hours of travel time. We spent the first day getting organized and getting rid of jetlag and from then on it has been rock and roll travel and distributions.
Three days of travelling to the north west area of Bangladesh, four distributions, 1000 kms and twenty hours on the road and of course 1800 smiling kids with their bedkits. I am tired just writing this!
The distribution today in Isherdi was smooth and fun with the kids dressed and waiting in a large shaded area at a school. Some of the team “warmed up the crowd” with bubbles, Frisbees and Quacker the duck -- while the rest set up.
We did arrive a little late due to -- early in our travels this morning -- running out of fuel due to a faulty gauge. An hour later we were on the move after experiencing another slice of Bangladeshi life on the street: visiting roadside stands, riding rickshaw-vans, and yakking with passers-by.
By late afternoon we arrived in the town we will be doing a distribution in tomorrow so we decided to go to the local street market. What a different way of feeding a town than what we know. Fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and many other products and services are available and all accompanied by a sea of people on the move just feet or in some cases inches away.
And, of course, if we stop, the crowd gathers, looking at the novelty of having big white-skinned people in their midst. Mike and I were hanging out at the front of our hotel tonight and a group of guys just materialized with it ending with me trying to teach them how to finger whistle. Fun was had by all…
Stay tuned for more daily blogs as we travel to three of the four corners of Bangladesh.
Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click to post comments. | Click map for larger view. | Slideshow below
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
Three days of travelling to the north west area of Bangladesh, four distributions, 1000 kms and twenty hours on the road and of course 1800 smiling kids with their bedkits. I am tired just writing this!
The distribution today in Isherdi was smooth and fun with the kids dressed and waiting in a large shaded area at a school. Some of the team “warmed up the crowd” with bubbles, Frisbees and Quacker the duck -- while the rest set up.
We did arrive a little late due to -- early in our travels this morning -- running out of fuel due to a faulty gauge. An hour later we were on the move after experiencing another slice of Bangladeshi life on the street: visiting roadside stands, riding rickshaw-vans, and yakking with passers-by.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
By late afternoon we arrived in the town we will be doing a distribution in tomorrow so we decided to go to the local street market. What a different way of feeding a town than what we know. Fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and many other products and services are available and all accompanied by a sea of people on the move just feet or in some cases inches away.
And, of course, if we stop, the crowd gathers, looking at the novelty of having big white-skinned people in their midst. Mike and I were hanging out at the front of our hotel tonight and a group of guys just materialized with it ending with me trying to teach them how to finger whistle. Fun was had by all…
Stay tuned for more daily blogs as we travel to three of the four corners of Bangladesh.
Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Honduras: The team has arrived
The flight from Toronto to Tegucigalpa was pleasant.
The SCAW Team was met at the airport by most of the hardworking Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa officers and members. Our first destination was the bodega (warehouse) where the bedkits were assembled and stored.
They spoke about the challenges they encountered this year to make the bedkits as attractive and useful to the children as in prior years despite the rising cost of material and labour.
The warehouse was negotiated with the help of a lot people who believed in the wonderful job Sleeping Children does and the dedication of our Rotary partners in bringing smiles to the children. The security of the bedkits were assured with the help of the army.
We are so excited and are looking forward to our first distribution on Monday. Hasta luego.
Linda Taiabjee
for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team
Post comments here.
The SCAW Team was met at the airport by most of the hardworking Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa officers and members. Our first destination was the bodega (warehouse) where the bedkits were assembled and stored.
| Honduras 2011 |
The warehouse was negotiated with the help of a lot people who believed in the wonderful job Sleeping Children does and the dedication of our Rotary partners in bringing smiles to the children. The security of the bedkits were assured with the help of the army.
We are so excited and are looking forward to our first distribution on Monday. Hasta luego.
Linda Taiabjee
for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team
Post comments here.
Bangladesh: Debiganj and Rangpur
Today our day started at 6:00 am as we prepared to reach out to 660 of the neediest children in the northern part of Bangladesh.
Debiganj and Rangpur are two brand new distribution sites that SCAW has never visited before. While travelling for two hours the team was introduced to the Bangladeshi “Gamcha” a head scarf or their local towel.
When we arrived in Debiganj, we were welcomed by 300 wonderful smiles, loud clapping and singing children. We listened to a passionate rendition of a student singing “We Shall Overcome” and then we both shared our national anthems. The SCAW team was given the opportunity to plant two Banyan trees to commemorate their visit. These trees will provide future shade for the 100-year-old school’s courtyard.
After a light thank you lunch we were on our way again for another two-hour trip to reach our next distribution of 360 bedkits in Rangpur.
This distribution took place in an old rice factory which provided us with a real natural setting for the photos. The happy smiling children and their parents were most appreciative of bedkits that had been kindly donated by all the SCAW donors.
A Big Thank You to all our donors! The team is looking forward to another wonderful day of fun and excitement tomorrow.
Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click to post comments.
Click map for larger view.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
Debiganj and Rangpur are two brand new distribution sites that SCAW has never visited before. While travelling for two hours the team was introduced to the Bangladeshi “Gamcha” a head scarf or their local towel.
When we arrived in Debiganj, we were welcomed by 300 wonderful smiles, loud clapping and singing children. We listened to a passionate rendition of a student singing “We Shall Overcome” and then we both shared our national anthems. The SCAW team was given the opportunity to plant two Banyan trees to commemorate their visit. These trees will provide future shade for the 100-year-old school’s courtyard.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
After a light thank you lunch we were on our way again for another two-hour trip to reach our next distribution of 360 bedkits in Rangpur.
This distribution took place in an old rice factory which provided us with a real natural setting for the photos. The happy smiling children and their parents were most appreciative of bedkits that had been kindly donated by all the SCAW donors.
A Big Thank You to all our donors! The team is looking forward to another wonderful day of fun and excitement tomorrow.
Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click map for larger view.
Honduras: Post comments here
As a courtesy, please include your name at the end of your comment.
Bangladesh: First Distribution
The first distribution was completed in Dhaka today with some special bedkit dedications of thanks from the Sleeping Children team to the Rotary Club and others celebrating last year’s team member Danielle Lalonde’s marriage to Masudal Alam.
It was a great start to providing comfort to 6,000 beautiful children in Bangladesh.
We then headed north with the combined Sleeping Children and Rotary team on an eight-hour road trip. Along the way cameras were clicking as we passed brick works, rice paddies, ponds of water hyacinths, overloaded hay wagons with many men perched on top, and, of course, vehicles of all conceivable kinds.
While the bus driver did a minor repair in Bogra we had a great time hanging out with the local kids who loved having their picture taken, thumb wrestling, action games such as ‘head and shoulders knees and toes,’ and all finished off by both national anthems sung with much gusto.
Oh, and of course as you can see in our photo album -- and also in the slide show below -- some team members chewing pan as we try on for size some Bangladeshi experiences.
Stay tuned for more fun tomorrow.
Sally Jo Martin
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Click to post comments. | Click map for larger view. | View slide show below
It was a great start to providing comfort to 6,000 beautiful children in Bangladesh.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
We then headed north with the combined Sleeping Children and Rotary team on an eight-hour road trip. Along the way cameras were clicking as we passed brick works, rice paddies, ponds of water hyacinths, overloaded hay wagons with many men perched on top, and, of course, vehicles of all conceivable kinds.
While the bus driver did a minor repair in Bogra we had a great time hanging out with the local kids who loved having their picture taken, thumb wrestling, action games such as ‘head and shoulders knees and toes,’ and all finished off by both national anthems sung with much gusto.
Oh, and of course as you can see in our photo album -- and also in the slide show below -- some team members chewing pan as we try on for size some Bangladeshi experiences.
Stay tuned for more fun tomorrow.
Sally Jo Martin
for Bangladesh Team 2011
Bangladesh: The Canadian team has arrived
We arrived early this morning and the neat thing is too get initial reactions from the team members that have not been to Dhaka before.
The photos in our Photo Album and quotes below tell the story of the market and street walk about and the initial meeting with the Rotary Club of Dhaka’s Sleeping Children’s (Overseas Volunteer Organization) committee.
The impressions: are:
Dhaka is a city so different than one we are used to with 15 million citizens living with very high density land use.
Doug MacDougald
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
The photos in our Photo Album and quotes below tell the story of the market and street walk about and the initial meeting with the Rotary Club of Dhaka’s Sleeping Children’s (Overseas Volunteer Organization) committee.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
The impressions: are:
- “Amazingly friendly people just wanting to interact, find out where we were from, use a Canadian flag pin as their earring and have their picture taken – all without any expectation of money - interesting and refreshing.”
- “We are in the best part of the city and the crumbling infrastructure or lack of it is surprising – power outages numerous times a day are the norm.”
- “The Rotarian members are passionate and committed about Sleeping Children. They welcomed us at the airport at 4 AM and are friendly and inclusive to the new members of the team”
 |
| Click here to view our Bangladesh 2011 Photo Album |
Dhaka is a city so different than one we are used to with 15 million citizens living with very high density land use.
Doug MacDougald
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
Bangladesh: Trying to pack
I should be packing but instead am trying to get creative with our team photo since the team is a little more unusual this year with one member already in Bangladesh.
In the photo at right is Bangladesh Team 2011: Danielle Lalonde (Honorary Member), Sally Jo Martin, Doug MacDougald (Team Leader), George Foster, MichaelGraves, Else Graves, Mike Foster. Click to see a larger version.
Mike Foster, whom I have teamed with in Bangladesh the last two years, is now a private school principal in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been there since the summer, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Dhaka our Overseas Volunteer Organization (OVO). He is helping with both ends of a SCAW distribution ... how cool is that!
See if you can find Mike in my other creative version of the team photo in the 2011 Bangladesh Photo Album.
And on another wonderful note, Danielle Lalonde from last year's team, although not officially on the Bangladesh Team 2011, is our honorary team member since she is now living in Dhaka. Masud, a the long time Rotary SCAW project leader, and Danielle are planning their wedding reception for family and friends and this occurs at the end of the distribution. True love happened last year on the Sleeping Children Bangladesh distribution. Congratulations, Danielle and Masud.
To introduce the rest of the team: Michael and Else Graves are the rookies but world travellers and will fit in very well with travelling this year to three of the four corners of Bangladesh! Sally Jo Martin has been an office and travelling Sleeping Children volunteer for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. George Foster (Mike's brother) and I were Sleeping Children rookies several years ago in Mumbai, India, and shared a wonderfully formative experience together.
What a team -- and we are ready to get there and deliver 6,000 bedkits to 6,000 kids.
Doug MacDougald
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
Mike Foster, whom I have teamed with in Bangladesh the last two years, is now a private school principal in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has been there since the summer, and is a member of the Rotary Club of Dhaka our Overseas Volunteer Organization (OVO). He is helping with both ends of a SCAW distribution ... how cool is that!
See if you can find Mike in my other creative version of the team photo in the 2011 Bangladesh Photo Album.
And on another wonderful note, Danielle Lalonde from last year's team, although not officially on the Bangladesh Team 2011, is our honorary team member since she is now living in Dhaka. Masud, a the long time Rotary SCAW project leader, and Danielle are planning their wedding reception for family and friends and this occurs at the end of the distribution. True love happened last year on the Sleeping Children Bangladesh distribution. Congratulations, Danielle and Masud.
To introduce the rest of the team: Michael and Else Graves are the rookies but world travellers and will fit in very well with travelling this year to three of the four corners of Bangladesh! Sally Jo Martin has been an office and travelling Sleeping Children volunteer for many years and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. George Foster (Mike's brother) and I were Sleeping Children rookies several years ago in Mumbai, India, and shared a wonderfully formative experience together.
What a team -- and we are ready to get there and deliver 6,000 bedkits to 6,000 kids.
Doug MacDougald
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
Bangladesh: Final Preparations
Final Preparations of the Bedkits for the Bangladesh 2011 Distribution:
The Rotary Club of Dhaka completes the final preparations of the 6000 bedkits that will be distributed at the end of October.
All of the bedkits have now been packed and sorted and are ready to be shipped to the various parts of Bangladesh that will be visited when the team arrives from Canada on October 20th.
The SCAW team will be visiting the north-west, north-east and south-west areas of Bangladesh this year as we travel to the poorest areas to help the children. Please watch for the blogs and map showing our profession.
The warehouse team shown in the picture above and in the pictures in the Bangladesh 2011 Photo Album are the unsung heros of a distribution and do tremendous work in hot conditions. They are showing some of the items that will be part of this year's bedkit.
The Rotary Club of Dhaka is waiting anxiously for the the SCAW team to arrive so the distribution can begin.
Mike Foster
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
The Rotary Club of Dhaka completes the final preparations of the 6000 bedkits that will be distributed at the end of October.
 |
| From Bangladesh 2011 |
All of the bedkits have now been packed and sorted and are ready to be shipped to the various parts of Bangladesh that will be visited when the team arrives from Canada on October 20th.
The SCAW team will be visiting the north-west, north-east and south-west areas of Bangladesh this year as we travel to the poorest areas to help the children. Please watch for the blogs and map showing our profession.
The warehouse team shown in the picture above and in the pictures in the Bangladesh 2011 Photo Album are the unsung heros of a distribution and do tremendous work in hot conditions. They are showing some of the items that will be part of this year's bedkit.
The Rotary Club of Dhaka is waiting anxiously for the the SCAW team to arrive so the distribution can begin.
Mike Foster
for the Banlgadesh 2011 Team
Post comments here.
Bangladesh: Post comments here
As a courtesy, please include your name at the bottom of your comment(s).
Nicaragua: The last distribution
We're Done!
Our final distribution day started with an overnight thunderstorm and torrential rain.
Fortunately, not long after we arrived at a church in La Chureca, the sky cleared.
This is a location in an inner city area of Managua. We had lots of helpers to make the distribution run smoothly.
Several children were brought to the site in wheelchairs and the volunteers carried the chairs up the stairs to a stage where the photos were taken.
Today's total was 652 bedkits, 652 happy children and families, and 5,000 children sleeping better in Nicaragua.
Judy Dryden
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Our final distribution day started with an overnight thunderstorm and torrential rain.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Fortunately, not long after we arrived at a church in La Chureca, the sky cleared.
This is a location in an inner city area of Managua. We had lots of helpers to make the distribution run smoothly.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Several children were brought to the site in wheelchairs and the volunteers carried the chairs up the stairs to a stage where the photos were taken.
Today's total was 652 bedkits, 652 happy children and families, and 5,000 children sleeping better in Nicaragua.
Including the 5,000 bedkits delivered
in Nicaragua this year, our total is
now 1,178,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
in Nicaragua this year, our total is
now 1,178,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
Judy Dryden
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Chiquilistagua
Today our distribution of 542 bedkits took place at Mino Jesus de Praga school.
It was very hot and humid but everyone worked well together.
Three young girls, having discovered that we were from Canada, handed me a note to be delivered to Justin Bieber. The translated note said “We ask you to say hi to Justin and tell him we are his fans.” Who would have guessed that in this far away land in an inner city school that our Justin would be recognized?
They also said on the same note. “Thank you for all your help you are giving us today. God Bless you.” Signed by ten young girls from Jesus de Praga school.
Jean Bennett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
It was very hot and humid but everyone worked well together.
Three young girls, having discovered that we were from Canada, handed me a note to be delivered to Justin Bieber. The translated note said “We ask you to say hi to Justin and tell him we are his fans.” Who would have guessed that in this far away land in an inner city school that our Justin would be recognized?
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
They also said on the same note. “Thank you for all your help you are giving us today. God Bless you.” Signed by ten young girls from Jesus de Praga school.
Jean Bennett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Las Mercedes
A 6:45 a.m. departure got us to our destination of Las Mercedes by 8 a.m. where we distributed bedkits to children from Las Mercedes School and two neighboring schools. Las Mercedes is an independent school near the airport for the children of workers of the duty free industries who manufacture items that are exported and are not for sale in Nicaragua.
Workers in this industry get paid between $6 and $7 per day and the school is funded mostly by the duty free industries themselves.
The distribution today was particularly well organized thanks to Rodrigo from the Rotary Club and Candida, the Director of the school who were in charge. Many of the parents chipped in to help as volunteers making sure the children were dressed, assembled and taken through the picture-taking process.
All the children received a sandwich and a drink before the left for home with their bedkits.
All the SCAW volunteers today were busy exchanging high fives with the children and sharing different forms of the five-part handshake with them as they proceeded through the process. At the end, two of the girls presented Mike with a piece of paper in their own handwriting complete with hearts, which read:
Today we distributed 651 bedkits, the highest number to date, and were back to the hotel by 3:45 in plenty of time for a highly anticipated dip in the pool before dinner.
All is still well!
Greg O’Neill
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Workers in this industry get paid between $6 and $7 per day and the school is funded mostly by the duty free industries themselves.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
All the children received a sandwich and a drink before the left for home with their bedkits.
All the SCAW volunteers today were busy exchanging high fives with the children and sharing different forms of the five-part handshake with them as they proceeded through the process. At the end, two of the girls presented Mike with a piece of paper in their own handwriting complete with hearts, which read:
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
“Para Ti QueremosSigned by Julisa and Andrea, which I am told translates to read:
Ti de Nicaragua”
“We love youAt the end of the distribution we were all feted by the school to a delicious lunch of home made cannelloni, rice, and a salad of avocadoes, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and peppers.
From Nicaragua”
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
 |
| All the photos are in the Nicaragua 2011 Photo Album |
All is still well!
Greg O’Neill
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Sri Lanka: Final Day
Mission accomplished ~ four thousand bedkits presented!
Traveling into remote north/north central villages, it was our privilege, on behalf of the donors, to help change the lives of four thousand very beautiful children.
Along the way we have visited small village homes; interviewed parents, grandparents, and bedkit recipients; trekked through the jungle to see the somewhat elusive elephants; enjoyed children of different cultures performing traditional dances; were honoured to participate in the friendship oil lamp lighting ceremony each morning; tried many varieties of Sri Lankan food and were truly humbled as we entered each distribution site behind a marching band.
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Kelaniya Team Sri Lanka has once again played a small part in helping to fulfill the Drydens’ dream.
Changing our hats now to ‘tourists,’ we will spend the next few days exploring Sri Lanka before we are back to Colombo for meetings with Rotarians and a final evening together before flying home.
Another amazing adventure!!
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
Traveling into remote north/north central villages, it was our privilege, on behalf of the donors, to help change the lives of four thousand very beautiful children.
Along the way we have visited small village homes; interviewed parents, grandparents, and bedkit recipients; trekked through the jungle to see the somewhat elusive elephants; enjoyed children of different cultures performing traditional dances; were honoured to participate in the friendship oil lamp lighting ceremony each morning; tried many varieties of Sri Lankan food and were truly humbled as we entered each distribution site behind a marching band.
Including the 4,000 bedkits delivered
in Sri Lanka this year, our total is
now 1,173,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
in Sri Lanka this year, our total is
now 1,173,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Kelaniya Team Sri Lanka has once again played a small part in helping to fulfill the Drydens’ dream.
Changing our hats now to ‘tourists,’ we will spend the next few days exploring Sri Lanka before we are back to Colombo for meetings with Rotarians and a final evening together before flying home.
Another amazing adventure!!
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Colegio Cristiano de Padul
Change is the main constant on SCAW distributions.
Day 8 was no exception in this regard. Judy and Maria and Rodriguo were busy making the adjustments necessary to maintain our on-site effectiveness.
Our schedule this day involved making our way to Colegio Cristiano de Padul (private school) for a distribution of 250 bedkits arranged by Maria of Managua (Rotary) with the school principal, Rosemary. The staff and children were delightful.
We were even entertained by a brother and sister dance duo, as well as an older female foursome.
The school and its teachers are doing an excellent job; as witnessed by the attitude of the kids: they were cheerful, playful, gregarious and most of all, very appreciative.
One of the highlights was meeting a pair of teachers who had come from New Hampshire. Sponsored by their church they had been teaching in the school for several years.
Fluently bilingual it was wonderful to meet such dedicated people who obviously got great satisfaction out of helping the children too!
Mike Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Day 8 was no exception in this regard. Judy and Maria and Rodriguo were busy making the adjustments necessary to maintain our on-site effectiveness.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Our schedule this day involved making our way to Colegio Cristiano de Padul (private school) for a distribution of 250 bedkits arranged by Maria of Managua (Rotary) with the school principal, Rosemary. The staff and children were delightful.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
We were even entertained by a brother and sister dance duo, as well as an older female foursome.
The school and its teachers are doing an excellent job; as witnessed by the attitude of the kids: they were cheerful, playful, gregarious and most of all, very appreciative.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
One of the highlights was meeting a pair of teachers who had come from New Hampshire. Sponsored by their church they had been teaching in the school for several years.
Fluently bilingual it was wonderful to meet such dedicated people who obviously got great satisfaction out of helping the children too!
Mike Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Leon
A very early start this morning ... 5.45 a.m. ... with a stop in a typical rural finca/farm restaurant after we left the city ... with onions on a tortilla with a creamy cheese sauce ... a common breakfast for many people in Nicaragua.
We drove to the city of Leon, the second largest city in this country with the large and beautiful cathedral in the centre which was constructed in 1749.
Our distribution was in a combined orphanage and school. There are forty children living full time in the orphanage, and many many more attending the school itself — from little ones to high school students ... ready to go onwards.
When we arrived some of the children were at a chapel service. We heard them singing several songs in tunes that we know ... including a bit, I think, of Leonard Cohen's Alleluia.
After more than four hundred children received bedkits, we headed for lunch in the mid afternoon after a short drive to the Pacific Ocean to a very pleasant seaside restaurant where the waves crashed into the sands immediately beside the dining tables. One rogue wave, in fact, washed right up around the diners' feet but the food was still very good.
So many children with new bedkits ... and we had a good day too ... with a final stop to look inside the big cathedral.
Click any photo to see a larger version.
Bev White
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Our distribution was in a combined orphanage and school. There are forty children living full time in the orphanage, and many many more attending the school itself — from little ones to high school students ... ready to go onwards.
When we arrived some of the children were at a chapel service. We heard them singing several songs in tunes that we know ... including a bit, I think, of Leonard Cohen's Alleluia.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
After more than four hundred children received bedkits, we headed for lunch in the mid afternoon after a short drive to the Pacific Ocean to a very pleasant seaside restaurant where the waves crashed into the sands immediately beside the dining tables. One rogue wave, in fact, washed right up around the diners' feet but the food was still very good.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
So many children with new bedkits ... and we had a good day too ... with a final stop to look inside the big cathedral.
|
| All the photos are in the Nicaragua 2011 Photo Album |
Click any photo to see a larger version.
Bev White
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Sri Lanka: Day 6
Today's distribution was half an hour from our hotel. The sun was already blazing in the sky when we arrived.
The school was a much smaller than yesterday and the one-storey pale pink buildings were spread out around a huge reddish brown sandy, grassless field.
The children and parents were gathered in a small narrow auditorium at the beginning. Each day during the welcome exercises it has been delightful to listen to young people deliver a speech in English welcoming us. By 10:30 we had found our photo site. Not in a dark hall this time but out in the barren open play area.There was a bit of shade at the front of the classrooms tto shelter the waiting children. The was now blazing hot and the temperatures were in the mid 40's when we started. Water bottles were constantly being replenished . The water was so hot we could have added a tea bag to it.
We moved quickly to take the photos and get the children out of the sun. More than one child did not look up at Ted for the photo as their eyes were fixated on the bedkit in front of them.Others grabbed our hands and repeatedly said thank you in English.
One child had tears rolling down her cheeks. 603 children filed patiently through the process today. 603 little voices said carefully in their only words of English THANK YOU. IT was worth every bit of sun a,sweat and heat to see them so happy.
I'm rushing this as the hydro keeps going off.
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
The school was a much smaller than yesterday and the one-storey pale pink buildings were spread out around a huge reddish brown sandy, grassless field.
The children and parents were gathered in a small narrow auditorium at the beginning. Each day during the welcome exercises it has been delightful to listen to young people deliver a speech in English welcoming us. By 10:30 we had found our photo site. Not in a dark hall this time but out in the barren open play area.There was a bit of shade at the front of the classrooms tto shelter the waiting children. The was now blazing hot and the temperatures were in the mid 40's when we started. Water bottles were constantly being replenished . The water was so hot we could have added a tea bag to it.
We moved quickly to take the photos and get the children out of the sun. More than one child did not look up at Ted for the photo as their eyes were fixated on the bedkit in front of them.Others grabbed our hands and repeatedly said thank you in English.
One child had tears rolling down her cheeks. 603 children filed patiently through the process today. 603 little voices said carefully in their only words of English THANK YOU. IT was worth every bit of sun a,sweat and heat to see them so happy.
I'm rushing this as the hydro keeps going off.
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
Sri Lanka: Day 5
Today's distribution began on the third floor of a very large school with a student population of over 800 children.
Our welcome began with the presentation of lovely floral leis, followed by six young Tamil girls doing a typical national dance.
After welcome speeches, the SCAW team humorously demonstrated the contents of the bedkit with Ron playing the child in his new bed and Chris as a mosquito trying to get him through the net. The children and parents loved it and we had smiles from the children when picture-taking time arrived.
On seeing the last of the 589 children off, we were treated to a Sri Lankan lunch before we boarded our bus.
The army personnel helping us today were eager to show us more of Sri Lanka. We passed areas were they have been aiding displaced citizens to resettle and then on through a jungle area to a steep rock area -- the Nandi Mithra Rock which is 500 feet high.
We climbed the steep rock face and were rewarded with a fabulous view of the jungle and lake area that was near our distribution site. Off in the distance as the sun began to set, we could see a small herd of elephants having a drink at the waters edge. They looked like little dots from our hilltop.
What more could one ask for the end of a great distribution day. We gave bedkits to 589 wonderful children and somehow we too were given a wonderful gift in return.
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
 |
| From Sri Lanka 2011 |
After welcome speeches, the SCAW team humorously demonstrated the contents of the bedkit with Ron playing the child in his new bed and Chris as a mosquito trying to get him through the net. The children and parents loved it and we had smiles from the children when picture-taking time arrived.
On seeing the last of the 589 children off, we were treated to a Sri Lankan lunch before we boarded our bus.
 |
| From Sri Lanka 2011 |
We climbed the steep rock face and were rewarded with a fabulous view of the jungle and lake area that was near our distribution site. Off in the distance as the sun began to set, we could see a small herd of elephants having a drink at the waters edge. They looked like little dots from our hilltop.
What more could one ask for the end of a great distribution day. We gave bedkits to 589 wonderful children and somehow we too were given a wonderful gift in return.
Team Sri Lanka 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Day 7 -- "Pay it Forward"
This morning we toured the various factories to witness the production of the bedkit items. First stop, was the mattress factory.
There were 5000 mattresses produced in an area about 300 square feet -- 100 of those were consumed with the stuffing, 100 out in the open air with a sewing machine to seam the bags and the third 100 square feet held a table to assemble the bag.
First, the bag is stuffed with 22 lb. of new, clean remnant material pieces. I was most impressed with the dexterity of the young man who tufted the mattress by stitching through both sides and then knotting the tuft into place. His hands moved with machine-like precision.
We saw the production of the T-shirts and shorts at another stop.
Some 900 T-shirts are produced in a day and I counted seven people working on the production line. We watched the process of neck ribbing, sleeve making, attaching the sleeves and label, trimming the threads, and then folding and packaging ready for delivery.
We also visited the place where the pillow slips, sheets, and towels were produced. It was here we met Marta, the establishment owner. We discovered that Marta uses the money that Sleeping Children pays her to work with a local parish priest, and she pays for a breakfast for 700 needy children on the 24th of December.
Such a wonderful story to end our day of factory visits.
Marg Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
There were 5000 mattresses produced in an area about 300 square feet -- 100 of those were consumed with the stuffing, 100 out in the open air with a sewing machine to seam the bags and the third 100 square feet held a table to assemble the bag.
First, the bag is stuffed with 22 lb. of new, clean remnant material pieces. I was most impressed with the dexterity of the young man who tufted the mattress by stitching through both sides and then knotting the tuft into place. His hands moved with machine-like precision.
We saw the production of the T-shirts and shorts at another stop.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Some 900 T-shirts are produced in a day and I counted seven people working on the production line. We watched the process of neck ribbing, sleeve making, attaching the sleeves and label, trimming the threads, and then folding and packaging ready for delivery.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
Such a wonderful story to end our day of factory visits.
|
| Have a look at our photo album. Nicaragua 2011 |
Marg Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Nicaragua: Day 5 -- Granada
Play time!
Today’s distribution was in the beautiful town of Granada. The site was a former school, now a senior citizens’ residence. The Rotarians of Managua and Granada worked together to keep the distribution running smoothly.
The children’s arrival schedule was staggered to prevent long line-ups. As a result, we were able to spend more time playing with the children. Out came the bubble containers. Puppets “Tortuga” the turtle and “Shredder” the hamster were pressed into service, and Marg led the waiting children in a rousing version of “If You’re Happy And You Know It.”
It was hard to tell who had more fun -- the children or the SCAW team.
After the distribution we had some time for sightseeing with the company of our Rotary partners.
Judy Dryden
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.
Today’s distribution was in the beautiful town of Granada. The site was a former school, now a senior citizens’ residence. The Rotarians of Managua and Granada worked together to keep the distribution running smoothly.
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
The children’s arrival schedule was staggered to prevent long line-ups. As a result, we were able to spend more time playing with the children. Out came the bubble containers. Puppets “Tortuga” the turtle and “Shredder” the hamster were pressed into service, and Marg led the waiting children in a rousing version of “If You’re Happy And You Know It.”
 |
| From Nicaragua 2011 |
It was hard to tell who had more fun -- the children or the SCAW team.
After the distribution we had some time for sightseeing with the company of our Rotary partners.
|
| Have a look at our photo album. Nicaragua 2011 |
Judy Dryden
for Team Nicaragua 2011
Leave comments here.