Belgaum: Yellapur

Four happy children and their parents wait patiently for their ride home (30-40 km) after the children have received their bed kits and have been fed at the Brahmakumaris Centre for Spiritual Learning (our distribution site in Yellapur).

300 bedkits distributed today with another 300 to go tomorrow to reach 4,500.

From Belgaum 2012

After travelling 60 km from Hubli to Yellapur, we were greeted with such emotional sights and sounds. As we turned into the gates of the courtyard of the Spiritual Mediation Centre we were facing our SCAW team photos on huge welcome banners. Then the young Boy Scout band of cymbals, bugles, trumpets and drums played for us. We were escorted up a long palm tree lined driveway filled with parents and dignitaries until we arrived at the great hall to receive a blessing and lotus flowers. Amazing! We could also see the many anxious children hidden amongst the trees to keep cool.

With the temperatures in the mid-30s, we distributed bedkits to 300 very thankful boys and girls. On our way back to Hubli from a long day in the sun, we saw some of the children in the village streets who had received bedkits and they were wearing their new floral patterned dresses.

From Belgaum 2012

We also passed a truck on the highway that had bedkits strapped to the top of it and parents hanging on to the sides of the vehicle as it carried them back to their distant village. Despite having had to travel many miles to get the bedkits, the children and their families will have a good sleep tonight.

Marg Goodchild,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Belgaum: Hubli

Our “bus time” today was minimal. After a short drive through a fairly quiet city on a Sunday morning, we arrived at the school where today’s distribution was to be held. The backdrop for the photos was carefully and beautifully crafted by the wife of the Hubli SCAW chairman with roses, plants and large paper plant cutouts. The SCAW team was blessed; each person received a red dot and a grain of rice on their forehead as well as a brightly coloured garland placed around their neck. After admiring from afar the wonderful decorations draped on the tractors we had passed during our travels this past week, Larry was finally able to begin his collection for his tractor when he gets back home.

The children today were quite excited and looked so beautiful, or handsome, in their new clothes. One little boy was so happy to get a new shirt that he began jumping up and down as soon as it was on him. His mother could hardly do up the buttons.

A highlight of the day was getting the group of deaf children and the children from the eco-orphanage ready for their photos. Each little deaf boy carried a small square receiver in his shirt pocket to enhance his hearing. Although they must have felt overwhelmed and confused, these boys were so proud to be receiving their bedkit. Later, just after the distribution had ended, I watched the children from the orphanage pile their bedkits into the back of a small truck before climbing in on top of them for the ride back home. I will never forget their goodbye wave and their smiles of pure joy.

Larry Kell,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team



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Belgaum: Hubli

Nine happy children are being driven back to their village after receiving bedkits in Hubli. The smiles say “Thanks to SCAW Donors for the Gift of Sleep.”

From Belgaum 2012

What is SCAW’s impact in India? There are over 22,000 bedkits being distributed here during the months of January and February this year. That may seem like a lot but we are just scratching the surface of the number of families here who would love to be the beneficiary of a bedkit.

Today the SCAW team worked with the Rotary Club of Hubli and their families to distribute 900 bedkits to deserving children. Similar to other distributions, the children were selected from the surrounding villages based on need and the recommendation of their teachers. Today though, they also came from an eco-orphanage which is located in the jungle about 30 kms from Hubli. There were also children who were physically challenged, hearing impaired, and a number of them with visual difficulties.

These children would be brought to the distribution and carried or escorted by a parent or guardian until they reached the location where we were taking the pictures. The parent would then wait patiently until the picture was taken, which could take some time depending on the number of children in the photo. The child would then be taken to the place where the bedkit was being given out and the local Rotarians would ensure that the bedkit was carried for them out to awaiting transportation to take the child home. Usually the transportation would be a motorized rickshaw or small pickup truck. One that we saw had 11 bedkits and children in the back of the pickup, all of whom felt blessed for having been given the rare privilege of getting a bedkit. The cab was crammed with five adults and the driver but they were used to travelling like that.

From Belgaum 2012

Afterward, we were invited to the Hubli Gymkhana Club by the Rotarians to share a bite and discuss how the distribution went. Considering the number of bedkits involved and the work that had gone into planning the distribution, all of their hard work paid off. The Rotary Club president and the chairman of this year’s distribution committee were quick to ask us whether we would be back again next year. Ideas were exchanged about the distribution and how it was conducted. For most of this year’s team, they would not be back. Since I will be taking over from ‘Mr. Duncan,’ (boy do I have big shoes to fill), I said so long to them until next year.

So what is the impact of SCAW in India? It is considerable and one that the SCAW overseas volunteers and bedkit recipients hope will continue to grow.

Bill Sergeant,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Chennai: Mission Accomplished

We received word today that the final members of the Chennai travelling team arrived back in Canada today at noon safe and sound after completing their distribution in India.

Including the 6,000 bedkits delivered by the Chennai team this year, our total is now 1,206,630 bedkits since Sleeping Children began in 1970.

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Belgaum: Bailhongal

We delivered 500 bed kits in Bailhongal and had lots of volunteer help from the cadet corp. This brings our total distribution to 3,000 with 1,500 to go!

From Belgaum 2012

After spending the last seven days based out of our hotel in Belgaum, while doing bedkit distributions in the Belgaum district, we packed our bags and headed down the highway to Hubli. On the way, we stopped in Bailhongal to distribute another 500 bedkits. Wow! Three thousand bedkits; it seems hard to believe that we have already distributed two-thirds of the bedkits for this trip.

From Belgaum 2012

As usual, the Belgaum and Bailhongal Rotary teams were well prepared and with the assistance of many volunteers, and especially the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets (Shown in today's photos.). We are certain that another 500 deserving children and their families will sleep better tonight.

As we keep finding out when we do parent/guardian interviews, it is not just the children but also the caregivers who are overwhelmed by the amount of essentials provided in the bedkits. These families will be able to improve their chances for a better life through the gifts provided by the donors to SCAW. The backpacks and school supplies were most often mentioned as the most appreciated items.

I could not help but look into the eyes of the children today, as we were “lining them up” for the pictures and wonder who will this person become. I give thanks that SCAW could be a part of their lives and that people from all walks of life, all around the world, do care.

The Inner Wheel Club of Bailhongal Rotary banner hanging up at the distribution site says it all, “THINK AHEAD – AIM HIGH.”

Larry Kell,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Belgaum: Big Day

Our team had a request to take a picture of 40 children! Here is our team Leader preparing the group of 40. It was the BIGGEST picture ever taken in the Belgaum distribution.

From Belgaum 2012

1,000 bedkits were distributed in Belgaum, the home area for our Overseas Volunteer Organization (OVO), The Rotary Club of Belgaum.

From Belgaum 2012

This well-oiled Rotary machine made our job of distributing 1,000 bedkits easy!

This brings our total to 2,500 bedkits with another 2,000 to be distributed over the next four days. The children came from as far away as 50 km outside the city.

When one of our Rotarians was asked if all the 1,000 children chosen to receive the bedkits actually showed up at the distribution to receive their Gift of Sleep, he said that all 1,000 appeared because they knew from previous recipients in the Belgaum area just how valuable the bedkit would be to them.

From Belgaum 2012

So, our hats are off to the members of The Rotary Club of Belgaum for another successful distribution. And, just to top it all off, we took a picture of 40 children for an “In Memorial” donor (usually group pictures go up to ten children).

Tonight, our SCAW Team attends the regular Friday night meeting of The Rotary Club of Belgaum and it will be a celebration for sure!

Just to put the cherry on top of the sundae, several members of The Rotary Club of Belgaum will be attending The Pinehurst Club breakfast in Toronto on May 9th!

Duncan Macgregor,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Belgaum: First Timers

This was our first distribution at Ramdurg and there were 200 happy children bringing our total to 1,500 bedkits out of 4,500.

From Belgaum 2012

Upon leaving the Hotel Eefa this morning at 8:30 a.m., I surely did not anticipate all of the pure joy we would have participating with the Rotary Club of Ramdurg in their very successful distribution of 200 bedkits to the children from the surrounding villages within a 20 km radius.

Hats off to the Rotary Club members, the Inner Wheel women, the Rotractors from the local business college, and the children of the area. The children will sleep well tonight because of your generous donations towards the ‘gifts’ that we handed out to each child.

Before leaving the community, where poverty was visible everywhere, our bus driver took us to visit a local school where his sister was a teacher. We were swamped by very eager children, some of whom had just received a bedkit from us a few hours earlier. They all wanted to speak with us and shake our hands as if we were rock stars. I am sure that they did not accomplish much school work for the rest of the day.

From Belgaum 2012

I cannot end this blog without briefly mentioning how our evening ended in Belgaum. Their Rotary members invited us to visit the only public swimming pool in Belgaum, a city of 4.5 million people. The pool was built and run by the Rotary Club and every February their club runs a swimming camp for special needs children each evening, including lessons for blind and severely challenged children, all for free. We were able to observe this directly while we were there. Our hearts were opened and tears shed as we met them and watched the joy they experienced “coming together at the pool”.We were honoured to meet three local young men who have won gold medals at national swim competitions as well as at international ones. Look out Canadians!

The firsts that we experienced today will be with us for a lifetime!

Marg Goodchild,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Pune: Distribution Completed

From Pune 2012

The past few days have been a whirlwind of activity.

Many smiling faces, many laughs shared with newly forged friends, many miles travelled, and many wonderful memories formed.

We have now completed the distribution of 5,000 bedkits to the children of Pune, India. The last day was bittersweet - we are tired and happy to see our work completed, sad to know that our time here is coming to the end and there are still many more children in India who are not living with the same rights and privileges as our children at home in Canada.

From Pune 2012

Tonight we are attending the wrap up banquet with the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonement, and tomorrow we are again hitting the road to visit the homes of former recipients.

Team Pune 2012

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Including the 5,000 bedkits delivered
in Pune this year, our total is
now 1,200,630 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.

Pune: Final Days

As published by the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonment.

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Dear Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome the SCAW team led by Debbie along with her team comprising of Sieg, Anne, Suzanne, Beth, Irene and Elaine, who are amongst us this evening, to celebrate with us the distribution of 5000 Kits this year. On behalf of the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonment, I thank SCAW for giving us this opportunity to give joy and happiness to children in and around Pune by distributing Sleeping Kits to them, year after year.

The Project this year commenced with the packing of the kits on 29th January and 5th February, followed by the distribution at seven centres namely, Rasta Peth on 7th Feb., Ghargaon on the 10th, Hiwargaon on the 11th, Abitkhind on the 12th, Belapur on the 13th, Loni on the 14th and Lingdeo on 15th February.

I hereby make special reference of Mr.Ghule and Mr. Mujawar and thank both of them and their respective team of teachers and other staff members for giving us full support and assistance and for standing by our side during the entire Project. They helped us identify the beneficiaries and ensured that at all times we had sufficient volunteers to help us pack and distribute the Kits in their respective areas. The warm welcome that was given to us at each distribution center will also remain with us forever.

Friends, I take this opportunity to applaud the fantastic work done by Chairperson PP Aloysius, Rtn. Pankaj and President Nominee Sameer in planning, implementing and executing this Project along with PP Vilas, President Elect Fanash, Rtn.Rajesh, PP Nisar etc. PP Aloysius and his team have worked extremely hard for the past several months, first identifying the beneficiaries, thereafter visiting the schools for verification, ordering the supplies, arranging for the warehouses and other transport facilities, scheduling the packing and distributions of the Kits and taking care of all other necessary details.

I also thank the Rotary Club of Poona North for joining us and contributing towards the distribution of Kits in Loni and the Rotary Club of Poona Downtown for contributing towards the distribution of Kits in Lingdeo. I also acknowledge the contribution of the members of our Club and the Annes on the various days of packing and distribution.

Belgaum: Nipani

Andrea Tynan interviewing a parent with the help of an interpreter.

“Every mother loves her child”

Today was our Nipani distribution – only the second one for this Rotary Club. My task today was to do the interviews of the mothers. This is a very valuable tool for SCAW to evaluate the merits of the bedkit from the recipient’s perspective.

Marg Goodchild is shown with the last child to receive a bedkit in the 400 bedkit distribution in Nipani. This brings the Belgaum total to 1,300 with 3,200 to go.

I randomly chose four mothers to interview – each one as gracious as the next. I tried, through the interpreter, to help the mother feel relaxed and impress upon her the importance of her input regarding the bedkit, telling her that SCAW wishes to make the bedkit as useful as possible for the recipient and his or her family.

In the Belgaum distribution, the girls' dresses and frocks and the boys' shirts and short pants are made by Ramesh (far left) and his family company. It takes them 6 months to fulfill the SCAW order placed by the Rotary Club of Belgaum. But that’s not all! Ramesh is present at each distribution site to check to ensure that each child receives the correct size of clothing and to handle any quality issues. Thanks, Ramesh, for going “above and beyond the call of duty” for our bedkit recipients. From Belgaum 2012 Photo Album

One question on the questionnaire is, “How did they get to the distribution today?” This mother told me that she and five other mothers from her village rented a vehicle to get them to the distribution site because the bus service is unreliable and that they did not want to miss the distribution.

These women were farm labourers who gave up their day’s pay of 40 Rupees ($0.80) to come and collect their gift of the bedkit for a better future for their child.

Andrea Tynan,
Team Belgaum 2012

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Belgaum: Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day from Team Belgaum!

From Belgaum 2012

Today we travelled to two different distribution sites. It was ideal for a farm boy from Ontario. We spent several hours on the roads to reach our destination and the trip featured wildly decorated tractors hauling large loads of sugar cane. It was a very entertaining journey.

We saw many fields of sugar cane, which appears to be the major crop produced in the area. Interspersed amidst that crop was sorghum, barley, corn, wheat, cotton, palm trees, and grapes. The intensity of the farming and the care given to the land was amazing.

Larry Kell,
Team Belgaum 2012

From Belgaum 2012

A day filled with two very successful bedkit distributions is truly a compliment to our Rotary partners here in the Belgaum area. These groups in Harugeri and Ugar worked very hard to make sure everything ran smoothly and also that our team felt warmly welcomed. The delicious lunch we had in Ugar began with Duncan, our fearless leader, being welcomed and draped with a beautifully presented garland of grapes by our hostess Smita Shirgaokar.

The children looked absolutely beautiful as they came out of the building in their new outfits to pose for a picture. Then, the smiles on their faces when they realized that big bag was the rest of their bedkit and belonged to them, was a wonderful sight to see!

Anne Kell,
Team Belgaum 2012

From Belgaum 2012

Last year’s Belgaum Team recommended that some of the patterns for the girls' dresses be changed to another pattern -- the same pattern had been used for four years.

This is one of the new patterns and these young ladies have trouble hiding their smiles!

Our dress and boys' wear manufacturer actually comes to each distribution area to make sure that each child receives the correct size of garment to wear in the pictures taken for donors!

It all results in very happy children, and big smiles from parents and guardians.

Thanks to our Rotary Partners, The Rotary Club of Belgaum, for listening to last year’s team!

Duncan Macgregor,
Team Belgaum 2012

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Chennai: Andaman Islands

From Chennai 2012

Our day started bright and early at 3 am this morning.

At the airport we celebrated John Page's birthday and Valentines Day of course. The Rotary Club surprised us with a delicious chocolate cake. (See John Page, Rajesh, and Ravi Shankar in photo).

We arrived in Port Blair at 9 am, to a comfortable 26 degrees.

We travelled from the airport to the distribution site, surrounded by lush palm trees and teak plantations. We also passed a working elephant, he was unloading a truck load of lumber. (In the photo is the elephant trainer and Aniya Nandy).

From Chennai 2012

This is the third time a distribution has been held in the Andaman Islands. Today we completed our largest distribution of our Chennai trip totalling 666 bedkits.

We had lots of supportive parents waiting for their children outside the gate. We can't believe tomorrow is our last distribution. The Islands are beautiful and we are looking forward to it.

Theodora and Aniya Nandy
Team Chennai 2012

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Pune: Thank you

Today we were again in a small village outside of the city of Pune.

The gratitude of the children and their caregivers was amazing -- from verbal "namastes" ("Thank you") to greetings of marching bands and dancing, flowers and a spicy lunch, and many many photos to commemorate the day, their gratitude was evident every step of the way.

The teachers were a key part of organizing these displays of gratitude, and they made our day a memorable one.

This rural area suffers from extremes of weather: wet monsoons and dry, hot summers challenge the villagers lives. The weather, combined with the extreme poverty of the area, makes even attending school a challenge.

From Pune 2012

One mother commented in an interview that the items in the bedkit were more than what she has in her home; her child's bedkit was a gift to be cherished.

Thank you, donors, from the grateful children and for allowing us to be here on your behalf!

Team Pune 2012

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Belgaum: Athani, India

First Distribution

To paraphrase an old adage, 'alls well that starts well.' The sun was shining and 400 smiling children greeted us as we entered the school where the Athani distribution was to take place. Although the children spoke little or no English they readily joined in with rhythmic clapping when we sang some songs for them or Duncan entertained them with his kazoo.

The local volunteers and the OVO volunteers, led by Niranjan Sant, laid out the distribution site in a logical manner that allowed them to hand out the proper size sweaters, footwear, shirts/shorts or dresses/chudidars to each child after they had their picture taken.

As with many of the SCAW distributions, the children are so over-awed by the process and the number of adults, that they rarely smile until they are walking away with their bedkit. We took the opportunity to go outside to see them once they and their parent or guardian had a chance to open the bedkit and see the treasures that they had received. The children came running up to us with the biggest smiles to shake our hands in thanks; with some saying "namastay" or "blessings to you." It was heartwarming to witness this.

It was a long day by the time we made the three-hour journey back to our hotel in Belgaum. Thanks to the OVOs and local volunteers -- the huge efforts that they made to obtain the bedkits and have everything ready for us -- it made for an excellent start to what we hope will be another successful SCAW distribution.

The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Chennai: Fog

From Chennai 2012

Another change of plans: the flight we were to fly on to go to the Andaman Islands has been cancelled due to fog.

We are now booked to leave early tomorrow morning at 3 a.m. Yikes!

Hopefully, our last two distributions can be completed. We are thinking positive thoughts and today we are enjoying a free day to rest and site see.

Chennai Team 2012

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Pune: 714 Smiles

From Pune 2012

The Pune team travelled almost four hours into the countryside, seemingly light years away from the bustle of city life.

Today's village was high on a hilltop, with rocky terrain, dry grass, and very little arable land. Life is a challenge for the people in this village.

But today was a day of joy -- a day of song and dance, bullock rides, and meals shared together. Today was a day of 714 smiles for the camera, 714 happy children walking home with bedkit in hand. A very rewarding day!

Photos will likely follow tomorrow.

Hope you are having a good weekend,

Debbie Will-Dryden
forTeam Pune 2012

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Belgaum: We have arrived

From Belgaum 2012

The six members of the SCAW travelling team met at 0745 hrs in the hotel lobby and walked to the Methodist Church that we were told was next door to the hotel. After walking a ways to the right we asked a person where it was. He told us that it was 500 metres in the other direction. When we had gone that distance and more, we asked another gentleman if he knew where it was. Once again, he told us that it was 500 metres farther along, but on the other side of the road. One more time we asked and were told it was yet another 500 metres. We finally found it, only to be informed by some helpful young men that it did not start until 1000 hrs, but we could go the office and wait if we wished. We did not wish to, so we went back to the hotel and had a long, leisurely buffet breakfast of Indian specialties.

From Belgaum 2012

We met with Dilip Chitnis and his IT specialist to fix our mobile phone problem before travelling to a local farming village to meet three of the recipients of last year’s bedkits. They had outgrown most of the clothes that they had received but they all still had their sleeping mat, blankets, and mosquito net. They are wonderful young people who wish to become teachers or join the army when they grow up. We toured their spartan homes, which housed their water buffalo on a room at the back. The water buffalo were used for milk or as a beast of burden. The parents were farmers who grew carrots on about four acres of land and earned about $1,000 per year on the sales. No wonder they were so thankful to receive the bedkits.

That evening, we met with the Belgaum Rotarians for the our pre-distribution meeting. We met all of the key players including the chairman who organized this year’s distribution. They have put a lot of hard work and planning into making this distribution successful.

The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Chennai: Three days on the road

From Chennai 2012

Arrived back in Chennai at 4 am this morning, having been out since Thursday.

We survived two over-night train trips, where we slept in curtained four- and two-bunked compartments, or at least tried to sleep!

From Chennai 2012

Thursday was distribution day in Shevaroy Hills and Friday we toured four factories that made bedkit items: the mosquito nets, sheets, t-shirts, and ground sheets.

What a memorable three days.

Chennai Team 2012

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Pune: A Unique Experience

From Pune 2012

Another warm day saw the Sleeping Children team heading to a rural village.

On arrival, we were transported on a cart pulled by decorated bullocks into the centre of the village flanked by the local people -- a unique experience for all of us.

The Rotary Club extended a very warm welcome to us that included the traditional blessings: roses, pooja, lighting of the lamps, and songs and dances by the children.

With the help of the Rotary Club members from Pune and numerous volunteers, the distribution proceeded smoothly. Today 686 children received a bedkit and tonight will "shan't zopa" (sleep well).

From Pune 2012

Team Pune 2012

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Belgaum: Mumbai

After another wholesome breakfast of puma and skeena, we were met at the hotel by Amin and his godfather, the Rev Desmond, an Anglican Priest from London, England, who has known Amin since he was a boy of four. Rev Desmond had also been blessed by Mother Theresa after he was crippled in the Birmingham bombings in the 70s and was able to walk again.

Amin took us to the Gates of India and the Taj Hotel, that was partially destroyed during the terrorist attacks in 2008. The Taj has been restored to its former glory. From there we went to the Sanjit Ghandi National Park where we explored the Buddhist caves from the 12^th century and the exquisite carvings and cave paintings that are still visible today. Our next treat was our lunch stop at the Uphaar Indian restaurant where we tried Indian crepes: with spinach and potato, with grated cheese, and with cheese and potato. We also tried a special Indian soup and a slice of Indian ice cream.

After lunch we drove through Mumbai’s largest slum and Amin showed us a 6 km road that used to be covered with one- and two-storey slum dwellings that were bulldozed away and the street paved in its place. The tenants were supposed to have relocated and money paid but Amin said that nothing ever came of it, only more ‘monkey business’ or corruption.

At 1530 hrs, Morali Iyer’s drivers picked us up at the YMCA International House and took us to the Municipal Airport for our Kingfisher Airlines flight to Hubli. After a short delay, we landed in Hubli at 2100 hrs. We were picked up by Dilip’s driver Manjunet in a brand new 20 pax bus. Dilip had been so kind as to provide us with fruit, sandwiches, and cold drinks, which we really appreciated on the 95-minute drive to the city of Belgaum. When we arrived at our hotel, we were met by Dilip S. Chitnis, Sanjay Kulkami, and Jeevan Khatav, the key members of the OVO [Overseas Voluntary Organization] Rotary Club of Belgaum. They ensured that we were warmly welcomed and settled into our hotel rooms before they left for home at midnight.

The 2012 Belgaum Team

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