Bangladesh: Dinajpur
We were elated that we would be able to stay two nights in one place tonight after travelling and moving each day since we arrived.
At 11am while travelling on the bus some of the team were musing that it was Rememberance Day although at home it was still Saturday night.
We arrived in the blistering midday sun, fortunately the children were mostly shaded under a canopy. We elected to start immediately to get the rest of the children shaded, although we had no alternative but to set up in the direct sun we soon had the children moving
It was very hot but soon some of the team had the children clapping and cheering and playing catch with frisbees. During our distribution a cow wandered into our photo site, this seemed to relax the situation.
Tomorrow we plan to get an even earlier start (5:45) to get prepared for one of our largest distributions of over 1200 bedkits
George Foster for the Bangladesh 2012 team
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Bangladesh Day 2: Jessore
It was another early start and we were still feeling the effects of jet lag, time changes and a lack of sleep. All of this dissipated when we were greeted by 820 eager but apprenhensive children lined up for what lay ahead. Many had travelled up to 300 km roundtrip to participate.
Our location was a Primary School which was in session with a population of 900+ students, and yet they accommodated an additional 820 kids and parents to change clothes and use their facilities. The number of participants necessitated some long waits but patience and good behaviour was the order of the day. With our partners, the Rotary Club of Dhaka we were able to solve some challenges of accommodating many disabled children. Mike was centred out to receive a big hug and thanks and each of us in turn experienced one of those special moments that make this work so rewarding. We are waiting to expereience the most northen parts of Bangladesh tomorrow where the greatest need of bedkit recipients reside.
Faith Clark for the Bangladesh 2012 Team
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Our location was a Primary School which was in session with a population of 900+ students, and yet they accommodated an additional 820 kids and parents to change clothes and use their facilities. The number of participants necessitated some long waits but patience and good behaviour was the order of the day. With our partners, the Rotary Club of Dhaka we were able to solve some challenges of accommodating many disabled children. Mike was centred out to receive a big hug and thanks and each of us in turn experienced one of those special moments that make this work so rewarding. We are waiting to expereience the most northen parts of Bangladesh tomorrow where the greatest need of bedkit recipients reside.
Faith Clark for the Bangladesh 2012 Team
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Bangladesh Day 1: Madhukhali Distribution Completed!
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
arrived to a sea of colours with the children all dressed in their new colourful clothing. We were greeted with loud singing and clapping as we arrived to a natural setting on the grounds of an operating jute factory. The children were patient, well behaved and happy to see us arrive. The day was perfect with sunny skies and the occasional refreshing breeze. There were many words of thanks and smiling faces as they headed off to their home villages. We completed the distribution in good time so we were able to tour the jute factory.
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
Bangladesh Team 2012
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Bangladesh Team Has Arrived!
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The Bangladesh team has arrived safely and are prepared and ready to start the distribution of 6000 bedkits. We are all looking forward to our fisrt day of 440 bedkits.
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Bangladesh: Final Preparations!
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
The SCAW team will be visiting the western, north-western, south-eastern and central areas of Bangladesh as we travel by bus and plane to the poorest areas in the country to help the children. Please follow along with the blogs and the map showing our progress.
The warehouse team, shown in the pictures and in the Bangladesh 2012 Photo Album are the heroes in the preparation for the distribution. The team does tremendous work, working long hours in hot conditions to get everything assembled and ready to be shipped out to the distribution centres. The team is showing some of the 6000 bedkits that are to be distributed this year.
The Rotary Club of Dhaka is anxiously waiting for the SCAW Team to arrive so the distribution can begin.
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
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| From Bangladesh 2012 |
Mike Foster
for the Bangladesh 2012 Team
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Honduras: Mission Accomplished
Five thousand young children in Honduras are now sleeping on a cozy and bright mattress, nestled under a new blanket. On Monday, they shall be taking new school supplies to school and perhaps playing in their new clothes afterwards. We have finished another successful SCAW distribution and are heading home to our comfortable lives in Canada, ever mindful of the unfortunate reality of poverty in which so many children live around the world.
Including the 5,000 bedkits delivered by
the Honduras team this year, our total is
now 1,249,130 bedkits since Sleeping
Children began in 1970.
We shall remember happy faces and bright smiles. We ‘ll chuckle as we recall the sight of a small child almost hidden by the large bedkit gleefully making his or her way down the path to a waiting bus. We won’t forget the beaming, proud mothers and fathers waving their farewells, shouting their thanks to us and all who have given this gift of love and comfort.
We’ll remember all those who have helped us in our distribution, the Rotarians and their wives, young people involved in the Rotoracts and with the Healthy Schools Program. We won’t forget the warm hospitality and genuine friendship of all the Hondurans who have supported SCAW in this child project. In many ways it was the best of times. Memories collected; new friendships cherished; five thousand smiles imprinted on our hearts.
Honduras: Home Visits
Her 9 year old son received a kit last year and along with his mother and 2 brothers - aged 11 and 13 shared a one room home at the cost of $25.00/month in rent - utilities were extra!
They would put the mattress on the floor for this little guy, while the mother and 2 other boys slept together in the only other bed in the room. Across from the bed was a hot plate and about 25 yards outside the back door was an outhouse, which appeared to be shared by others in this neighbourhood.
Mom was delighted when we gave her a left over shower curtain which she is holding. She could use this to put on the concrete floor under the mattress in order to keep the mattress dry during the rains.
The three boys appeared happy and well loved by their mother. To know that the gift of a bedkit enriched their lives every so slightly was truly the best ending of an emotional two weeks.
From these 3 boys and their mother - thank you SCAW donors!
Theresa Carravetta - Honduras 2012
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Honduras: A perfect day!
During her interviews Theresa found that one 9 year old was still sleeping in her crib. How happy can you imagine that receiving the SCAW bedkit made that little girl?
One of the benefits of sourcing the components of the bedkit in the country of distribution is the employment that it creates. Today we were introduced to a cottage industry employing 16 local women. The women first complete a sewing training program for 6 months. They are then employed in a small enterprise that completes custom sewing jobs. The quality of the work was substantially better than mass produced low end product and pricing appeared to be extremely competitive. In a country with high unemployment this training and redeployment of idle resources is a significant event. It creates much needed income opportunities for low skilled, inner city families and helps give them hope.
As part of the Honduran procurement process, Theresa and SCAW in conjunction with the local Rotarians will investigate if there is an opportunity to use this fledgling industry. There may be an opportunity to have them manufacture some of components in the bedkit.
Another beautiful day working with beautiful children as we think about everyone at home dealing with Sandy.
Ken Teslia for Team Honduras 2012
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Bangladesh: 2012 Team Getting Ready!
The Bangladesh team is preparing to leave. Here is the picture taken at their July planning meeting!
Front Row Left to Right: Charlene Gordon, George Foster, Patsy Leamon
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Bangladesh: Post your comments here
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Honduras: The First Lady
Today our distribution was at El Carrizal, an inner city school in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. During this largest distribution of 717 bedkits, we were advised that the First Lady of Honduras would be visiting the site. The First Ladies of Honduras have traditionally been the sponsors of the Healthy Schools Program and supporters of the SCAW bedkit distribution for the past 11 years. Many volunteers from the program assist in our daily distributions. There was a great deal of anticipation awaiting her arrival among the Rotarians, Healthy Schools volunteers, students and our SCAW team. When she arrived with her entourage (TV cameramen, photographers, secret service and military), it was quite a scene. The first lady followed the bedkit distribution process through each of its steps while always stopping and talking with the various volunteers. All the TV cameras were rolling for this stop. She particularly quite enjoyed talking with some of the children, particularly those who were receiving bedkits after their photos were taken. It was obvious that the First Lady’s support for our program is genuine and heartfelt.
The media have been very interested in the SCAW distribution and our partners, the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa. Many days have been interrupted with various TV personnel tracking the distribution and interviewing SCAW members, other volunteers and the children receiving bedkits. Our good work is spreading throughout the city. In every instance, SCAW’s contribution to the betterment of the lives of 5000 children has been met with gratitude. So far, we have touched the lives of 3490 children. It has been a great experience.
On behalf of the SCAW team 2012
Honduras 2012: Rainy Season
Everyday begins as a new adventure. It is the rainy season in Honduras. We rise with the hope the sun will break through the clouds and bathe the children in its warmth as they prepare for the photo shoot and get their bedkits. Occasionally we have had to retreat into a classroom or find shelter under a canopy. But nature has been kind and heavy rains wait until the last snap of the camera shutter and the last child has been given the treasure of a bedkit.
The roads and countryside have not however escaped the wrath of heavy rains that have plagued Honduras for some time. Flooding has closed some; others have been heavily pitted creating ditches that must be carefully navigated by our driver. The natural contours of the countryside lend themselves to steep, narrow and muddy passageways that challenge both the driver and the many children we see going to school. Some families have lost their homes, mudslides taking their humble homes with them. Imagine the importance of the mattress of the bedkit that protects a child from the dampness of a mud floor.
On Saturday, we distributed 662 bedkits in Amarateca, a considerable distance from Tegucigalpa, high in the mountains. The poverty of the children was quite noticeable as was their obvious delight in receiving the bedkit. The mattress continues to be the most popular item in the bedkit, but every item is a treasure. School supplies, for example, are very much appreciated, for now the family has more money to spend on food. The blanket provides warmth and comfort during the cold evenings of the rainy season. Clothes are always a welcome addition as is the mosquito net which particularly is needed when dengue fever epidemics arise. Each donor of a bedkit can be sure that their money has brought incredible aid and comfort to a child. If only we could bring back the warmth and true gratitude of each child’s smile as they receive a bedkit. It is a memory never to be forgotten.
On behalf the the Honduras SCAW team 2012
Irene Harrison.
Honduras: What would be do without the Rotarians and their Wives?
What we do without them - the Rotarians and now the wives of the Rotarians!!!
Today we enjoyed the company and hard work of many of the men and their wives who are associated with the Hondurans Oversees Volunteers Partners - namely the Rotarians of Tegucigalpa.
Here we have Gustavo - next year's Rotarian's president (in the dark jacket) and Don sitting in the chair acting as translators while Jim (team member) interviews a father of one of the children. They are looking the bedkit and showing the parent each article. They are asking questions such as - What is the most useful part of this kit? and making sure they understand the impotance of each item.
These are the women behind those men who came out today. Here Inez (who is Fidel's wife - the current president and SCAW representative, Ana (Juan's wife), Milala (Sergio's wife) and Gladys (Maurizio's wife) who will be leading the women next year are checking the children's names off after they've had their pictures taken.
And finally Juan and Sergio help the children carry their kits out to their waiting teachers.
So from the start to the end of the process, we thank the Rotarians and their wives for another GREAT Day.
Mucho Gratias,
Theresa Carravetta - Team Honduras 2012
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Honduras: Enjoying all our new experiences!
Each distribution site means determining where things should be set up. With children moving easily from entry to photo shoot and receiving their bed kits, there is time for SCAW volunteers to take candid shots and to interact with groups of children.
Honduran adults and children alike treated the few special needs children in a respectful and gentle manner. I thought after the first 2 distributions that the best part or most rewarding experience is seeing the beautiful smile and evident excitement on the face of the child who has just received the gift of a bed kit.
Rivaling this sight is interviewing the parent or grandparent that accompanies the child. I had the opportunity to do 5 interviews on our third day. Melissa, a beautiful, vivacious Honduran volunteer was a superb translator. For a brief period of time I was allowed a glimpse or snapshot of life for the families that SCAW is helping. What a wonderful concept! The donor receives a snapshot of the child receiving their gift and the volunteer receives a verbal snapshot of the life of that child and his/her family.
While I prepare for another new experience tomorrow, here are some pictures from today!
Sheila Martin for Honduras 2012
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Day 2: Ciudad Cataluna, Honduras
Sheila and I were in charge of arranging the children to have their pictures taken. I love this job because we get a chance to interact with the children while they wait. Although there is a language barrier we always have a very entertaining time with them. It become apparent very quickly which children are characters. The children love to impress us with the little English words that they know.
We could not distribute the kits with such efficiency without the help of the Rotarians and the young adults from the First Lady's Healthy School Helpers program.
Valerie Teslia for Team Honduras 2012
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Day 1: Tegucigalpa, Honduras
There were many other things to be grateful for on our first day other than the happiness that these children expressed for their "gift". We continue to be thankful that SCAW continues to have such generous supporters. And as an added bonus we are thankful for the support of the ever so professional Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa. Their work started many months ago in the preparation of the entire bedkits as well as the endless support with the children on the sites. Simply said we couldn't do it without them. We are reminded that they are in fact an intricate part of this entire process. I think it helps that they are having some fun with it as well.
Till tomorrow,
Buenas noches
Theresa Carravetta for Team Honduras 2012
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| Jim Gibson, Ken Teslia Irene Harrison (Team leader), Theresa Carravetta, Valerie Teslia, Shelia Martin |