Uganda: Nazaleeti
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| The water and mud on the way to Rakai from Uganda 2013 |
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| The Welcoming Children from Uganda 2013 |
As the sky continued to clear we were able to move the children and the bedkits outside and were able to complete our distribution in the fresh air. We found an excellent spot for our set up with the hills in the background. The many shades of green were stunning and created a perfect backdrop for our pictures.
The children today had beautiful smiles and once again our
team worked together seamlessly along with the ladies of the Inner Wheel of
Kampala to complete the distribution successfully without a hitch.
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| On the way home from Uganda 2013 |
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| On the way home from Uganda 2013 |
Our bus made one more stop before leaving the district, at a burial site for almost 2000 Rwandans who were part of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Almost 2000 bodies had floated down the river to Uganda where they were buried in these mass graves. Once a year the Rwandans make a pilgrimage to visit this gravesite. The site is maintained as a tribute to those buried there and is a joint venture between Rwanda and Uganda. It was a sobering experience to see this beautifully kept site.
Uganda: The Gift
At each distribution the Uganda team shows the parents and the children who will receive the bedkit the contents that
are in each kit. One of the incredible Ladies of the Inner Wheel, our
Overseas Volunteer Partners translates for the large group of parents,
grandparents, guardian, caregivers and friends. We introduce ourselves and the bedkit to great cheers and yelps and dances of joy.
The biggest cheers go up for the school bag, the 12 exercise books and
the compass and protractor sets. The water bottle and basin are cheered
as is the mosquito net. We explain that it is treated and can prevent
diseases like malaria which continues to plaque Uganda and the adults
nod their heads in agreement. The mat, blanket, sheet, shoes and
additional tee shirt are also cheered.
The cheers today in Mity-ebili when we arrived were overwhelming as was the beautiful singing of the children singing a welcoming song for us. Their "wel-a-come song" touched each of us as the children waved their arms as we moved among the lines to greet the children. They were waiting patiently for us to arrive, then changed into their new clothes to get ready for their pictures to be taken. Even though we talk to the children about what is happening and the gift they will be receiving shortly, they do not seem to truly understand until they recieve the bedkit and then the smiles are then enormous. Today we raced against an oncoming storm to complete the distribution before the skies opened up.
Watching the children leave with their bedkits is a joy to watch and as we leave the site we often see children and their caregivers along the road. The waves and smiles we receive give us the understanding of the power of the gift of the bedkit that Sleeping Children Around the World is able to give to children in Uganda through the generosity of our donors.
Team Uganda 2013
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Uganda: Parents
There are many opportunities to interact with parents through out the course of the distributions . When we first arrive parents are eagerly awaiting us and we spend several minutes mingling and greeting them. Their smiling faces show their excitement and they are all anxious to shake our hands and show their gratitude.
One of the most fulfilling things that we do is to interview the parents, It is an opportunity to ask about their family life as well as solicit feedback about the contents of the bedkit. We meet with them informally and with the aid of an interpreter they often shyly tell their stories.
Many tell a similar story about the hardships caused by Aids , malaria, malnutrition and the trials of being a single parent when abandoned or through the death of a spouse. Grandparents in particular have a difficult life as many have no income and are the sole caregivers due to the ravages of Aids. Many of them are elderly, frail and lack the energy to cope with a young family of several children.
In spite of all the obstacles encountered in their lives the Ugandan caregivers that we meet maintain a sense of hope for the next generation and are grateful for the gifts the SCAW Team brings to their children as they realize the value of education and importance of a good night's sleep.
Team Uganda 2013
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Uganda: Kasawo
This morning we left Jinja after two nights on our way to
Kasawo for our fourth distribution. We
had about a 90 minute drive and of course, the last half got a little bumpy and
dusty. We hardly noticed the drive and
the bumps since we were treated to the singing talents of our Inner Wheel
ladies! It was so inspiring we couldn’t
help but join in. 
On our way we saw the typical Ugandan home. This is where many of the children that received a bedkit live. Before the distribution we had an opportunity
to meet and interact with the children before they were ready for their
pictures. The Team was able to spend
some memorable time laughing and taking pictures with the very excited
children. Today they were clapping and
singing while they waited to receive their bedkit. As
they were shown what they were going to receive today, the cheers were
especially loud for the school books and math set. We are finding that this is the most popular
item to show them before the distribution.
As Pat lined the children up for their pictures, I was ready
and waiting to hand them their mattress and the rest of the bedkit. They were so excited when they finally
reached the time of day when they could hold their bedkit and proudly carry it
to their parents. It was such a
privilege to watch them show their family what they had received.
As the distribution ended and the Team was loading the bus
for the bumpy ride back to the home base in Kampala, we again had the
opportunity to interact with the children as they preparing to leave for their
long trip home to their families. We had
a great time with one of the last trucks loading the children and families (and
all the bedkits) into a very small space.
It was interesting to watch as they used every available space to make
sure that everyone had a place. The
Team had a lot of fun with the very relaxed and talkative children who had received
a bedkit. The weather cooperated and we
all had an awesome day.
Uganda: Kajuki
Day
three of the Ugandan distribution took us from the city of Jinja (The
Source of the Nile) 85 kilometres to the town of Kajuki. Most team
members were awakened early around 5:00 a.m.
with a heavy downpour and continuous lightening. Our travel up country
was on a reasonable road for the first hour. The road quickly changed
to our roughest ride of our distributions so far. This rural road
showed signs of heavy rain fall overnight however at several places
people were washing their bikes in the puddles. Earlier dust masks were
distributed but as a result of the heavy rain they were unnecessary. 
As we approached the distribution site our bus drew unusual attention from both adults and children.
Our
VOPs (Volunteer Overseas Partners), The Innerwheel of Kamapala, had the distribution site and
the children well organized ahead of our arrival. Despite the intense
heat the distribution moved along at a steady pace. The parents and
children were very appreciative of the special gift of the bed kit.
This was demonstrated by the childrens' sincere thank you, spoken in
English, accompanied by a polite bow. The women caregivers broke out in
their distinctive expression of thank you when their child reached them
with their new bedkit, "Kalulu".
Jan and John for Team Uganda 2013
Uganda: Kowolo
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| The Team From Uganda 2013 |
Our
second distribution was at Kowolo, on the way to Jinja which is the
source of the Nile River. We had many extremely helpful volunteers
assisting us with many jobs such as lining the children up, organizing
the bedkits for the Scaw volunteers and helping the children return to
their parents with their new special gift. It was very useful having
these volunteers since it helped the distribution go quickly and
smoothly which was particularly useful since we were racing ahead of the
coming rain storm. When we realized how far these children had
traveled to reach the distribution site, many of them walking seven
miles or more, it was imperative to have them receive their bedkit and
be on their way before the rain came. It was a sight to behold to see
them walking along the path below us clutching their new bed
kit and dressed in their colourful new clothes. 
After the rain storm, our OVP, the Innerwheel of Kampala, shared with the Canadian Team one of the most spectacular sights of Uganda, The Source of the Nile.
Team Uganda 2013
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Uganda: Visiting Factories
Our first day in Uganda took us on a tour of the local factories that are so important to the production of items in our bedkits. The ladies of the Innerwheel
work throughout the year to procure the items that are needed and
negotiate the best price to give the best value for the $35 that is
available from each donation. This process takes several months and much work on the part of our Overseas Volunteer Partners. 
We visited a factory where the mattresses are produced. The owner spoke with pride about his production of the 6000 bedkits and had generously provided storage of all the bedkit items throughout the time of the distribution. We also saw the factories where the sheets were made and the uniforms. It was interesting to hear about how local people, particularly women were employed in these factories contributing to the local economy. Team Uganda 2013
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Uganda: Our First Distribution!!
It was an early morning start for team Uganda for our first day of
distribution. The incredible ladies of the Inner Wheel met us at our
bus for a two hour drive through Kampala traffic to the site of a
primary school very near to Lake Victoria. On the way we saw the homes
of the children that we would soon meet and many parents were able to
accompany their children as it was a Sunday.
Many other families were there watching who were not receiving a bed
kit and were hopeful that we might return another year for their
children as well. 
We were greeted with smiles and cheers as we
introduced ourselves and showed the contents of the
bedkits. We were pleasantly surprised that the biggest cheer was for
the school supplies: twelve exercise books, a math set and a school bag
made
by a small local cottage industry. Other items that particularly excited them were the mosquito net and the mattress. All of our team members were very moved by the children's enthusiasm particularly since several of our team members are first time SCAW travelers.
Team Uganda 2013
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Uganda 2013: Post Your Comments Here
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Togo: Au Revoir Togo!!
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| Bedkit Recipient in doorway of tiny room that her family lives in from Togo 2013 |
Parades made the streets impassable so our departure was delayed. Fortunately the road was paved and well maintained so we arrived even before some of the children had returned from the Independence Day festivities in Kebotoe.
The children sang their Togo National Anthem and we responded with Oh Canada.
With mixed emotions we handed out the last 500 bedkits.
One of today's children lived in a small compound just across the road from the school. We were invited to visit.
There is no doubt the bedkit will be well used but while most of bedkit was still in the bag, the school supplies were already set out on her tiny desk.
Take a look at the photos of the Togo/Canada Team. It was a pleasure to work with Action Enfance et Developpment, a dedicated and congenial group led by Laurent Dekalikan and his wife, Gladys.
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| Mattress and Bedkit Items from Togo 2013 |
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| Kitchen in the Compound from Togo 2013 |
Team Togo
Togo: Adeta - 148km
Splish! Splash
We awoke around 4 a.m. this morning to one heck of a storm!
Some of us awoke to water in our rooms. Today's labels took a bit of a soaking but we were able to salvage them.
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| A Stormy Start from Togo 2013 |
By 7:30 a.m. we received a call to delay our departure because the children would not be arriving at the site on time.
This allowed Bill, "notre chef extraordinaire Togolese", to do a quick clean up of the kitchen and to join us. Bill has cooked meals for SCAW teams for seven years and had never been on a distribution.
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| Bob the chief and Bill the chef from Togo 2013 |
Yet another call en route reported a further delay which give us time to check out a local artisan centre.
By the time we arrived at the site, the storm had cleared. We were able to set up the photography outside and the rest of the distribution was completed without a hitch. Five hundred children are tucked in their new beds tonight.
We benefited from the cooler temperatures and cloud cover which followed the storm. It was only 89F.
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| The team at work from Togo 2013 |
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| The team at work from Togo 2013 |
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| The team at work from Togo 2013 |
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| Faces in the crowd from Togo 2013 |
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| Faces in the crowd from Togo 2013 |
On the way home we drove higher up into the lush rain forest giving us a look at another side of Togo.
We bought ripe yellow bananas fresh off the tree and devoured them immediately. Yum!
We headed back to Lome in time to grab 4 hockey bags of medical supplies arranged by Doug MacDougald and deliver them to a local clinic.
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| Medical Supplies for the Clinic from Togo 2013 |
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| A gift of a soccer ball from Canada from Togo 2013 |
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| A gift of chalk from Canada from Togo 2013 |
Another busy but satisfying day.
Team Togo 2013
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Togo: Day 7 - Amoussoukondji
The French Connection
Fourteen
Grade 1 students in a French Immersion Class at Allenby Public School
in Toronto wrote letters to the children of Togo. Today we were
delighted to present the letters to the children of Amoussoukondji who
read the letters and responded by singing a Togolese Folk Song to their
new friends in Canada.
Five hundred bedkits found new homes today.
Bedkits travel home in many ways:
Togo 2013
Togo: Our Day in Pictures!
Our Welcome in Kewome:
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| Our Welcome from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Welcome from Togo 2013 |
Our Team at Work:
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
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| Our Team Hard at Work from Togo 2013 |
Half-Way There!
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| Half-Way There from Togo 2013 |
We Will All Sleep Well Tonight!!
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| We will all sleep well tonight!! from Togo 2013 |
Team Togo
Togo: Home Visits
Luckily the downpour that occurred at breakfast did not follow us into the mountains 150 KM from Lome.
It was another successful distribution with 500 cheering children.
Following the distribution we were able to visit the homes of two of the 2012 bedkit recipients.
The tiny homes were immaculately kept.
The
mosquito nets were in place and standing up well. Both boys were home
for lunch and one had to be called from the soccer field ... his
favourite pastime.
They showed us their exercise books and we were impressed with the quality of their school work.
Both boys loved going to school and hoped they could continue right through to university.
It
is obvious that the bedkit is a valuable asset to their education with
the inclusion of the school uniform, back pack and school supplies.
Team Togo 2013
Togo Day 4: Judy is pooped!
"Action Enfance et Developpment" is
truly an extraordinary SCAW partner. Each distribution runs like
clockwork because of the capable and enthusiastic support from a host of
Togolese volunteers.
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| From Togo 2013 |
While we work hard, we
also have time to absorb Togolese culture and interact with this
wonderfully welcoming and friendly people. Following yesterday's
distribution, we were led on a tour of the village by the chief , with
all the children of the village chattering happily in tow. At the end
of the tour, we were presented with a huge basket of fresh fruit.
Organic at its best. We piled into the van and returned home quite
late ... a 12 hour day.
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
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| From Togo 2013 |
We quickly gathered up our
equipment from the back of the van hoping to make short shrift of our
evening meeting and preparations for the following day. Judy reached for
the last bag which holds the labels.
We all were stunned to find another gift from the village ..... 2 terrified chickens under the seat.
Needless to say they had done what frightened chickens do best and Judy's arm was glaring proof!
And since we are on that subject, we must describe our bathroom facilities at each distribution ....
a
sparkling white North American toilet which is installed at the
distribution everyday over a hole with charcoal and surrounded by a
bamboo enclosure for privacy. It seems a previous team wished for a
toilet and because our partners try to make life as easy as possible,
the wish was granted.
Enjoy the photos. We resume distributions on Monday.
Until then ... Team Togo.
Togo: ROLL 'EM!
Shake, rattle & roll .... this describes our trip to Deve and back. Togo is the pot-hole capital of the world!
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| From Togo 2013 |
Rock & Roll .... The village was already rocking with the rhythms of Togolese music and dancing. The children were dressed and ready. No time to waste setting up the site.
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| From Togo 2013 |
Roll up the .... bedkit when the thunder warned of the torrent to come. We rushed to relocate indoors in an empty classroom.
Team Togo
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Togo: Day 2 - Kpadape - 150 K
Side by side with our Togolese partners,
A long day .. we’re
off to bed.
There’s not much more to say.
The photos tell the tale.
Besides the hydro’s gone again.
Zzzzzzzzzz……
Team Togo
Togo: Hagoume
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| From Togo 2013 |
We thought the most outstanding sight was 500 kids dressed in their colourful new T-shirts …. then we saw the flags…. Canada and Togo … proudly planted to welcome our team. A heart-stopping moment!
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| From Togo 2013 |
Then the drumming and dancing began. We were swept up into the joy and even managed a few dance steps.
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| From Togo 2013 |
Supported by our experienced Togolese volunteers, the distribution ran so smoothly we had enough time to visit an impressive cottage industry where about 10 young women, under the entrepreneurial leadership of Elizabeth, had sewn the shorts and skirts for the bedkits.
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| From Togo 2013 |
A good start to the distribution.
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| From Togo 2013 |
Team Togo 2013
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Togo: Preparing for our distributions
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| From Togo 2013 |
We
also visited the area where the bedkits are stored before they are transported
to the distribution sites. 5,000 bedkits ready to go.
Togo: The Team Has Arrived!
Following 30 hours of travel, Team Togo arrived to the tremendously
warm welcome of Laurent and his volunteer team of Enfance et
Developpment Togo. Even the unique system of baggage handling at the Togo airport could not dampen our spirits.
We
have been bear hugged, kissed, fed and shown to our rooms. We truly
are looking forward to a good night's sleep and the adventures that
tomorrow will bring.
Linda for Team Togo 2013
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