Pune: Pune City
Our distribution was held in Pune city at a
Muslim school ,which started out as a small orphanage for
girls in 1925, and now has expanded to a 3,000 school facility providing much
needed education and skills training.
The distribution also included students from 5 other schools in the
area.
Upon arrival, we were treated to a
traditional Indian breakfast, followed by an honour guard of delightful young
children in their military-style uniforms, complete with precision, stomps and
salutes. Again a sea of happy smiling
faces greeted us as we entered the auditorium.
We felt like celebrities. The
welcome ceremony included speeches, singing of the National Anthem, prayers and
entertainment—boy’s acrobatics, and girls dancing in beautiful white
dresses. They even invited 2 of our team
members to join them on stage. What a
hoot. Each of the team received a
student made “keepsake” card and a rose.
We felt special.
Team Pune 2014
Pune: Mhate
Our second day was just as wonderful as the
first. Breakfast at 7:00 am and on the
road just before 8am. Our destination –
Mhate and 893 children awaiting their bedkits.
The excitement is palpable as we enter the village situated in a
beautiful valley south of Pune. A parade
that again includes a ride in an oxen cart, singing, dancing takes us to the
presentation tent. Looking across a sea
of exited little faces is worth the 3 hour drive. Our engagement begins here with the first
waves and smiles. This is a very big day
in their young lives.
Once the speeches and gifts are exchanged
we get down to work. The first step is
setting up the bedkit display behind which the children are photographed and
those photos are eventually sent to the donor as proof of the delivery made in
their name. After the photograph in
their new school uniforms the children receive their knapsack and shoes and
with their parent(s) receive the remainder of the bedkit items. It warms you to the core when they look up to
you and whisper “Thank you”. In your
heart you want to whisper back “No thank you for letting me share this moment
of your life”.
Our Rotary partners were a great help and we
ended the day sharing a meal together.
The day that began many miles away ended with a gorgeous sunset and full
moon. Happy Valentine’s
Day!
Mumbai/Belgaum: Belgaum Distributions Successfully Completed
The SCAW Mumbai-Belgaum travelling team had
fulfilling final distribution day. It started early with a tour of Hare Rama
Hare Kryshna ISKCON temple and the Kashaya Prata food preparation centre in
Hubli. The Hubli Rotarians had set up the tour to showcase how the 400 workers
prepared food for the mid-day meal for 180,000 public school children in
Karnatika province.
Once the 90-minute tour was completed, they
headed to Kungol and had one of their best distributions - a great way to
finish the 12 distributions in this area. The Rotarians had enlisted the help of
numerous students from a local junior college to help the children change into
their new clothes and then guide them from place to place through the distribution
process. The students were particularly helpful when assisting the children
with their new bedkit once they had received it from the SCAW team by carrying
it the 150m to where the parents were waiting outside the site.
In the evening, the SCAW team was hosted by
our OVPs at a private residence that was owned by a cousin of one of the team
members. After the post-distribution meeting and poetry by Dr. Kamalachar, the
team enjoyed socializing with the OVP members.
Many thanks to Chairman Mr. Dilip Chitnis,
Secretary Sanjay Kulkarni and the rest of the members of the Belgaum SCAW Trust
committee. There hard work and planning made for 12 successful distributions.
Mumbai/Belgaum: Moving On
We have completed our last distribution on the Mumbai/Belgaum schedule
and set out this morning for Goa, and then had an evening flight to Mumbai. From
there, some of us headed for lovely Canada while others are lingering awhile in ever fascinating Mumbai.
Yesterday was a full day for the SCAW team.
We were invited to tour a Krishna Temple and their incredible facility from which they feed over 1 million school children a freshly made lunch, every school day. They use gravitational levels rather than linear levels to avoid cross contamination of the food. We saw from the top level the actual food (veg only no meat) in its raw form, to next level down where cooking is done, to ground level where the packing is done for delivery to the schools.
This was really interesting to us as we knew that our bedkit recipients are all fed a meal at school -and this is where that meal comes from. That would be the child's only meal in many cases.
Just an aside, the child brings his own plate but the Temple is considering supplying plates as sometimes the child's plate is too small for the hearty meal!
We finished the day with final meeting with of Belgaum Rotarians and a hearty meal with this fine group of men.
Team Mumbai/Belgaum
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Yesterday was a full day for the SCAW team.
We were invited to tour a Krishna Temple and their incredible facility from which they feed over 1 million school children a freshly made lunch, every school day. They use gravitational levels rather than linear levels to avoid cross contamination of the food. We saw from the top level the actual food (veg only no meat) in its raw form, to next level down where cooking is done, to ground level where the packing is done for delivery to the schools.
This was really interesting to us as we knew that our bedkit recipients are all fed a meal at school -and this is where that meal comes from. That would be the child's only meal in many cases.
Just an aside, the child brings his own plate but the Temple is considering supplying plates as sometimes the child's plate is too small for the hearty meal!
We finished the day with final meeting with of Belgaum Rotarians and a hearty meal with this fine group of men.
Team Mumbai/Belgaum
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Pune: Our First Day!!
Our 9 member team arrived in Valuth to a
wonderful and exciting welcome. We were
all presented with a headscarf (even the men), which indicates that we are
important. We were carried in oxen
powered carts to our destination. People
were all lined on the road. We felt
special and important to be sure. We were
then entertained by children who danced to traditional music, and then on to
why we are here—the children.
Our almost 1,000 SCAW bedkit recipients
were from the various rural communities of Valuth. Some of the children came from around 40 km
away. This year the Rotary Club of Pune
Cantonment increased bedkit items to 33.
Some of the items are: baseball cap, backpack, mosquito net, school
supplies, clothes, and shoes. All of the
items are of excellent quality, which is a testament to the Rotary Club’s
persistence in obtaining not only the best prices, but also superior products.
Our exciting journey has just begun.
Team Pune 2014
Pune 2014: Post Your Comments Here:
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Mumbai/Belgaum: Cottage Industries and Providing Invaluable Assistance
SCAW
helps the citizens of the countries that it visits in many ways. Deserving
children receive a bedkit so that they may have a better sleep and improve
their chances of getting a better education. As well, local industries benefit
by competing for and being awarded contracts to produce the items for the
bedkit.
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| Manjunath, Nagu, Ramiash, Manogbai and a friend at the conclusion of the Hubli distribution |
The
Belgaum-Mumbai team had the opportunity to visit two local manufacturers today.
The first was a tailor shop called Durga Dresses, owned and operated by Ramaish
and his son Gowar. It is a two-room shop at the back of a narrow alley that
employs 10 women and men. It takes them four months to complete the order for
SCAW for the half-shirts, the golf shirts, the boys’ shorts, the girls’ dresses
and petticoats, as well as the older girls’ chudadars. Ramaish also goes to
each of the 12 distributions in the Belgaum area to personally fit each child
with proper fitting clothes – a mammoth task that is very much appreciated by
the SCAW team. It means that the quality and size of the clothing for each
child is first rate.
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| M/S Benswal Knitting Works with Team |
The
team also went to M/S Benswal Knitting Works. It employs 20 people in the
two-room shop and it takes a month to produce the 5,000 sweaters for the SCAW
bedkits. Once again, the quality of the sweaters is good
and the family takes great pride in its 20-year association with SCAW.
Team Mumbai/Belgaum 2014
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Mumbai/Belgaum: A Lesson in Philanthropy
Early Sunday morning, the SCAW team arrived
at the Hubli English Medium School to distribute 900 bedkits from 11
surrounding areas. The Distribution Chairman Raju and the Rotary Club President
Shri M.V.
Karmari warmly welcomed the team and showed us the well planned layout for the
distribution.
The
street behind the school was packed solid with children and parents waiting to
be registered for the distribution. The parents accompanied their children up
until they were dressed for the photo, when they reluctantly had to leave the
site and meet their children at the exit point once they had their bedkit.
The
Rotarians asked for a pause in the distribution in order to honour the SCAW
team and donors for their philanthropic spirit. Rotary President Shri M.V.
Karmari and other Rotary members placed sandalwood garlands on each member and
then said that Canada’s example should be emulated by more people in India. He also praised the 31 year association
between their Rotary Club and SCAW and hoped that many more children will be
helped in the future to have a better life.
Mumbai/Belgaum: The Parents
Each morning when we arrive at our distribution site, our
bus slowly manouvres past hundreds of parents; we acknowledge them with waves
and they respond by cheering loudly and waving vigorously. They have arrived early
to ensure that their children have registered on time for their bedkits, and
they anxiously anticipate receiving the much needed contents. Since children
are chosen from various schools throughout the region, many have travelled
several kilometres. At some locations the Rotary Clubs have provided
transportation, but at other sites the parents and children have walked a
lengthy distance.
They wait patiently for a few hours, often behind a gate or
in a particular compound, until their child proceeds through the distribution
circle and exits freshly clad in the new garments, carrying their huge bag
stuffed with the prized kit items. The parents and children are all so happy,
smiling broadly when we make our way to the bus and reaching out
shyly with gratitude to shake our hands and sincerely gesturing “NAMASTE”.
Anne Mac Donald for Team Mumbai/Belgaum 2014
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Mumbai/Belgaum: Yesh
For the Belgaum distribution, several sons and daughters of
the Rotarians volunteered their time. One young man was especially helpful.
Yesh is a delightful teenager whom the others respected; he is a natural
leader. He assisted for the entire 1000 distributions, pleasantly conversing
with each group of students, sitting them
in the proper position for the photos. His animated antics encouraged the
children to smile, and his energy was infectious. Yesh’s friendly nature and
positive attitude were refreshing, and he willingly and politely responded
immediately to any request. His father, an architect was a previous SCAW
distribution chair and Yesh plans to follow in his father’s footsteps. This
April he looks forward to visiting relatives in New York, and then travel to
Niagara Falls and Toronto. We were most appreciative of Yesh’s contribution to a successful
Belgaum distribution, and wish him all the best with his travels and with his
academic studies.Anne Mac Donald for Team Mumbai/Belgaum 2014
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Chennai: Thiru
Here is Thiru. In 1985 he learned about SCAW via a Rotary friend in
Mumbai. He contacted Murray about including Chennai in bedkit
distributions and in 1987 the first 1,000 kits were handed out.
The Ambattur Rotary Club is now planning for the distribution of the 100,000th kit in 2015, honouring Thiru for his foresight and dedication.
Team Chennai 2014
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| Thiru with a bedkit recipient. |
The Ambattur Rotary Club is now planning for the distribution of the 100,000th kit in 2015, honouring Thiru for his foresight and dedication.
Team Chennai 2014
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Chennai: Mission Accomplished!!
Our 6000th bedkit recipient. Our mission is complete. Preethi is an 11
year old girl living in a village in the Andaman Islands. She attends
school and will benefit from all the items in the kit. Her father
thanked us all for her gift.
Our combined teams of Ambattur Rotarians and Canadian travellers are delighted and just a bit tired now that 6000 children will have the comfort of a good nights sleep. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers who have combined their love of children to accomplish this goal.
Team Chennai 2014
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Our combined teams of Ambattur Rotarians and Canadian travellers are delighted and just a bit tired now that 6000 children will have the comfort of a good nights sleep. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers who have combined their love of children to accomplish this goal.
Team Chennai 2014
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Chennai: Long Island
The day after our last distribution we went by boat to Long Island where
we visited the local government school. Two girls who had received
bedkits yesterday, were proud to show us their homes. The blankets had
already been used and the other kit items were spread out or neatly
stored. The mosquito nets will protect against bugs other than those
bringing malaria but useful nonetheless. Getting those children to the
distribution in Mayabunder required an hour long boat ride. The Port
Blair Rotarians did a wonderful job of making these transportation
arrangements. Other children had to travel by van or bus up to 70 kms
which took more than 2 hours considering the road conditions.
Our SCAW experience is almost over. We will meet with the Port Blair Rotarians tonight, fly back to Chennai tomorrow
and have our final meeting the next day with the Ambattur Rotarians who
coordinated all the distributions. 6,000 children are now resting
comfortably with the knowledge that many friends from far away have
given them "the gift of love".
Team Chennai 2014
Chennai: Andaman Islands
After flying 2 hours to the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal
yesterday, we did the first distribution today. Children came by bus
more than 60 kms or by boat with an hour's travel. The Rotarians of Port
Blair have accomplished the difficult task of identifying the most
deserving children in this area where the population is spread out in
towns and remote villages.
Of course the best part of our day is interacting with the children,
trying to put them at ease for the photograph and ensuring that the
experience is memorable for them.
With a happy face on their wrists
to confirm a photo has been taken, volunteers gave them each a snack and
carried the heavy bag of bedkit items up a long stairway to the waiting
teachers or parents.
The photos will hopefully show their enthusiasm.
Mumbai/Belgaum: Daily India
Daily India
The road twists and turns,
Fields of green are burned
by the hot sun in the morn.
Oxen pull the loaded carts,
or plough the red earth slowly.
Many hands with backs bent
pull, twist, dig, and plant move
along the fields every day.
The sun sets, the body rests –
as the many tired beings slump
in the open truck going home.
Nameste
Monika
Sergeant for Team Mumbai/Belgaum 2014
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| The Belgaum Rotary Club with the 1,000th bedkit |
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| The children of the Belgaum Rotary Club members - they were a big help during the 1000 bedkit distribution |
In the evening, the members of SCAW team
were guests of honour at the weekly Belgaum Rotary Club meeting. Trust Chairman
Dilip Chitnis praised the 26-years friendship between SCAW and their club and
provided the members with an historical overview of the 100% charity. Bill
Sergeant then spoke to the club to thank the Trust Committee and the members of
their Rotary Club for the steadfast support that they have provided. This was
followed by a delicious buffet dinner where the team had the opportunity to
talk with the Rotarians, their spouses and members of their family. It was a great
opportunity to renew friendships or make new ones with our very hospitable
hosts.
Mumbai/Belgaum: Rural Indian Transport
Along the way to distribution, we have seen the many ways that goods and
animal life are transported from place to place. As well as large
decorated trucks who urge us to honk, we see tractors, small trucks,
motorbikes, ox carts, and people walking along the road.Two elephants,one walking majestically down the road and the other riding in an open truck, calmly eating her supper.
Oxen are placed somehow in a tiny truck, head to tail,while their herdsman hangs on to the back, no room inside!
A couple of goats were given a ride on the back of a motorbike, and water buffalo are either yoked to carts, or led along.
Sugarcane and brushwood for fires are loaded onto trucks, carts, and bicycles. We see women walking down the road, having such erect posture with impossible loads balanced on their heads. They carry wood, washing, water, and all sorts of things.
Dogs and goats prance between the traffic, and we marvel at their talent for staying alive.
Life on the road is always vibrant , and never boring.
Margaret Crossling
Mumbai/Belgaum Team 2014
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Kenya: How Do You Measure Success?
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| Children with Bedkits |
Another
measure was the successful completion of the distribution of the final
952nd bedkit (a daily record for this trip); making a total of 5,000.
The
successful relationship between our overseas partner; the Rotary Club
of Nairobi culminated with a wonderful dinner last evening and finally
with a luncheon with the entire club. It was a great opportunity for
our team
leader, Bob Barclay, to do a SCAW presentation to inform the membership
about SCAW, of the activities for the last two weeks and to thank them
for their contributions.
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| Children at Orphanage |
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| Children at IDP Camp |
Team Kenya 2014
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