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Sri Lanka: A Visit to two Cottage Industries

We went for a visit to two of the Cottage Industries that produced materials for the Sri Lanka bedkits.  Being unfamiliar with the term “Cottage Industry”, we were fascinated to see that it was not a large scale factory, but a much smaller scale business run out of a local home. 

The first cottage industry we visited was a small home with one large room converted into a sewing room.  The company, Lasha, employed 9 people to sew t-shirts and shorts.  They said that the work commissioned to them by SCAW to produce 8,000 t-shirts and 4,000 pairs of shorts kept their shop busy for 2 months.  The contract with SCAW that has lasted at least 2 years,  allowed the shop owner to expand his operation and purchase more sewing machines.  It was like a “mom and pop shop” where a husband and wife were the employers to the nine local employees. 



The second cottage industry we visited was where our mosquito nets were produced.  They were all made in a small room in a home where the woman that sewed all 4,000 nets with one sewing machine.  She was able to purchase a Serger (a special sewing machine that finishes and trims the seams).  Through SCAW’s commission of her work she was able to purchase the Serger.  To sew all 4,000 nets it provided her with over 3 months of work. 



It was a wonderful experience to visit these cottage industries to see how the donor’s money also creates meaningful employment for so many local Sri Lankans. 

No visit to Sri Lanka would be complete without a ride in a Tuk-Tuk.  Before we departed Sri Lanka we knew we needed to have the unique experience of a Tuk Tuk ride.  Weaving through the streets of Colombo it was an exhilarating experience!

Six happy travelling volunteers will be heading home shortly with stories of culture and experience…but mostly of the smiles of the children in Sri Lanka.  

Team Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka: Distributing 4,000 Bedkits is Complete!

There’s a strange feeling about the day of the last distribution.  Each day we’ve been working hard and learning little tricks along the way to make each distribution day run a bit smoother than the one before.  At the beginning of the distribution, the number 4,000 sounds so big, until you’re down to the last 50 photographs. 

“Upon our arrival to the distribution site we were entertained by school children performing a
Traditional Tamil Dance


It’s incredible that five days of distribution have passed by so quickly.  It’s hard to believe that we have covered so much distance and visited so many schools and distribution sites.  But it’s not hard to picture the smiling faces of 4,000 children for whom we have provided bedkits and imagine them well-rested and healthy, ready for their next school day. 


Our distribution’s success is largely due to the support from our Overseas Partners, the Rotary Club of Kelaniya.  They have been with us along the way; passing on all there is to know about Sri Lanka’s culture and specifics about the children at each distribution site.  They really are our “partners” in this venture. 


Team Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka: Interviews

Upon our arrival at each site we are greeted by children and paraded into the distribution site.  During yesterday’s and today’s distribution we were presented with a beautiful flower garland made from local flowers. 



At each distribution we take some time to speak with the parents of children whom are receiving a bedkit.  We want to know about their family life and how they feel about the items in the bedkit.  Sitting down with a translator, a sample bedkit is displayed.  A team member asks a series of questions in English and the translator communicates the questions and responses.  Today was a unique experience in that two translators were needed.  The questions were asked in English, which were then translated into Sinhalese and then to Tamil.  Sinhalese and Tamil are the two most widely used languages in Sri Lanka. 

Through the interview we learned how gracious the parents were about receiving the items in the bedkit.  They were especially pleased to receive items that would assist their children in attending school such as the backpack and school shoes.  The parents explained that the dry season in the area (July-October) was the most challenging weather related time for their families.   



Two successful days of distribution and 1,600 happy kids, like this one seen below, have headed home for a good night’s sleep. 



Team Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka: Visit to the Recipients' Homes



Our visit to Sri Lanka is being enriched by being in the company of our Sri Lankan Rotary Club Overseas Partners.  Everywhere we go we are learning about significant traditions, culture, history and also about the wildlife and vegetation.  At the arrival of today’s distribution site, we were treated to a cultural dance performed by the students in costume and accompanied by drum.  It was spectacular!



Once our distribution was complete we were taken to visit two homes of children who were recipients of a bedkit earlier in the day.  Each house was a long way from the main road down a narrow dirt path.  We were warmly welcomed into the homes by the mothers who expressed their gratitude for receiving a bedkit.  The homes were basic built from mud bricks, with 2 or 3 rooms and concrete floors.  Outside in the yard were small plants and trees.  We learned from one of the families, that they harvest their own Jack Fruit.  It’s a large starchy fruit that is a staple to the family’s diet and has several uses. 


A great day had by all with many, many smiles from both SCAW volunteers, children and parents.  

Team Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka: Our First Day of Distribution Complete!

We arrived to a marching band and were greeted by young children presenting a bundle of leaves to each Canadian volunteer.  It was clear from the energy around the school that the children knew something special was about to happen.  The school had put many hours into preparing for our visit.  They had used packaging Styrofoam to create a mural of the words “Sleeping Children Around the World” and carefully attached it to the back wall of their school hall. 

Once the distribution began, the children were eager to join the line to have their photo taken.  We managed to get many smiles and even a few giggles for the photographs.  Receiving their neatly packaged bedkit, the children showed their joy by saying “Thank You”,  showing beaming smiles and signs of respect to the SCAW volunteers distributing the bedkits.  Sounds of excitement and happy conversations were heard as many of children boarded buses to head towards home.  






Team Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka: The Whole Team has Arrived!!

After spending a day acclimatizing to the lush Sri Lanka climate and humidity, the team has travelled four hours in preparation for their first distribution day.  Our team was minus one member for the first 24 hours, as Ricki was delayed in Winnipeg due to weather.  We were delighted to see her arrive in Sri Lanka on the next day’s flight.

Our Rotarians have travelled to the distribution area with us.  They are eagerly awaiting our rendition of “O Canada” at the beginning of the distribution tomorrow morning.  We are just as eager to hear the Sri Lankan anthem and get our first glimpse of 800 of the 4,000 Sri Lankan children who will be receiving a bed kit.  

Team Sri Lanka
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Uganda: Our Last Distribution!

After a 3.5 hr drive at 8am after a good nights rest we entered the distribution area to a reception of dancing & singing.Once again it was a great welcome from the parents.

The children were dressed in advance as we arrived around noon & also gave us a warm welcome of singing with the Inner Wheel ladies leading.


Beth & Jan chose a good area to set up whilst the remainder of the team had other chores & we began with no delay after a short talk to both parents & kids.


Many volunteers assisted & we proceeded to distribute to happy smiling faces.


Upon completion we took a photo of all our team with the last child & packed up to head to a beautiful location for a beautiful lunch.


The home was a residence of one of the Inner Wheel ladies & the view from the porch was mind boggling, with palm trees & hills in the background. Lunch as usual was delicious with the addition of spaghetti and cheese sauce.


In the distance we could see the children who had walked for 2 to 3 hours on their way to their home.


We left around 5-30 heading back towards Kampala driving in the dark barely seeing the bicyclists on the road.


Fred our driver once again got us back to the hotel safely where we wait for our snack of vegetable Somosa. 

 Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: In the Mountains!

Team Uganda is now high in the mountains enjoying the incredible scenery. Yesterday we travelled 4 hours on roads that resembled a Roller Coaster until we reached a small village. Our site was the local public school with a population of 900 children. Of these, 210 are orphans and live with other relatives. The needs here were obvious when we met the children and their ecstatic smiles upon receiving the bed kit are testimony to the difference that SCAW is making. We later visited the home of a bed kit recipient. The 6 children and 2 grandparents who live in the humble but very clean shack far up a steep and windy path allowed us to tour the 2 bedrooms and kitchen that makeup the home. These children, as most others in the area eat only 2 simple meals a day. Life is hard in the hills and there is little money for school supplies that are so important. We then began the 4 hour drive back down the mountain and arrived back for dinner and bed.
It is now 7am and  we are on the road again into the mountains to another distribution.

Ps - pictures to follow when Internet access improves

 Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: Distribution Days

Distribution days are long ones with very early mornings and late nights. We spend many hours on the bus but the huge welcome that we receive at each site energize us. So much of the real work has gone on behind the scenes in the six months leading up to the distribution with the Ladies of the Inner Wheel working hard to prepare for the SCAW arrival.  So when the distributions finally begin there is festive air when both groups enjoy much singing, dancing and laughter as they work and play together. We have come together in a common cause, new friendships are developed and much fun is had. It is all “FOR THE CHILDREN” and it is so worth it!  

Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: Our Welcome on Day 4!!



We woke up this morning to the most beautiful sunrise we have ever seen.  We were on the road around 7 to our distribution site, three hours from our hotel.  Upon arrival at the site we received a phenomenal welcome by the entire village outside a lovely church.  Upon entering the Church the welcome from the  children waiting inside was even more moving.  Our distribution flowed smoothly and we were treated to many special smiles.  We were particularly moved by a significant number of children with disabilities including several who were deaf.  These children were accompanied by a very caring and special teacher.  

Our only small glitch to the day was a blown tire on our bus which was competently dealt with by our bus driver Fred and two members of the SCAW team, Ken and Albert. 


 Team Uganda 2014


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Uganda: Update

SCAW Team Uganda 2014 is unable to send a blog due to internet problems caused by the rains. They have taken several videos and hope to send them in the next day or so.  Today was a day of rest so they visited some local sights as well as a small fishing village where the needs are great. They had time to chat with the locals and to leave a soccer ball behind for the youths who were ecstatic with their gift.  We heard stories about the perils of fishing in crocodile infested waters.  Tomorrow we are off into the mountains.  Stay tuned for more interesting news when we have internet access again.

SCAW Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: Our First Distribution!!

We started our day with a 3 hour drive to the first distribution site in Lyantonde where we were greeted with many shy smiles and parents eager to shake our hands and say thank you.  The impending rain held off until we were finished and we were then off for the 7 hour drive through the mountains and forests to our sleeping spot for the night. We finally reached our destination at 10:00pm in time for dinner and bed. Tomorrow we are distributing just down the road so we do not have as early of a start to our day. We will be on the road at 8:00am.

 Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: Visiting Factories

Today the SCAW Team were fortunate to be able to tour some of the factories and suppliers of the bed-kits and their contents. We began with a tour of the mattress factory and even got to help load the truck with the mattresses that we will distribute during the next 12 days. Then we were off to see the production of the bed-kits and later the uniform factory. We chatted with several of the workers in these plants and were thrilled to observe that they seem to really enjoy their jobs.

 Team Uganda 2014
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Uganda: The Team Has Arrived!!

Photo 1: l- r Jan Gayman,  Albert Gardiner,  
Ken Cober, Fran Wilson, Beth Poad ( team Leader), 
Lois Wey
After 45 hours in transit the 6 members of the SCAW Uganda team were joyously met by the InnerWheel of Kampala Ladies at the Entebbe Airport.   We were so happy to be greeted by their smiling faces.  We were so relieved to find that our approximately 750 pounds of luggage had also made it safely to our destination.  Our first dinner was out under the stars at our lovely guest house.  Off to bed early tonight so that we are ready for a busy day of meetings and factory visits.


Photo 2- A happy welcome  from the Inner Wheel of Kampala 
at Entebbe Airport 


Team Uganda 2014
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