Kenya: Our Last Distribution!

Our friendly neighbourhood rooster woke us up yet again for our seventh and final distribution day.  Today was a well organized site, at another primary school, with senior students and teachers assisting. Most of the 500 children were dressed and ready upon our arrival.  Their initial trepidation soon melted into giggles and beautiful smiles.  Their good behavior was a credit to the parents and teachers, thus making it a smooth and enjoyable day.  At the closing ceremonies the children performed for us with action songs.  We were privileged to be invited for tea and conversation with the staff and administration afterwards.

Then we were once again back in the van to return to a previous distribution site where some students had been unable to attend on the initial date.  These 38 students were thrilled to finally receive their bedkits.  Once again we were treated to a performance of songs of farewell.  This was a perfect way to finish off our mission of 4000 bedkits which leaves us with such a feeling of elation but at the same time we realize there is much left to be done here and many more needy children that remain.

Team Kenya 2015
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Mumbai: Distributions Completed!

There are 2,100 happy children in the greater Mumbai - Maharashtra area who have received their bedkits thanks to SCAW. Our Overseas Volunteer Partners have been working hard over the last six months to ensure that everything would be ready when the SCAW Travelling Team arrived last week. After five full days we handed out the bedkits and received thousands of smiles from the children in return. This year's distributions were special because we had 87 year old Billie Kemp as a team member. She is a dedicated SCAW veteran and she was accompanied by her son Kirk and grand-daughter Erin. Billie still got down on the ground and played with the children, letting them try on her SCAW hat or playing games with them. What an inspiration to all who were present at the distributions, but especially to her fellow team members. We also had three members from Sleep Country Canada (SCC). They ensured that 100+ children in each of the five pictures that documented SCC's donations looked great.

 

Bill Sergeant for Team Mumbai

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Mumbai: A First-Time Experience

Being my first time with SCAW as well as coming to India, I had no idea what to expect. On distribution day one it took us approximately 3 hours to arrive to our destination. The village was very rural. Goats, cows, chickens and pigs all shared the roads along with auto rickshaws, scooters, motorcycles and trucks.

The children had put up welcome signs and decorated the dirt path with colorful sand designs.

Once we unpacked and set up, the welcome ceremony began. Five young girls began to do a dance in their finest clothes. What impressed me most is how well behaved the rest of the children were while watching. All sitting still in single file.

Finally we got started. My days task was to draw a smiley face on the children's thumb once they had had their picture taken so that we wouldn't give them two bedkits. I loved that job because I saw how excited they were to finally receive their gift. The children were very small for their ages, clearly signs of malnutrition. A few also had sores that were infected or vision or hearing disadvantages. Those kids seemed the most happy.

All in all the day went well and we gave out around 200 bedkits to these children. I can't wait to do it all again 
tomorrow!

Adam Steeves for Team Mumbai 2015
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Kenya: Happy Smiles!

It was not such an early start this morning as we actually slept in until 6 a.m.!!! It still took us an hour and a half in city traffic to reach the site which today was one of extreme poverty.  The distribution was challenging as there were other functions happening along with noisy construction, and the ever present Kenyan dust blowing.

The centre offered education to 2300 students, from primary through high school.  We were impressed with quality of the buildings, that also included a nursery and family clinic.  The recipients of the bedkits were extremely excited and joyful.  Their beautiful faces were smiling from ear to ear.  Thank you once again to all our  generous donors for making this distribution of 1000 bedkits possible.  A dream come true for these children and our founder Murray.

Team Kenya 2015

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Kenya: Off The Beaten Track!

We were on the road by 5:30 this morning to start our 3 hour drive to the distribution site and avoid Nairobi traffic.   We had one pit stop en route, (which was a souvenir shop too!).  The last hour of the journey gave new meaning to “off the beaten track" as it is the end of the dry season.  It was dusty, extremely narrow and bumpy as we climbed up the mountain.  However, there was a warm greeting awaiting when we finally arrived, of children and parents anxious to see us.

As it was such an isolated spot, the children were again very needy, mostly without shoes, with threadbare uniforms and some of them were deaf.  However, we soon saw smiles lighting up their faces when some of the Team members starting blowing bubbles again whilst the rest of us were setting up.

We were entertained for a Kenyan lunch after the distribution, by a gentleman whose grandfather had built the school and everything had to be brought up the hill by donkeys. 

The children were so anxious to try their new mattresses that the headmaster kindly decided school was finished for the day and they could all go home!!!

Team Kenya 2015

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Mumbai: Dinner with Amin

For the SCAW Travelling volunteers who have had the pleasure of taking a tour with Amin Sheikh, a previous bedkit recipient, you will remember is warm smile and positive attitude. Four members of this year's Mumbai team had the wonderful opportunity to add to those memories when Amin invited Billie, Kirk and Erin Kemp along with Bill Sergeant back to his house to have supper with him, his sisters, his mother and another family friend. Amin's sister Sabina is a wonderful cook who made a dozen of her favourite dishes to serve us - it was all delicious. We also celebrated the fact that Amin's book was published in an 8th language, Hindi, that day. He is hoping that they next time that we come back to India, we will be able to have a coffee in his coffee shop. We hope so too and are looking forward to the opportunity.

Bill Sergeant for Team Mumbai 2015
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Mumbai: Only Two More Distributions!

 We have been a busy team since landing in Mumbai and are already over halfway through our distributions. When we arrived Adam Steeves asked what we would do when it rained on Saturday. Our Rotarian hosts told him that it rarely rains in February and not to worry. Well Adam was right! It started raining just as we were finishing yesterday's 611 bedkit distribution with the Bombay Airport Rotary Club and it rained through the night, stopping just as we arrived for the this morning's distribution at a government school. The local club put out large carpets to set the 400 bedkits on as well as having lots of them for the children to sit on while they waited for the photos. The smiles from the children melted our hearts today as we gave out the bedkits. Their happiness was measureable when one recipient joined his mother during the interviews that were being conducted by Billie and Kirk Kemp wit the assistance of Rtn Dr. Dave, who . The child had not been aware of what was in the bedkit that she had been carrying, and when she was shown by Billie and Kirk, her eyes just about popped out of her head and she could not stop smiling. What a wonderful experience for all of us.

Our Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs) have been wonderful. Not only have they helped get everything ready for the distributions and lend their time and talents to help run them, they have hosted us on a number of occasions too. Last evening was one of those memorable occasions as Raj and Manish Resham hosted us at the Jewel of India restaurant. The Rotary District Governor Ajay Gupta and the Assistant District Governor came to the restaurant to thank SCAW and us for all of the good work that we are doing 'for the children' of India. What a tremendous evening.

Bill Sergeant for Team Mumbai 2015
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Mumbai: Opportunity of a Lifetime!

Having an opportunity of a lifetime to be traveling to India with my daughter and Mom handing out bedkits to children who are less fortunate. Today we were at a school just outside Mumbai where we handed out 400 bedkits. My mom and I interviewed parents of 7 children who were to receive the bedkits. Not one of these families had a bed in their house or a mosquito net . To hear how grateful they were for not only the bedkit but for the fact that we would travel half half way around the world to do this work was extremely humbling. Mom asked them what was their dream for their children and all dreamed that their children could go to University so they could end the cycle of poverty. But all knew that it would never happen as they couldn't afford it. If I had the money in my pocket I would have given them enough right then. It was very sad to see they had hopes and dreams that most likely would never be fulfilled. They did say that they were inspired by us and that has given them a lot of hope.  This trip has been a real eye opener to see how far India has come but just how far they have left to go to enable their people to realize their dreams. The lasting reward for me is to see a 87 year old lady who can barely see come alive like a 60 year old.

 

Kirk. A true believer from Team Mumbai 2015
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Kenya: Day Five!!

Today we were at another new distribution site, quite isolated and around 12 hours outside Nairobi. It was tight quarters but it ran quite smoothly with only a few hiccups. The children were very needy; some without shoes, some deaf, some physically disabled, etc. Giving out the bedkits brought as much joy to us as it did to the receiving children and their families. We were very grateful to have been a part of the distribution this year and hope to return again! After the distribution, we were warmly invited to a lovely traditional Kenyan picnic at one of the Rotarians houses nearby. We were so thankful to share it with the Rotarians, Rotaracts (young Rotarians) and family members. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped briefly at a beautiful public viewpoint of Lake Victoria.

Tomorrow is an early start, driving to game reserve to enjoy a few tours before heading back to Nairobi on Sunday! Therefore, we will be out of touch until Monday evening, after our fifth distribution. Asanti Sana!

Team Kenya 2015

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Kenya: Update!

After being without internet for 30+ hours, we are most anxious to be able to update you on our activities!

The 25^th was mostly a travel day with only a few stops in between departure and destination. The first being a very inspirational and touching school founded by a man, who had himself been poor and unable to receive an education until later in life. The school is solely dedicated to taking in, feeding, educating and loving orphans and street kids. We were very grateful to have been invited into his house, got a tour of the school grounds as well as a VERY big warm welcome from the students and teachers. We all decided to contribute towards the purchase of 200 chicks to enable them to begin their chicken coop. This chicken coop will teach the children agriculture and business; concepts we find very important. It was a stop none of us will ever forget.  We arrived in our hotel around 7:30, enjoyed dinner and turned in early.

The 26^th was a distribution day! To be very warmly welcome by children anxious to shake our hands with their beautiful smiling faces, was an amazing start to our day. The children were absolutely blown away by our bubbles, it created such spontaneous excitement and broad smiles. The distribution went by flawlessly considering it was the school’s first time hosting SCAW. The children were very patient, kind and mature. Ready for an early start tomorrow to another distribution site with 500 bedkits to give out. Excited to see all their smiling faces!

Team Kenya 2015
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Mumbai: Getting Ready

Team Mumbai is ready to start its first distribution tomorrow after spending the morning with our Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs) . They have been working since last August to select the 19 Rotary Clubs that will be participating in the five distributions in the coming week. We will be handing out good quality bedkits to 2,100 children. 

 
The team met with Rajnikant Resham, the SCAW Advisor in Mumbai; and his team of Apurva Shah (Co-chairman), Neelesh Suchak, Sandeep Shah, and Prakesh Shah to discuss their preparations and plans for the distributions. They have put a lot of effort into 'reaching the unreached' throughout the western part of Maharashtra state. The new members of the SCAW travelling team members learned a lot about how invaluable the assistance and support of the OVPs is to the success of the distribution and just how much preparation, planning, coordination and work they put into each one.
 

Bill Sergeant for Team Mumbai 2015
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Mumbai 2015: Post Your Comments Here

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Belgaum: Post-Distribution Meeting

The SCAW Travelling Team met with the members of the Belgaum SCAW Trust at the Belgaum Club on the evening of the 24^th for the post-distribution meeting.  The meeting took place in a 180 year-old stone building which was the former stables for the Officers’ Mess at the British Garrison in Belgaum.

Sanjay Kulkarni was the acting President of the Trust in the absence of Dilip Chitnis. He opened the meeting with a moment of silence in remembrance of Aparana Chitnis, Dilip’s wife who had passed away suddenly two days prior.

Afterward, the SCAW Team Leader Bill Sergeant provided his report about the distributions, the quality of the bedkit, and the Overseas Reporting Package, he thanked the Trust for all that they have done and are doing for SCAW. He was then presented with a Certificate of Honour by Dr. Archelakar thanking him for his leadership and friendship over the last four years. Next year’s Team Leader, Sue Orr, then presented the Trust President with a gift from the team and told them that she was looking forward to bringing a new team over for the next distribution.

When the meeting was adjourned, the SCAW Belgaum Trust members invited the team to a buffet meal at the Belgaum Club. This allowed everyone an opportunity to get to know one another better. For Bill, it was an opportunity to thank the Trust members individually for all that they are doing for SCAW and cement the friendships that he has established over the past four years.

Bill Sergeant for Team Belgaum 2015

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Belgaum: An Extra Day Off

Today was an extra day off due to a change in the distribution schedule.  Our destination is Beldami.  Enroute we stop for breakfast at a friend of one of the Belgaum Rotarians.  We enjoyed Indian Idili (a small dhal and rice pancake served with dipping sauces) and very yummy papdi (a popular Indian sweet).  Our next stop is Pattadakal which is Unesco World Heritage site.  It is a collection of temples built by the Chalukyan civilization around 740 AD as a cultural hub
. 
The architecture is beautiful.  The final stop for the day is a series of intricate caves in Belgami. We tour all four caves and are entertained by the monkeys.

A very enjoyable day off!

Cathy Miles for Team Belgaum 2015
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Kenya: Day 3!

Today we travelled about hour from Nairobi to a school/orphanage that was founded and supported by the Rotary Club of Nairobi.  Our mission was to distribute 500 bedkits.  The school was founded 13 years ago and once the elementary school kids got older the Club started a high school. 

With the help of school and Rotary volunteers along with teachers, we organized the children into groups of 50’s then 8’s and downward until we were taking photos of just one child at a time.  We found a lovely shaded spot to take the photos thus trying to avoid high contrast in the photos.  The process worked very smoothly and the kids were delighted with their new bedkits. We began our interviews with parents in order to determine if there are areas in which we can improve.  The parents were very appreciative of the gifts that our SCAW donors provided.  They commented on the quality of the items in the kits.

After the distribution we were served a lovely cup of tea and Kenyan style donuts (donut holes intact) and visited the orphanage. 

Tomorrow is a travel day and we will be out of Nairobi for the next 4 days.  We will blog if we can find internet service in the areas we visit.

Kenya SCAW Team 2015

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Belgaum: Distributions Complete!

Team Belgaum completed its final distribution of 200 bedkits at Kundgol today. The Kundgol Rotarians brought in a number of local college students to assist with the distribution, which made it fun as it only took a little over an hour to hand out the kits to children. There were a surprising number of the children who spoke English and they loved to practice it with us while exchanging high fives before they had their pictures taken. 

After taking the usual pictures, the team travelled back to Belgaum in our team mini-bus with Manjunath at the wheel. Manju never ceases to amaze us with his ability to weave in and out of traffice and avoid head on collisions as the on coming traffic takes up all of the available lanes in front of us. We will miss Manju and the rest of the support team who have helped us make the 10 distributions (4,000 bedkits) a success. The role that Manjunath, Nagu, Ramesh and his tailoring team play at the distributions has been invaluable as SCAW becomes more and more respected in this area of India. For example, one of the waiters in our hotel in Belgaum came up to us when we arrived back at the hotel, after being away for three days, to tell us that he was from Ramdurg and had read in the paper yesterday about the SCAW distribution there and all of the good things that the charity was doing for the children of India. 

We will miss the many friends and acquaintances that we have made during our distributions but we will still have the wonderful memories of all that we have seen and done in this great land. 

Bill Sergeant, Team Leader, for Team Belgaum 2015

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Kenya: Lala Salama!

After an early wake up, (5:15) we set out  to avoid the horrendous morning rush hour traffic, arriving 2 hours later at the school site.  Today there were 500 bedkits waiting for distribution.  It was an easy first day for our 2 “newbies”  Melissa and Lauren, as the pictures were all in groups of ten. 

All of the recipients were richly deserving of their bedkit especially those with physical and intellectual challenges. The generous donors can be assured these children will sleep well. As they were wished in Swalhili “Lala Salama” Sleep well!

After the distribution., we visited the home of one of last year’s recipients.  The home was a mud hut, made from cow dung, approximately 6 ‘ x10’ overlooking a spectacular Kenyan vista. Owned by a grandmother of Masai origin, who was wearing  beautiful, traditional beadwork she was very proud and happy to welcome us into her home.

Finally, we visited a residential school for rescued girls, (from forced early marriages or difficult family living conditions). The joy and happiness of these girls was very evident.

All in all a rewarding first day!

Team Kenya 2015
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Kenya: Our First Day

Tiring but fulfilling day today! Started with breakfast and a meeting with the team and the Nairobi Rotary Club members. We discussed past Kenyan distributions and how they went before turning onto this years. We got some tips and suggestions on how to keep things running smoothly- and hopefully problem free! As well as the general plan for the days to come.

Our amazing driver, took us to the Village Market Mall where we traded in money as well as eating some lunch. We then went to the first manufacturer of the day, Priscilla! She was very grateful and happy to have received the SCAW contract to expand her business, we were very happy to see that. Priscilla hand makes all 4,000 backpacks for the bedkits in her very small shop with only 4 sewing machines. We got a tour of the place as well as meeting a few youngsters who were absolutely delighted to see and have their photo taken.

As a change of size, we all piled into our van and drove to the HUGE building of the mattress manufacturer. The owner and the general manager took us on a long narrated tour! Seeing all the hundreds of mattresses they make and the work that goes into them was amazing. We all clambered back into the van and went to the clothing manufacturer where the pajama set and sweaters were made for the distribution. The embroidery process for other jobs they have was pretty cool.

Lastly we finished at the location where the bed kits are stored until they are needed. But only after we sort of got lost and went through a very poor part of Nairobi, where around 3 million people live. It touched us all and still can’t be put into words how we felt, it was good to see it though.

Looking forward to a good 1^st day of distribution tomorrow. (February 23^rd) Up bright and early at 5:30 with only 500 bedkits to give out and hopefully stopping to visit previous recipients! Sleep well, or as we were taught to say in Swahili; Lanasalama!!!! 

Team Kenya 2015
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Kenya: Post Your Comments Here

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Belgaum: On the Move to Hubli

We're on the move to Hubli and our last two distributions!

As we were loading the van for an early start, about 500 children ran passed us in some sort of a school race. It made me think of our Canadian Terry Fox runs. The earliest runners weren't to be distracted, but partway through the group, boys veered over to our side of the road to receive "high fives" and running encouragement from us. So much for an early beginning, but wonderful excitement at this day's start! There have been many surprises during this trip.

This distribution took place at a school. A group of deaf children went through our circuit without us realizing their predicament - so who's got the handicap?

We finished the day with 35 special needs children - the neediest of the needy and for us a great finally.

After receiving sandalwood leis and smiling for lots of group pictures with the Rotarians, we were invited to the Gymkhana club for an Indian lunch. This club was built by the English years ago.

We were given time to freshen up and unpack suitcases in our new hotel.Then we were invited to visit a local orphanage.

It's a private home called Felicia Kids Home and was started by Mini, who was an orphan herself. She and her husband now have 29 children and are hoping that the government allow them to have more in the future. She ensures these children go to good schools. The children seem very well adjusted and very happy and were very excited about our visit. We entertained each other with songs and watched some of their dances. This was another surprise to our day and very enjoyable.

Pamela Horricks for Team Belgaum 2015
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