Tanzania: Second Distribution!
Our second day of distribution took us to 2 schools adjacent to the 2 schools where we were yesterday. When we arrived at 7:30am the children were already there, curious and excited to check us out. Something new was happening at their school today!
Many eyes were watching as we got everything ready to begin. As soon as some of the children were dressed in their new school clothes, Jim lined them up ready to have their photo taken. Each team member is assigned a job to ensure that the flow of the distribution goes smoothly and efficiently.
Today Helen had a successful first day photographing the children. After the picture is taken, the child picks up the bag with his/her own clothes, goes through another checkpoint then receives the bedkit and finally the mattress.
Today my job was to hand out the foam mattress to each child, the last stop. There was an enormous pile of mattresses (715) stacked behind me. Fortunately, I had help from 3 young volunteers who worked diligently making sure a mattress was ready for me to hand out. It is quite a sight to see a 6 year old with his new bedkit strapped to his back, his own clothes in a plastic bag in one hand and then I give him a 6 foot long, rolled up mattress. He has to perform a real balancing act when I put the foam mattress on his head. He reaches up his hands to hold it in place while also holding onto his other possessions. Then he looks up at me with his huge eyes and smiles as he walks away.
Suzanne interviewed several parents/ grandparents to get their thoughts on items in the bedkit.
With the help of all our team members, Mama Wandoa and her helpers, and all the other volunteer helpers, the work of distributing 715 bedkits is successfully accomplished. The children will sleep well on their new colourful mattresses. Many thanks to our thoughtful donors who make this possible.
Anne for Team Tanzania 2015
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Many eyes were watching as we got everything ready to begin. As soon as some of the children were dressed in their new school clothes, Jim lined them up ready to have their photo taken. Each team member is assigned a job to ensure that the flow of the distribution goes smoothly and efficiently.
Today Helen had a successful first day photographing the children. After the picture is taken, the child picks up the bag with his/her own clothes, goes through another checkpoint then receives the bedkit and finally the mattress.
Today my job was to hand out the foam mattress to each child, the last stop. There was an enormous pile of mattresses (715) stacked behind me. Fortunately, I had help from 3 young volunteers who worked diligently making sure a mattress was ready for me to hand out. It is quite a sight to see a 6 year old with his new bedkit strapped to his back, his own clothes in a plastic bag in one hand and then I give him a 6 foot long, rolled up mattress. He has to perform a real balancing act when I put the foam mattress on his head. He reaches up his hands to hold it in place while also holding onto his other possessions. Then he looks up at me with his huge eyes and smiles as he walks away.
Suzanne interviewed several parents/ grandparents to get their thoughts on items in the bedkit.
With the help of all our team members, Mama Wandoa and her helpers, and all the other volunteer helpers, the work of distributing 715 bedkits is successfully accomplished. The children will sleep well on their new colourful mattresses. Many thanks to our thoughtful donors who make this possible.
Anne for Team Tanzania 2015
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Tanzania: Our First Distribution!
Today was Team Tanzania's first distribution at Umoja with 710 bedkits. We arrived at the site just after 7 a.m. to see Mama Wandoa and her team of Tanzanian volunteers already hard at work folding and tying the mattresses. We were greeted by a crowd of hundreds of school children and were able to spend a few minutes playing, giving high fives and enjoying their brilliant smiles before listening to theTanzanian national anthem and watching some steel drum and dancing performances by the kids.
The distribution itself ran fairly smoothly with only minor bumps. Much less bumpy than the roads of Dar Es Salaam! This was the first distribution ever for myself and Team member, Rita. I feel like I have been waiting for this day since finding out that I was invited to come to Tanzania last winter, and it was truly a day to remember. The sun was hot but the day was filled with people coming together and working hard to give children the gift of a better night's sleep. I had the chance to practice my newly acquired, though limited, Swahili such as 'jambo' (hi), asante (thank you), habari (how are you?) and of course, 'lala salama' (sleep well) and enjoyed making this contact with so many children. Another highlight was seeing the labels printed with donor names of people from back home who have been so very supportive of our participation on this trip.
I am currently writing this blog as we are at a standstill in traffic, that which is very common here in Dar. What took us 25 minutes to drive this morning is looking to be a 2-3 hour return trip home. There is still much to do this evening and we look forward to another full day tomorrow for our next distribution. We hope that you will enjoy reading this blog and taking the journey with us over the next 9 days.
Until next time, lala salama.
Laura for Team Tanzania 2015
Tanzania: Day 1
Today started early as some of us attended a 6:00am church service with our hostess Mama Wandoa.Then after breakfast we met Mama and visited a potential supplier of mosquito nets for future distributions. Next was a stop at Mama's house where we saw all the bed kits and clothes that were stored there. We also met the people working for Mama who were responsible for sewing all the clothes for the distribution.
Next was slow drive through Dar es Salaam's nightmare traffic to visit the mattress supplier. It was a very interesting tour of the factory where all the mattresses were produced.
Grocery shopping followed, then a pre-distribution meeting with Mama and her daughter Wendy.
Jim Howley for Team Tanzania 2015
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Tanzania: And The Team Is Off!
Team Members are: Anne Andrew, Suzanne Andrew, Rita Chisholm, Clarence Deyoung, Jim Howley, Helen Scutt, Laura Smith
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Uganda: The Finale!
Today we journeyed to Nabwigulu where we were again greeted by the children and parents. This time they flanked the road in two straight lines all dressed in their new uniforms and singing as we drove up the long roadway to the distribution site. We felt like royalty.
Once again we were challenged by rain but completed the distribution successfully. We celebrated our 5000th bedkit with a group photo. Long after our departure from the site we could still remember the sweet voices of the children as they sang this song.
Welcome our visitors
We are happy to receive you
So glad
We shall never
We shall never ever forget you
Uganda: Day 9!
Today, Martyrs Day, we had the luxury of sleeping in, meeting for breakfast at 7:30 and then we were on our way around 8:30 am to Mirikiti distribution site, in Tororo. It was a holiday in Uganda, so we saw many families, including small children, working the fields as we drove through the countryside. Other children were hanging out with their parents and friends at the marketplace.
Among the recipients today, we distributed bedkits to two special groups of children. The first was a group of 50 children who were orphaned as a result of mudslides in Uganda. They lived with kind families during the week and on Saturdays they met at a recreation centre for arts, crafts and other activities. The second was a group of 10 children from an orphanage. They waited patiently for hours before receiving theirs gifts.
We felt proud, just like the free range turkeys we saw at a home where we were treated to a delicious well-balanced Ugandan meal.
Team Uganda 2015
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Uganda: Day 8
The children seemed to be happy and healthy.
We were challenged by the unusual group numbers to be arranged for the photos. There were groups of 42, 38, 34, 28, and 17. Everyone helped and the distribution went smoothly.
We were so sorry we did not have bedkits for every child.
4000 bedkits distributed!
From Team Uganda 2015.
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Uganda: Day 7
After a two hour drive down some bumpy dirt roads we arrived at our distribution site, Sanyonga. Once again we were greeted by a large group of parents as we got off the bus, all wanting to give us hugs. Their enthusiasm was overwhelming.
Team Uganda 2015
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The children were getting changed into their new clothes and were gathered under a canopy. We enjoyed their beautiful singing.
As with every day the skies were threatening rain. We had been fortunate in that most days we were able to complete our distribution before the rain started and this was our expectation. Unfortunately this was not to be the case today. We were about two thirds of the way through when it started to drizzle. It became heavier and heavier. Luckily we had the canopy where the children had been gathered and were able to move the bedkit underneath and finish our pictures. At the end of the day we were soaking wet but happy as were the 495 children who had received bedkits this day.
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Uganda: Day 6!
Today we began our day with a short 1 hour
drive to the distribution site . We were greeted by a huge group of ladies who
demonstrated their traditional dances and singing while hugging and thanking us
profusely. Being a Sunday, this was our biggest welcome yet with everyone in their best clothing (some even borrowed
for the occasion).
After another successful distribution to
500 children we were treated to a wonderful lunch at the family home of one of
the Members of the Inner Wheel of Kampala. Because SCAW is celebrating their 45th
anniversary, the ladies felt that this should be a special feast for us – and
it was!!
Local specialties such as beef , matoke, rice, potatoes, chicken , peanut sauce, plantain, greens, oranges, pineapple were followed by an enormous delicious cake. As we rested in the shade at this beautiful spot we reflected on the happy children and their incredibly grateful parents. Not only will 500 children sleep better tonight, their families have also received the gift of knowing that someone in another country cares about them!
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Uganda: Day 5
Arrived safely at Namaato to a rousing welcome. Ladies were singing and dancing. The children welcomed us with shaking fingers in the air which meant they were sending us flowers.
As we were looking for the perfect photo location, many locals came by to fill their Jerry cans with water from the bore hole.
As the team becomes more comfortable with the different tasks, it has enabled a team member to interview parents and grandparents. Each interview gives us a greater knowledge of the lives of these children. As we travel further east, it is clear that the need becomes even greater.
Thankfully, 495 more children left today with huge smiles and bedkits.
On our way to our next destination, we came across a troop of baboons which entertained us on the highway. Also seen was the Ugandan crested crane which is the national bird and protected by the government.
Team Uganda
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As we were looking for the perfect photo location, many locals came by to fill their Jerry cans with water from the bore hole.
As the team becomes more comfortable with the different tasks, it has enabled a team member to interview parents and grandparents. Each interview gives us a greater knowledge of the lives of these children. As we travel further east, it is clear that the need becomes even greater.
Thankfully, 495 more children left today with huge smiles and bedkits.
On our way to our next destination, we came across a troop of baboons which entertained us on the highway. Also seen was the Ugandan crested crane which is the national bird and protected by the government.
Team Uganda
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Uganda: Day 4
Green seemed to be the colour of the day today as our teamed bumped along the roads toward our destination at Igeyero. The "Pearl of Africa" revealed itself through fields of rice, matooke, sweet potatoes, ground nuts, cabbage, avocados, and mangos. The abundance of food in these areas make one wonder why the children we greet are so malnourished.
These beautiful little girls in their new green dresses waited so patiently for their bedkits. A few delays made their wait even longer as we dealt with a child who had been bitten by a snake during the night. Another child with a broken leg needed assistance. They were quickly given their kits and sent for medical attention.
During a short break to reset the photo location, we were able to interview 5 mothers with infants. They were very forthcoming with details of their struggles as mothers in a rural village. Many of the babies were born prematurely and were still very small for their ages. The mothers were thrilled with the small gifts we were able to give them. The smiles say it all.
2000 of 5000 bedkits now successfully delivered.
Team Uganda 2015
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These beautiful little girls in their new green dresses waited so patiently for their bedkits. A few delays made their wait even longer as we dealt with a child who had been bitten by a snake during the night. Another child with a broken leg needed assistance. They were quickly given their kits and sent for medical attention.
During a short break to reset the photo location, we were able to interview 5 mothers with infants. They were very forthcoming with details of their struggles as mothers in a rural village. Many of the babies were born prematurely and were still very small for their ages. The mothers were thrilled with the small gifts we were able to give them. The smiles say it all.
2000 of 5000 bedkits now successfully delivered.
Team Uganda 2015
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Uganda: Day 3
Five hundred boys and girls were waiting for us as we entered the school yard at Nawanyago primary school.
Once they had changed into their new clothes they were given a snack before having their photo taken and receiving their bedkit.
The day was sunny and very warm, but while we were still eating lunch the heavens opened and we had a thunderstorm and downpour - so much rain that the school water tanks overflowed!
Another 500 children with happy smiles and a comfy bed to sleep on!
Team Uganda 2015
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Uganda: A Rainy Day
We were all ready for breakfast at 5:15 this morning, and looking forward to another glorious day of making 495 adorable Ugandan children very happy. We were on our way at 6:10 am, picked up the hard-working women of the Inner Wheel of Kampala, then on to Buwama, about 1.5 hours away.
It seemed we were going to win again with another beautiful day, despite the weather prediction of rain. The women were singing, laughing and having a good time on the bus.
About 10 min after we arrived at the distribution site, we saw lightening flash across the darkening sky, followed by a burst of rolling thunder. The clouds seemed to be moving quickly so we thought nothing more of it.
The children and their parents greeted us with loud cheers and shouts. They were so excited to see us.
Soon after welcoming ceremonies, the downpour started. Thankfully the children were already in another building to prepare for the photographs. Parents were squeezing between building posts and under overhangs for shelter.
Unfortunately, the photographs had to be taken indoors.
The children were patiently waiting as we set up the display and proceeded with the distribution at 11:45 am. The rain stopped, the clouds cleared so the children received their bedkits outdoors.
The process continued smoothly so were finished by 1:35 pm. The children were excited to be on their way home with their gifts from Canada! Thank you, donors.
Uganda: Day 1!!
This was the first distribution day ever for two members of the SCAW team and it was a huge success. Bedkits were given to 495 very happy and excited children while their extremely grateful parents waited close by.
What stood out for us in particular was the enormous amount of organization put in by the Ladies Of The Inner Wheel of Kampala and other volunteers. Upon arriving in Kapeeka, we found that 495 mattresses had been rolled, tied and delivered. The other bed kit items were in bags placed inside the washbasins. This major feat would have taken hours and hours of hard work before we even arrived.
The Ladies organizational skills are to be greatly admired. 495 children were dressed in their new school uniforms and placed in lines for the upcoming photo session.
While the smiles were being captured, more volunteers spent hours bending and lifting bedkits for us to present to the children. They responded with huge smiles, curtsies and genuine thank-yous.
While the other children patiently waited for their bedkits, they were led in song by the Ladies of the Inner Wheel.
What an AMAZING day for all involved.
Diane Barrick for Team Uganda 2015
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What stood out for us in particular was the enormous amount of organization put in by the Ladies Of The Inner Wheel of Kampala and other volunteers. Upon arriving in Kapeeka, we found that 495 mattresses had been rolled, tied and delivered. The other bed kit items were in bags placed inside the washbasins. This major feat would have taken hours and hours of hard work before we even arrived.
The Ladies organizational skills are to be greatly admired. 495 children were dressed in their new school uniforms and placed in lines for the upcoming photo session.
While the smiles were being captured, more volunteers spent hours bending and lifting bedkits for us to present to the children. They responded with huge smiles, curtsies and genuine thank-yous.
While the other children patiently waited for their bedkits, they were led in song by the Ladies of the Inner Wheel.
What an AMAZING day for all involved.
Diane Barrick for Team Uganda 2015
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Uganda: Busy Day!!
Team Uganda had a very busy day today. First on the agenda was an organizational meeting with our Overseas Partners, the Ladies of the Inner Wheel of Kampala. We found out a great deal about our days ahead. After just a short time together we already feel like one team with a common passion.
As you see in this photo we are celebrating the Power of Women.
After our meeting we toured some factories where our bedkit items had been manufactured. Here are some pictures taken at the uniform factory. These lovely ladies gave us a big smile.
Team Uganda 2015
Uganda: The Team Has Arrived!
You can tell from our big smiles that Team Uganda is ecstatic to be in Uganda!
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We arrived earlier today to find 5 Ladies of The Inner Wheel at the airport to welcome us. After only 19 hours in the air and a 12 hour lay-over, we are energized and ready to go. Tomorrow's plan involves a Breakfast Meeting with our overseas partners and some factory tours. Stay tuned for more details.
G'Night!
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Togo: Our Last Day
C’et fini!
4,000 bedkits in six days and then three days off to
experience the presidential election (announced after we had booked our trip)
and Independence Day. We visited Mercy
Children’s Orphanage this morning bringing lots of stuff including of course
bubbles and soccer balls. It was a fitting way to end our trip and the pictures
say it all.
Au revoir Togo,
Team Togo 2015
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This is supposed to be
the day for the Beach, but it is pouring rain, really, pouring buckets.
Eventually it stopped,
and we ventured out driving toward the Ghana border.
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All we intend to do was
cross and spend a little time there.
Passports in hand we attempt to persuade the guards of our adventure,
but they are not swayed and flatly refuse. We do not have the necessary visas
for the return back into Togo for one.
Next stop the Beach. The Ocean is rough today but we get a beautiful
pedicure from the coarse reddish sand and it felt great.
In the evening we are
invited ,by our trusted AED friends Messenh and Seygnor, who have been our
constant companions, to the church,
Eglise Evangelique Presbyterienne du Togo.
Both are members of the Band there and play the Trumpet. The music and the singing were a real treat and the experience
was a fitting end to another day in Lomé.
Hilda for Team Togo 2015
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