Each team member was presented with a garland made of roses and jasmine. The perfume was potent and a wonderful warm welcome to this fascinating country.
Team Kolkata 2016
Nameskar,
We are delighted to say that we made it! Five sevenths of the team arrived in Kolkata in the wee hours of Monday morning to a most glorious welcome by our volunteer hosts - the Rotary Club of Dum Dum. We are looking forward to meeting our two other team mates when they arrive later this evening.
Our photos show us leaving Toronto and our arrival in Kolkata.
More tomorrow!
Team Kolkata 2016
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We are delighted to say that we made it! Five sevenths of the team arrived in Kolkata in the wee hours of Monday morning to a most glorious welcome by our volunteer hosts - the Rotary Club of Dum Dum. We are looking forward to meeting our two other team mates when they arrive later this evening.
Our photos show us leaving Toronto and our arrival in Kolkata.
More tomorrow!
Team Kolkata 2016
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Today we had no long drive to the site, no ride in an Ox cart and no ceremonial head wear but today we danced! The student entertainment today was colourful displays of native dances. The costumes were exquisite and the skill level impressive ; but the thing we will remember is that we were invited by the children to join them in dancing on the stage. Not many photos, as we were all busy trying to follow along!
Although we were in Pune many of the recipients had travelled great distances for this very special occasion. We gave out 900 bed kits in short order, thanks to the support and assistance of the Pune Rotarians and their family and friends.
I am always amazed at the smiles from both children and parents. Life is not easy for many of these families, yet the children greet you with a smile! Even the youngest children say " Thank you very much". Today, I found many of the parents so pleased with the gift to their child that they appeared over come with emotion. While handing out back packs, parents often shook my hand and thanked us.
It is really amazing what your $35 donation can buy. The Rotarians have done a wonderful job of sourcing all the contents of the bedkit locally. Take a look. Your donations go a very long way in helping these children and their families.
Today I met a women who had brought 10 young girls from an orphanage. All the children had been coaxed on saying thank you. She also made a point of thanking all the SCAW team along the distribution route and thanking us. This means so much to these children!
A wonderful day! Tomorrow will be a very long day and unfortunately our last distribution.
Sandy Riches for Team Pune 2016
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Although we were in Pune many of the recipients had travelled great distances for this very special occasion. We gave out 900 bed kits in short order, thanks to the support and assistance of the Pune Rotarians and their family and friends.
I am always amazed at the smiles from both children and parents. Life is not easy for many of these families, yet the children greet you with a smile! Even the youngest children say " Thank you very much". Today, I found many of the parents so pleased with the gift to their child that they appeared over come with emotion. While handing out back packs, parents often shook my hand and thanked us.
It is really amazing what your $35 donation can buy. The Rotarians have done a wonderful job of sourcing all the contents of the bedkit locally. Take a look. Your donations go a very long way in helping these children and their families.
Today I met a women who had brought 10 young girls from an orphanage. All the children had been coaxed on saying thank you. She also made a point of thanking all the SCAW team along the distribution route and thanking us. This means so much to these children!
A wonderful day! Tomorrow will be a very long day and unfortunately our last distribution.
Sandy Riches for Team Pune 2016
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Words cannot describe my experience since arriving! My first distribution, first trip to India and first time travelling without someone I knew.
Our day four was a two hour drive to Amboli where we would distribute just over 900 bed kits. As we travelled through amazing terrain we arrived at a first rest stop, a school with smiling, singing children anxious to meet us. I am truly amazed how children with so little could be so very happy.
We continue on to our distribution site. We are treated like royalty when we arrive; drums playing, children dancing, bells ringing. You can’t help but notice the beaming faces of children that will be receiving a very special gift today. They are so happy, so anxious and grateful. I have tears well up in my eyes each day as I see these lovely, beautiful children. I wanted to hug them all at once and let them know they are so truly loved! Many photos were taken and many smiles were seen. I met a special young boy today who was six years old. He is going to be a teacher one day he informed our Rotation translator. So eager to learn, so happy with the kit he received today. He promised his mom he would not be opening his stationary kit until he was in school, as he did not want it to get dirty.
It was an amazing day, but it is not over yet. We arrive at the Mayor of Amboli’s house for a traditional home cooked meal. I felt honoured to be part of something special. As we are about to leave we look out over the horizon to see the sun beginning to set and feel an amazing accomplishment for today. We have had the ability to change lives of many children today. I can’t imagine how they would feel when they arrived home and recounted their memories of the day. I am sure as they laid their head down on their new pillow and got cozy with their new blankets, the lovely dreams they would have of the day as they drifted off to sleep. Memories they would hold close to their hearts for many days, months and years to come.
I cannot put into words my experience thus far. I am working with an amazing group of individuals who have hearts of gold, true angels really. Would I want to experience this again… in one YES. My life has been changed in so many wonderful ways. I have been truly humbled with this experience.
Cheryl Warner for Team Pune, India 2016
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Wow! After 2 days of 900 bed kits per day and a 17 hour day yesterday, we were very glad to have a rest day today on one of the Indian national holidays. Today is a day to celebrate the harvests across the country.
Our Rotarians have been absolutely amazing on this distribution; not only has their organization of the distributions and volunteers been fantastic, their personal involvement and dedication to SCAW and all that we are achieving is inspiring. Today we had the additional honour of being invited to join them in their celebration of the holiday. Family and friends joined in to fly kites, play cricket and "throw ball", and to enjoy some tasty sweets. This was a multi-generational celebration and we felt very welcomed and enjoyed being called "auntie" by the younger generation at the gathering. This was truly a unique and special day for us. The relationship that we gain by working with the Rotarians adds another dimension to the great SCAW experience!
Jill Plasteras for Team Pune 2016
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It is said that it takes a village to raise a child. Today's distribution proved not only that concept, but also the one of inclusion. Many grandparents accompanied the children, and we had much joy in having a group of blind children sing for us. For many of the barefooted children it was the gift of shoes that spoke volumes. They held them closely with such pride. An expression of thanks was a child bending down to kiss one's feet. We allayed our discomfort once we learned the appropriate response - touching the child's head with your right hand. From a quiet spot I simply observed the incredible logistics and interactions taking place before me between the kids, their families, the Rotarians, volunteers. I was in awe of the sheer magnitude of this smooth and efficient distribution. Such comraderie and teamwork. We got the opportunity once more to experience using our right hand to eat at another communal dinner on our return trip. It was a good exhaustion after a long arduous trip and successful distribution.
Jan Fine for Team Pune 2016
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This is my first ever blog, my first ever distribution and the first day of the distribution. I am totally overwhelmed.
What a day. It began with a chaotic and crazy drive lasting about an hour from the hotel to a small village (100,000 people!) called Kopre, We suddenly came to a stop to find three carts being pulled by beautifully painted and and decorated oxen and it seems like the whole village had turned out to greet us. A parade had been set up for us. We received ceremonial headwear called Pheta which looked a little like turbans and were led to the school by a children's band, followed by us sitting in carts pulled by the oxen. We felt like royalty.
We were led to a stage in front of hundreds of children, who had traveled from various schools in the region, and treated to a wonderful floor show by the children. After we set up the bedkits and were prepared for the children, the fun began. To see hundreds of smiling children waiting in line to have their photos taken, then go to pick up their bedkits, was a thrilling and moving experience to say the least. These children were selected from a set of criteria, primarily because of their exceeding poverty and conditions they live in, and by their beaming faces, one can only imagine how these 6 - 12 years felt. We know how we felt. Pictures tell a thousands words, and the pics I have attached to this blog will hopefully convey some of our feelings. We gave out 900 odd bedkits today, a day that has been a life changing experience for me.
Catherine Gayton for Team Pune 2016
Well I thought it was a great idea in 2015 when I suggested to the our overseas partner, the Rotary Club of Pune Cantonment, that I would attend Pune prior to the distribution in 2016. The purpose was to observe and assist in the process of actually assembling the bedkits for this years distribution. Arriving at 1:30 on Saturday January 11, I was able to grab a few winks and be at the assembly area with the Rotarians at 9:00 am.
The atmosphere had an air of excitement. Rotarians, their families and volunteers numbered over 150 people.
Before long the manual process of assembling the kits began. The bedkits contains over 30 items. I am amazed at just how far a $35. Cdn. Donation can be stretched.
The items in the kit: from floor blankets, and a mosquito net, to school clothes and a back pack, to name a few, are treasured by every child who receives these.
The volunteers have a bag for each kit and walk a loop in the assembly area collecting each item in the kit. The process goes on until all 4500 kits are assembled. This entire process took place over two days. Now the fun part...distributing the bedkits to the children.
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OUR DISTRIBUTION OF 6000 BEDKITS IS COMPLETE!
Our last day at Kuakata which is located right on the Bay of Bengal. We had the shortest traveling time ever, for the first time in recent memory that a SCAW Team slept at the site (distribution was at our hotel). We spent lots of time with our final 200 children and handled them the with TLC - tender, loving, care. Great day had by all. Lots of smiles from the children and tears from the team members.
QUOTES OF THE DAY!
Theo Nandy - A very emotional day as we reached our goal of 6000 bedkits
Mary-Jo Lang - It went "soooooo" fast!
George Foster - Another feeling of satisfaction as 6000 children are given a good nights sleep.
Judy Snobelen - Emotional day as we made memories that will last a lifetime for us and for the children.
Neil Chopp - My senses have been stimulated by the environment and the day to day life of the people in Bangladesh. I have recognized the countries widespread poverty, their hope for the future and their love of god.
Debbie Stelzer - The children were wonderful, the team was wonderful, an unforgettable experience.
Mike Foster - Many wonderful memories! The Rotary Club of Dhaka did an outstanding job with their planning, organizing and the care of the SCAW Team.
Judy Snobelen for Team Bangladesh
Today's bedkdit distribution site in Patuakhali is a district in the South-Western Bangladesh about a 2 hour trip from Bairsal which included a ferry boat ride across the Payra River. The city is surrounded on 3 sides by rivers. The 2 major rivers are the Laukathi and Lohalia, which are directly connected with the Bay of Bengal. The bedkits were given out at the District Shilpokola Academy, a cultural venue which holds 500 people.
The Rotary Club of Patuakhali along with the Rotary Club of Shantinayar worked together to bring 400 children to the site. 60 of children travelled 60 km by boat launch from Kache Para Island (2 hour boat trip). This is the first time that the SCAW and Dhaka Rotary Team have distributed in this area. The children receiving the today were the most needy that we have seen to date.
Today's distribution of 300 bekits took place at a Government school in Amirabad in the area of Jhalakathi. This is the first time that SCAW has made a distribution in this area. It was very evident the children where definitely in need. 50 of the children were from the school itself, 150 from the local area and the other 100 traveled approximately 7 km. The teamwork of the local rotarians and volunteers was truly evident from the moment we arrived. The children entertained the SCAW volunteers with dancing and a visit to their classrooms. We had the opportunity to meet a 110 year old man at the local tea stall who had donated the land for the school to be built 75 years ago. The day was a huge success and we were all very happy knowing that these 300 children and their families would be having a good night's sleep. A special thank to all our donors for making this a reality. We only have 2 distributions to go with 600 bedkits and our mission of 6000 bedkits will be complete.
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A most rewarding distribution today. 500 hundred bedkits successfully distributed in Banaripara. Banaripara is a south central village in the Division of Barisal approximately 250 km south of the capital city of Dhaka. The location of the distribution took place on the property of Captain Moazzam and his wife Farzana Hossain. The hosts opened their home and the surrounding grounds for a successful distribution.
At each of the distributions, the word, sponsorship has been regularly shared between the Rotarians and volunteers from the local village. Prior to the bedkits being distributed today, I had a brief opportunity to speak with Rotarians of Dhaka and with Moazzam (past President for the Rotarians of Dhaka) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the term, sponsorship. It was explained, that sponsorship is a large component of what makes the distribution successful. Most often an individual or a number of individuals will sponsor the children who are receiving the be kits. This is not to be confused with the purchase of a bedkit which is completed by the donor. Sponsoring children at a distribution entails paying for the packing and storage of the bedkits prior to distribution, the cost of transporting the bedkits to the distribution site, financially covering the costs of trainers who teach the volunteers what is necessary for a successful distribution, and the costs for the visiting managers who visit the site in advance to check on its suitability and preparedness. An individual can also sponsor a light one time meal for each child and pay their transportation costs if the children are transported from a distance away from the site.
Today, Captain Moazzam and Farzana Hossain covered 100% all of the costs including a meal and the transportation of all 500 children. Today, some children travelled up to four hours one way by boat and then bus to the site and then home again in the mid-afternoon. Moazzam and Farzana also fed well over 40 volunteers and the local security personal with a wonderful and healthy lunch and tea in their home.
When I spoke with Moazzam, he indicated that it is his and his wife’s love for others and a need to share what they are able, to help the children in Bangladesh. There were 500 smiling children today and their families will have a good sleep this evening. The Hossain family set a clear example for others on what it means to be giving and to make a difference for children.
Neil Chopp for Team Bangladesh
Today saw our team visit the village of Gournadi, in southern Bangladesh. On our arrival we saw the now familiar crowds of parents and children. It was actually pretty noisy and a bit chaotic but it didn't take long for the local Rotarians to get things in order. The children here struck us as a bit poorer than other areas, but just as friendly and enthusiastic as every other town we've visited. Their parents all called out lots of thank yous when we approached them at the gates. We successfully distributed 700 bedkits to children who will sleep well tonight.
At the end of our work, we were invited to tour a typical home in the village. Our "tour guide" was a beautiful young girl who spoke excellent English and proudly showed us her bedtoom, kitchen, and study area piled high with books. Her favorite subject is math. We were then invited for a delicious Bangladeshi lunch in the nearby dining hall and then we're on our way back to our hotel. Another successful day of distributing bedkits. Today we have distributed a total of 4600 bedkits and have 4 more distributions to complete our 6000.
Only another 1400 bedkits left to distribute!
Debbie Stelzer for Team Bangladesh
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Judy Snobelen for Team Bangladesh
After our rest days in Dhaka we had to travel to Bhola. We started the day disembarking from an overnight launch (a Bangladesh river ferry) from Dhaka
During the day we traveled by our mini bus, speed boat and ended the day in the back of a mini city taxi
This was our largest distribution of 1000 bed kits the weather was beautiful and the children were excited and well protected under canopies from the sun. It turned out our host for the day was a Bangladeshi man from Bhola who was also a successful Canadian businessman.
We were treated to a sumptuous lunch of lobster, rice and Bangldeshi sweets.
1000 bedkits and 1000 smiles another perfect day.
George Foster for Team Bangladesh 2015
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During the day we traveled by our mini bus, speed boat and ended the day in the back of a mini city taxi
We were treated to a sumptuous lunch of lobster, rice and Bangldeshi sweets.
1000 bedkits and 1000 smiles another perfect day.
George Foster for Team Bangladesh 2015
An extraordinary distribution today. Six hundred bedkits successfully distributed in Saidpur. Saidpur is a northwestern village in the Division of Rangpur, Bangladesh, approximately 330km north of the capital city of Dhaka. This being my first experience for Sleeping Children around the World, I have acquired a deeper understanding as to how many individuals and groups of people, such as the Rotary Club members, local officials, SCAW volunteers and the donors, that are needed to make a distribution successful.
Before the bedkits were distributed today, the children were able to see what a bedkit consists of which raised their level of excitement and anticipation. Six hundred children and families of incredible poverty will have the comfort of a bed kit in their homes this evening. It is hoped that these children and their families will have a good sleep for many years to come and thereby increase the chances of a positive and successful day in the fields or village where they work, or in schools where they learn.
During this distribution today, I was given the privileged of completing interviews with the moms of the children receiving bedkits. A local nun from a nearby school, Sister Celine Baroi, assisted me in the translation of the questions and answers. When asked, which item in the bedkit did the mom believe will have the greatest impact for their child and family, they unanimously answered the mosquito net. Each of the moms interviewed today wished to pass on a message to the donors, that they will pray to Allah to bless the donor and to say thank you.
Neil Chopp for Bangladesh Team 2015
I woke this morning to the first Call to Prayer, and enjoyed its haunting and peaceful tones.
A fine way to start a day!
To date, in our four days of distributions, 2,400 Bangladeshi children have received a bedkit. These are children exactly as our own - funny, daring, shy, excited, timid, wide-eyed, full of promise - and last night each of them would have gone to bed with gifts from our SCAW donors that might ease the way to their becoming more of the people they already are.
After our last distribution when we returned to our hotel, the Canadian Bangladeshi team and many of our Rotarians and Rotaractors ventured out to a neighourhood tea shack. It was the perfect end of a day! It was a cozy spot with an inside table for 6 or 8, and of course, lots of road space outside to stand and talk.
It had a hand pump well for the water, a fire of pressed rice stalks under the kettle, fresh ginger and other condiments ready, and honestly, it was the best cuppa ever!
Good tea and good company! It gets no better!
A fine way to start a day!
To date, in our four days of distributions, 2,400 Bangladeshi children have received a bedkit. These are children exactly as our own - funny, daring, shy, excited, timid, wide-eyed, full of promise - and last night each of them would have gone to bed with gifts from our SCAW donors that might ease the way to their becoming more of the people they already are.
After our last distribution when we returned to our hotel, the Canadian Bangladeshi team and many of our Rotarians and Rotaractors ventured out to a neighourhood tea shack. It was the perfect end of a day! It was a cozy spot with an inside table for 6 or 8, and of course, lots of road space outside to stand and talk.
It had a hand pump well for the water, a fire of pressed rice stalks under the kettle, fresh ginger and other condiments ready, and honestly, it was the best cuppa ever!
Good tea and good company! It gets no better!
We have completed the northern districts of Bangladesh for our bedkit distributions and will be leaving on an in-country flight then take some rest for a couple days. We will then move to another part of Bangladesh where we will visit 7 more districts in another part of the country to complete the remaining 3,600 bedkits.
Mary-Jo Lang for Team Bangladesh 2015