Togo: The Team Has Arrived!

The team arrived late last night and spent the day getting ready for 5,000 Togolese children to receive bedkits over the next couple of weeks. We changed some of our money from the roadside “kiosk” and with a loonie equivalent to 445 CFA Francs, we feel very wealthy We then moved on to the warehouse holding the bedkits with the first truck loaded and ready to head out early tomorrow morning for the first distribution.

Team members in the photo are: Don Barclay, Heather Barclay, Francis Thomas, Sally Jo Martin, Maswood Alam (Masud), Danielle Lalonde, Doug MacDougald

We are now ready!

Team Togo 2016

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Kenya: All Done!

Well, we're all done; 5000 bedkits delivered to needy children.  Our final distribution was at a local school in Nairobi.  The children were all dressed when we arrived and very excited.  There was a constant buzz of excitement in the air.  We started with some songs, a play and dance by the children that got everybody in a great frame of mind to start.  We handed out our 700 bedkits in 2 hours, we're a well oiled machine and it will be sad to have the distributions all done and the group starting to go their separate ways.

some songs being sung

The children watching the songs and dances

SCAW Team Planning Distribution

Bob speaking to the children

Excitement as they receive their bedkits

With about 1200 personal pictures, we'll have memories for a long time to come.

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: Nairobi - part one

We completed our first distribution in Nairobi, a pleasant hour and a half drive through heavy traffic.  We took many side streets to get to the site; glad I wasn't trying to drive there myself.  The distribution was in a unique environment at an active commercial building.  We commandeered the back corner lot for our photos and had the children come out of the building where they changed, back through the mall to get there bedkits and out the garage entrance.  The distribution went very quickly with lots of help from our local team members and our driver.

waiting for the distribution

Getting ready for pictures

Happy 80th Birthday Doug

The excitement mounts.

Handing out bedkits

We had one young person waiting until the end to see if we had enough bedkits for him, our 701st child this day.  It worked out well that we matched out where he also received a bedkit and was rewarded for his long day of waiting.  Finished off with a nice lunch and visited some local stores, including a private residence where Massai jewelry is made.  The proprietor, Vicky, is an exceptional person that helps the Massai people out with many of their challenges.

Looking forward to our final distribution tomorrow, with mixed feelings.

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: Masai

washed out road

We had a nice weekend to refresh and had a long drive on Sunday to get situated for our distribution today, including a long drive over dirt roads that had been previously washed out a couple of months ago and that were still challenging to get through.  Kudos to our driver, Charles.  Our distribution was at a school in Masai country.  We handed out 600 bedkits to the children who were overjoyed by this event and the celebration that went with it.  We even had a young girl who should have been home sick, but made certain that she made it to the distribution to receive her kit.

The entire village came out to celebrate the distribution and were very colourful in their native dress.  We had a nice lunch and another long drive to get back to our base camp.  We saw lots of wildlife on the drive and the weekend and have lots of pictures of elephants, giraffes, gazelles and the like.

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: Bungoma

We're half way through our distribution with 3,000 bedkits delivered and 3,000 happy children and families.  This day's distribution was in Bungoma, definitely an area of need, and was at the end of a long drive.  It was a hot day (28C) with a steady breeze that kicked up the dust on occasion.  The children were ready and waiting when we arrived and definitely tired by the end of the day.  Following the distribution we were entertained by songs from the school children. 

Followed up with a lunch at a local Rotarians home and a short drive to our hotel.  Looking forward to the weekend to refresh for the final push.  Hard to believe we're halfway already.  There's so much need here, we could undoubtedly deliver many more bedkits before we would meet all the needs.  Thanks to the donors that have sponsored our program.  Your donation is definitely filling a need.

Our Helpers

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: Gil Gil

We did our distribution in Gil Gil today.  1200 bedkits in record time; about 5 hours.  Included in the group were 60 special needs children. We had lots of local and Rotary volunteers to assist us and they helped immensely with the various stations.  We thank them very much.

After the distribution, we visited the Kenya Restart Orphanage.  This is a great facility and provides a home for about 150 children from newborn to teenagers.  The orphanage also emphasizes teaching and learning for the children to give them a good start on their adult lives.  The children put on a great demonstration of dancing and singing for our entertainment.

It was a very satisfying day.

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: Distribution Two!

2^nd day of distribution; at Nyeri.  It was a hot day and started with a little rain with the threat of showers throughout the day, but the rain held off for our distribution. We gave out another 600 bedkits.  It was an energetic group of children but well behaved and once the children got the knack of the routine the distribution went very quickly.  After the distribution, we had a nice lunch at the Outspan Lodge and visited a Cheese Factory.  It was a long day to get in the vicinity of our distribution tomorrow, crossing the equator along the route and passing through the Great Rift Valley.

Team Kenya

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Children Anticipation

Lovely Serenade of Thanks

Doug and his three bedkit recipients

Great Rift Valley

At the Equator

Kenya: Day 2

On the road by 6:30 am and 4 hours journey leading to our first distribution on the hospital grounds across the road from the Makindu  Sikh Temple.  We had a Sikh prayer to begin the distribution and handed out 600 bedkits.  The children were well behaved and very appreciative of the bedkits.  We spent the night nearby. Ate lots of vegetarian food.

The next morning we headed Emali to visit the children who received bedkits last year.  It was a rugged hour drive up the mountain to their school.  The children of the school of 350 students were very excited to see us white folk and swarmed to the group about as fast as we could exit the vehicle.  From the school we walked a small path up and down the hill to visit some of the children's homes.  The previous year's bedkits were being very well used and the children and their parents expressed great appreciation for our gift.  It was a bit of a climb back to the school that let us know that we're not all athletic cross-country runners, with the exception of 2 of our group.  Kim had some excitement with Army ants but was fine.

The headmaster noted that the student's marks had improved appreciably since the period before the bedkits were distributed.  This was some solid evidence of the positive effect of the bedkits and improved sleep on the children's learning and great news.

All in all it was a great couple of days and the time with the children was very moving.

Team Kenya 2016
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Kenya: The Team is Travelling!

Dennis Baxter, Kim Baxter, Doug Cunningham, Bob Barclay,  Alison Verkuyl, Darrell Verkuyl, Clarence Deyoung

Team Kenya 2016
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Belgaum: Final Mission!

Today is one of mixed emotions for our team.
A time of great satisfaction as we completed our mission of distributing 4000 bed kits, the last of which was completed without a hitch today in Hubi. A small  distribution by SCAW standards of only 200 kits.
A time of joy as we saw the delighted children going home with a bundle sometimes bigger than they are of much needed items.
1A time of sadness as this life altering experience will end with a wrap up meeting tonight.
A time of appreciation and respect for our team leader Sue Orr who lead us to success with more obstacles than should have occurred including intermittent reduced numbers to help with the distribution due to illness.
Above all an intimate knowledge of the value of the work that SCAW does with the help of  committed volunteers 
at home and abroad.

Team Belgaum 2016

Hubli - penultimate distribution

Today in Hubli we did our penultimate distribution. We gave out 700 bed kits today and have just 200 to do tomorrow. There was a greater percentage of kids with disabilities at Hubli.  A couple of little kids were quite alarmed by the whole process and were crying for their mothers by the time they got to the photo shoot.  Sue waited until they stopped crying before taking the pictures!

 

Donna Crossan for

Team Belgaum

Rotarians had special shirts made for Hubli distribution

The kids are seated and waiting patiently to be called to get their bed kits and have their pictures taken.

 

 

 

 

 

After taking some kids' pictures, Sue high fived them as they left!  Such energy on Sue's part and such fun for the kids too.

 

This picture shows pretty clearly how challenging it is to arrange 10 children for a group shot in the order you want them when there is no common language. It's amazing that the pictures look as good as they do.

 

Belgaum - 800 children!

 

Yesterday was the largest distribution - 800 bedkits and it was one of the hottest days so far.  Luckily it was in Belgaum so we did not have to travel out of the city.  The children were bused in staggered lots so all 800 did not arrive at once.  The children were fed a meal consisting of a sandwich, banana, juice box, and a piece of chocolate provided by one of the Rotarians who has done this for the last 17 years. 

 

After we had photographed approximately 250 kids everything ground to a halt as VIP's came to visit- we had the police commissioner from the district, the district deputy governor and even the monk from a  temple we visited last week.  We resumed after an hour or so and at the end of the day we balanced so all was good!

 

Lita Fearon

for Team Belgaum

 Dignitaries came to visit

Playing with the children while final count  taking place

Photo op

Girls comparing their outfits

 

The wives of the Rotarians feeding the children

Ramdurg - 400 more children receive bedkits!

Our distribution of 400 bed kits at Ramdurg went very smoothly.

The site was compact and efficient. Canopies in the schoolyard protected all from the very warm sun. Again the Rotarians greeted us with flowers, this time necklaces of marigolds which were much heavier than one would think.

The children were all quietly waiting for us to arrive . Upon our arrival excitement reigned .

Again the women of the Inner Wheel and the young people in training to be Rotarians were there eagerly assisting. Some kids gathered on the roof of the school to watch the event.

Sue was ready at the camera for picture taking and the team members organized the children for their picture"

Children lined up for their shoes, sweaters, school supplies, raincoat and bed kits.

As they left they had a very full and heavy bag and were extremely happy!

Parents and /or friends often greeted them and assisted in carrying their bags.

Here in India many farm animals run free range. As you can see pigs  were hanging out in the school yard.

This area of the country is a farming area and more green than some other areas we have been to likely due to  irrigation.

On the way back to the hotel we had the opportunity to visit a most impressive World Heritage Site.

 

Nancy Mongeon

for Team Belgaum

Day 4 - Gokak. A Perfect Distribution Day!

The four steps to a perfect distribution day:

1.  After a relatively short 1 hour drive, arrive in the village of Gokak and be greeted by 200 eager faces.

2.  Be given the opportunity to take the SCAW photos. No pressure - the sign is visible, the children are facing forward, encourage them to smile and then click. Easy as 1-2-3-4.

3.  Watch your fellow team members meet, greet, count and escort these precious children through the process.  

4.  See the joy in your Team Leader's face as she hands the children the bedkit bag.

 It was a great day!

 Kerry Harman

for Team Belgaum

Kerry revels in her role as photographer!

Family Day in Harugiri and Ugar

When we arrived in Harugiri about 10:30 this morning, these children were patiently waiting for us--boys on one side shown here and girls on the other. They applauded our arrival and then applauded each of the 27 items in the bed kit as we showed them what they would be getting. Such excitement! 

 

All in all, a very successful day with 590 bed kits delivered to 590 children through the SCAW family on Family Day in Ontario.

Donna Crossan for Team Belgaum

Boy & Girls waiting.

 

 

The mothers of the children were waiting under a separate canopy and were a lovely riot of bright colours in their saris. Very gracious and many smiles of appreciation because of the gifts to their children.

After an exceptionally smooth distribution at Harugiri,  we got back on the bus to go to Ugar to deliver another 300 bed kits.  This colourful picture shows the women who helped deliver the sweaters, raincoats and bed kits there.

These young men worked very hard at the actual distribution of the bed kits. Since many of the smaller children could not lift the kits, these willing volunteers carried a total of 290 bed kits from this area to the exit to be reunited with their parents.

Nipani - 400 bedkits!

The SCAW team is well.  All six were at the Nipani distribution and with the help of the Rotarians and the Inner Wheel made 400 children very happy.

Happy Valentine's Day from Team Belgaum

Belgaum Distribution Day 1

The team of 2 left the hotel for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Athani - the other 4 members being left behind in sickbay. We arrived on site to a large gym amid the cheering and clapping of 300 children which sounded like a beehive. The local Rotarians had the gym cordoned off for easy flow of children. Sue snapped the pics and I gave out the bed kits with the help of a few Rotarians. Smooth distribution and Sue passed the test with flying colours.

Lita Fearon for the Team