Uganda: The Land and the People
As Winston Churchill quoted: "Uganda is the pearl of Africa "
Our SCAW team with 18 Inner Wheel ladies experienced this vast, rich and wonderful terrain as we traveled west for our distribution site. Mangoes, avocados, plantain, corn and "Irish" potatoes are a few of the produce visible en route.
There are many smiles from the Ugandan people, young and old. We receive warmth and enthusiasm from the children and their parents as we give the bedkits. What a joy to deliver such a gift to the Ugandan children. Thank you donors.
Team Uganda 2016
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Our SCAW team with 18 Inner Wheel ladies experienced this vast, rich and wonderful terrain as we traveled west for our distribution site. Mangoes, avocados, plantain, corn and "Irish" potatoes are a few of the produce visible en route.
There are many smiles from the Ugandan people, young and old. We receive warmth and enthusiasm from the children and their parents as we give the bedkits. What a joy to deliver such a gift to the Ugandan children. Thank you donors.
Team Uganda 2016
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Philippines: Vigan to Manila!
We're on the
road again! We are embarked on an 8 -14 hour drive back from Vigan heading
south to Manila. Timing depends on roads, construction, traffic and the
reliability of the several people who gave us a wide range of time lines. We
helped pass time by guessing our arrival time and multiple “road games” thanks
to Jenny Simpson!
The time was
also broken up with a stop at a SCAW Philippines members’ home for a brunch
along the way and a chance to catch some ocean views!
This day also
gave us all time to reflect on the distributions so far and how every little
“job” we hold during the day contributes to the entire team effort.
Chris Hills is
our Team Leader and takes all the photos, as well as coordinates our work with
the Philippines SCAW team on the ground here.
Gail Hills
handing out a bedkit to a thankful little girl.
Jenny Simpson
during a home visit with a bedkit recipient from earlier in the day.
Joan Hatcher
conducting an interview with a bedkit recipient and his mother.
Rick Beardon
handing out a bedkit. This is the task
we all love to get!
Iain McIver
having fun with the children before the distribution. This can be the most fun part of the day for
both the kids and us as team members!
Brian Barr with
the task of the very important “label pulling” job of the day!
Our roles
change daily but each one plays an important part of making sure the
distribution runs smoothly and for the children!
Philippines: Vigan!
Today found the team in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of the seven wonders of the modern world. It is an exceptionally well preserved example of a European trading town with many examples of Spanish design and architecture.
This is the first time SCAW has been here to make a distribution, and the efforts of SCAW Philippines and many, many local volunteers worked extremely hard to make this special day a success.
The melodies of Lupang Hinirang (the Philippine’s national anthem) and O Canada filled the arena.
After the official introductions and acknowledgements, we were fascinated with an example of the tinikling dance. An energetic dance where very quick reflexes are required as dancers step in and around moving bamboo poles. Several team members (Filipino and Canadian) were invited to join in.
Nothing was too much trouble for the local volunteers as we asked for the calesa carriage to be relocated for the photo shoot.
Jess Navarro, our constant companion and guardian showing off our backdrop.
With the proximity of Canada to the North Pole (and the gifts that come from there) being noted, 350 children lined up waiting patiently to receive their gift from Sleeping Children. Delighted expressions of joy lit up their faces once they realised that each and everyone of them could take a bedkit home with them!
After 350 children went home happy…Edgar, one of the local volunteers kindly invited the teams to his home for a wonderful Filipino feast.
We also met his exotic pet…….
Team Philippines 2016.
Post your comments here:Zimbabwe: Mission Accomplished!!
Mission Accomplished! 806 more children in Zimbabwe sleeping cosy in their new bedkits! We are so grateful for all the support from our Zimbabwe partners as they took on this challenging new distribution, truly embodying their Rotary motto of "service above self" and the SCAW mandate of 100% for the children. Everywhere we went we were showered with thanks, and we pass this along to you in the videos. Hope and joy, for sure!
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Uganda: The Inner Wheel!!
Mahatma Gandhi said "To find yourself, you must lose yourself in service to others." The women of the Inner Wheel have truly found themselves in their untiring service to the children of Uganda. To work shoulder to shoulder with these women each day is a true inspiration to our Canadian team. We all rejoice in the joy of the children receiving the benefits of the work done in Uganda, and thanks to our donors.
Team Uganda 2016
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Team Uganda 2016
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Uganda: Our First Distribution!
Today was our first distribution. We left our hotel in Kampala at 6.45. Our destination was a church in Kakuba which is a 28 km ride. Traffic in Kampala can be busy. It took us 2 ½ hours to reach our lovely rural destination. Our day started and ended with an inspirational prayer.
The church is high in the mountains. We were surrounded by sugar cane and banana trees, with stunning views. The children were greeting us along the road long before we reached the school. What can be more touching than seeing those huge smiles and waves as we navigated the narrow clay road .
At the church we were welcomed by 500 smiling faces. The Bishop and his wife were also on hand to greet us. Following a welcome speech by the Bishop’s wife and Regina the Inner wheel organizer, the distribution started and went smoothly. We left the site knowing 500 children will have a better sleep tonight.
Jean Macnab for Team Uganda
Philippines: Laoag and Burgos!
Today we did a distribution at Laoag. It went extremely well, including a live pony and ice cream seller as props for the photo shoot. We did some more recipient interviews, both were blind children. One had the gift of music. Though blind Ian an 8yr old lad taught himself to play the piano. He is able to go to school but at his age it is only half days. Unfortunately he is an only child as well so he seldom has anyone to play with as he has to stay close to his mother. His home situation is complicated with the father abandoning the mother and child at his birth. To survive she moved back to her mother's house where young Ian practises on her piano. We were assured that he was quite good and that he could make a living from playing the piano. Blind artists by custom are in demand at various gatherings such as wedding and funerals. Another Stevie Wonder maybe? What was the most important thing in the bedkit? The towel, because now I can have a bath. We ended the visit with a gorgeous meal that left us full.
On route to our next site we stopped off at Paoay Church, the Roman Catholic church of the Ilocos Norte. This is a UNESCO Heritage site built around 1710.
In the afternoon we drove to Burgos and the Argo-Industrial school. This is an agrarian community with most being farmers. Again more interviews. Jay-de is 8yrs old living with his family in a bamboo structure of roughly 12x 14 ft with an earthen floor. They suggested that more school supplies would be good. After the distribution a dance troupe put on a colourful local dance for us. As is the custom we were treated to a meal. This time it was a suckling pig, with crackling!
We had a lot of traveling today and finally got to our hotel about 8pm.
Team Philippines 2016
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Philippines: Day of "Rest"!
Today was our "rest" day which was pretty busy!
Left early in the morning for Nayong Pilipino - a type of park which is filled
with recreations of historic Phiippino architecture. Some interesting things to
see and pretty flowers along the way. Afternoon
was at the Clark Museum which tells the history of the Clark Naval Base.
Fascinating story which includes the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 and the
economic development.
We had an early start to our Sunday morning after our rest day. We left
Angeles at 8:00 to start the distribution at 9:30. We travelled to Zaragoga.
This was the first time a distribution in this town and the children were
excited and a little confused as to what we were doing there. Once they
discovered how the process worked after getting their picture taken they were
running with excitement to receive their kit.
One of the jobs of the travelling volunteers is to interview
a recipient with their parents to gain insight into their lives. We also ask
them what items would be the most useful in the kit. The answer most of the
time is all of it. I interviewed a woman Mary Jane and her daughter Ryanne. Ryanne was unable to walk so her mother had to
carry her everywhere. They had walked 4 hours in order to receive the bedkit
and this gift will assist this child and hopefully make life a little easier
for both of them.
Jenny Simpson for Team Philippines 2016
Post your comments here:Philippines: New Sites!
After a stay at the hotel in Aringay near the seaside, off we go to our first distribution in the same town. We were met at Carmen National High School by lots of smiles from the children and their parents and other family members. The school site is also an assembly location for typhoon and flood evacuation, which is always a concern here in the Philippines.
We distributed 300 bed kits to the wonderful children of Aringay, all of whom were happy to give us a high five whenever we put up our hands. All of the children and their parents were very appreciative and were very thankful to everyone in Canada whose donations made this possible. After our distribution, we were treated to a fantastic lunch prepared by the local school parents. Before we left, we were given a lovely gift bag of local treats and a weaved tray to take home.
We boarded our van and off we went to our next distribution, two hours drive drive along the coastal highway in Luna. We were greeted at Luna National School by the children and their families with cheering and waves. The local Vice Mayor gave all SCAW a warm welcome speech and a sincere thank you for choosing his town and this school.
We received a nice gift bag and certificate of thanks from the Vice Mayor, then we were treated to a delicious afternoon lunch known as a Merienda. After a brief tour of the magnificent cathedral in Luna, we drove to Laoag for the night.
Both Aringay and Luna were new sites for bed kits distributions and they each went very well. Three cheers for the SCAW Philippines team and each local team for excellent planning and organization before we arrived to do the distributions!
Brian Barr for Team Philippines 2016
Uganda: Getting Underway in Uganda!
Ted for Team Uganda 2016
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Uganda: The Team Has Arrived!!
Greetings from Uganda. The Team has arrived!
Ready and eager to start our journey from Toronto
 |
sitting: Nancy Loveless, Ted Swanston, Carol Swanston
standing: jan Gayman, Susan Sheremeta, Norma Rookwood, Jean McNab
|
Dubai airport. Just 5 more hours to go.
We have arrived!
Team Uganda 2016
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Zimbabwe: Meeting the Families!
Please meet this family of 5- Gogo (Grandma) and her 4 grandchildren ages 4,6, 8, and 15 (at school, so absent from the photo). We had the pleasure of meeting the 6 year old at his school when we gave him his bedkit. He was wiggling with excitement when we came to his home and chatted with his Gogo. She was busy assembling his mosquito net, readying it to hang above his new bedkit. Her life has been typical, if a hard one- raising her grandchildren, living a hand to mouth existence by gathering firewood and selling it roadside. They live on borrowed land, and there are many worries about the future. Our discussion made us realize yet again how glad we are to be in this country, volunteering with wonderful, kind-hearted individuals who are working hard to improve the lives of children.
Team Zimbabwe 2016
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Philippines: Daily Adventures!!
Today was another good day for SCAW Team Philippines. Thunder storms delayed our departure for Magalang but it did not impact the distribution too much, neither did the 91'F. Our first challenge was to get into the site.
A very tight squeeze but nothing our driver Lando could not handle. Three hundred smiling young faces greeted us. Well behaved but they were not sure what was about to happen. Siblings waited and watched the entire distribution waiting for brother or sister.
Some played, some talked to their friends, others horsed around until order was called. Our opening started with the singing of the Philippine and Canadian national anthems, a greeting from our donors delivered by our team leader and then the distribution. Some were excited, others puzzled while others just wanted to go play.
We are becoming a well oiled team, from setting up labels, taking the photos, guiding the children to the next spot and handing out the bedkits And all along the way the lovely interaction with the kids..
Today we did some interviews. An adult and child were pulled aside as they left the area with a bedkit. We asked if we could get their opinions aimed ar improving the bedkits. What was the best thing in the kit? What items was of limited use? What could we add to the kit? The answers were not too unexpected. The mat was generally number one, though occasionally school supplies have been the most desired item. All through this, the child is beaming.
Our lunch, a Filipino meal was provided by one of our hosts. Adobo, fish and other delicacies ending with Maria's Secret, a mixture of rice, ice cream and mango. More than enough to get us to Mabalacat.
And then the routines starts all over again. The children in this distribution were from an indigenous group on a nearby mountain. They had to be driven a distance to the site, a park. Turns out we are into the start of the wet season, luck held out though and the rain did not materialize.
And then the routines starts all over again. The children in this distribution were from an indigenous group on a nearby mountain. They had to be driven a distance to the site, a park. Turns out we are into the start of the wet season, luck held out though and the rain did not materialize.
From Team Philippines 2016
Philippines:650 More Kids Will Be Sleeping Better Tonight!!
After a brief but torrential rainstorm overnight, today was
hot and humid. Our first distribution was inside a basketball court in Angeles,
Pampagna, where 300 enthusiastic, cheering and clapping Filipino children
greeted us. With SCAW Philippines and local volunteers working alongside the
Canadian team, the day went smoothly.
The afternoon found us in Porac, where Aeta children had
been brought by a variety of transportation to the local sports arena. These
children are from indigenous families living close to Mount Pinatubo. The Aeta
children brought high spirits and enthusiasm to a new level!!
The proceedings began with a traditional dance from four
bedkit recipients lead by an Elder from the local Aeta community. Of
course…..our team was invited to join in!
Chris Hills for Team Philippines 2016
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Philippines: Day Three!
Well we hit the road today, leaving the hustle and bustle of
Manila and our cozy hotel to head north. Our first stop was in a Plaridel where
the children were seated in bleachers waiting patiently to receive their
bedkits. It was nice to the whole group together and see all the 350 smiling
faces together. I was lucky enough to be
on bedkit duty so was fortunate enough to hand the kits to all the kids. (the
best job of the day) The children were
so polite and excited to receive their kit making it always a pleasure to give
them their gift.
The
local volunteers do an enormous of work getting things organized on the site
before we arrive. From setting things up and having the bedkits ready to
preparing a lovely meal for us to enjoy together after the distribution.
After the morning distribution we continued on to Arayat
arriving with a police escort! The parents and children were waiting for us to
arrive and we ended the distribution with ice creams cones which was a great
way to end a very hot day.
Jenny Simpson for Team Philippines 2016
Zimbabwe: First Experiences!
Team Zimbabwe 2016
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Philippines: Marilao
We arrived at Marilao to the sound of the school band playing and cheerleaders twirling flags and stepping to the music. What a welcome!
Brian Barr for Team Philippines 2016
To get here, we drove 50 km north from our hotel in Quezon City to Marilao in Bulacan Province. Little did we know our hosts were up before dawn clearing the school courtyard of mud and water from floods caused by heavy rains the night before, and transporting some of the children by boat through the flood waters to the school to make it on time for our distribution. These are people who deal with hardship every day, but do so with a big smile on their face.
Before we distributed our 350 bedkits, we were treated to a spirited singing of O Canada by the chldren. Thanks to excellent organizational work by Dr. Ito's SCAW Philippines team, the local team from the school, and our own Canadian team, the distribution went very well. We were then treated to an excellent lunch, including delicious Filipino papaya.
After lunch we were invited to visit three homes of families whose children received bedkits today. They showed us around their modest one or two room homes of 300 to 400 sq ft housing sometimes three generations of 7 or more family members -- always with pride and warm smiles.
How would I sum up our experience with the children of Marilao? Maganda, which means "beautiful" in Filipino!
Brian Barr for Team Philippines 2016
Zimbabwe: We Have Arrived!
Debbie Will-Dryden for Team Zimbabwe 2016
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