Tanzania: July 18, 2016
Our team was privileged to visit the home of a bedkit recipient after our distribution on Monday. We drove a long way on some very rough roads to get to there, which means that the children would have to walk a long way each day to school. The home had two rooms, one for family living and the other for sleeping. Mama and the two children of the family were very excited to receive the bedkit. She explained that she would cook outdoors on an open fire and she had bought some chickens, hoping to get some eggs in the future. We left our visit feeling very blessed with what we have in Canada.Team Tanzania 2016
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Tanzania: July 17, 2016
Sunday is often described as “a day of
rest” but not for this year’s SCAW team in Tanzania. Despite having no bedkit distributions today,
we were out the door at 6:40 a.m., heading to church with Mama Wandoa, Benjamin
and Wendy. The choir’s music was beautiful
and lively, and at the end of the service we were invited to visit the
children’s Sunday School where our team taught “If You’re Happy and You Know
It” to the children—great fun was had by all!
In the afternoon, we toured through the Village
Museum and learned so much about traditional customs, housing and heritage of
seven different tribes of Tanzania.
Several of our team members and our driver joined the dancers and
learned some new moves to try at home.
At the end of the afternoon, we went to two
community markets to see local artisans at work and to practice our bargaining
skills in order to purchase a few souvenirs.
Today’s experiences will help us better
understand the families and children we are meeting, as we continued to learn
about the unique and wonderful Tanzanian culture. We are fully refreshed and ready for
distribution number three tomorrow.
Tanzania: July 16th, 2016
Day two and we were anxious to fine tune what we discovered on day one!
We left close to 6:30 am and arrived an hour later at the school in Buyuni. Trees shaded the grounds of the school and hundreds of children and their families were there excitedly awaiting our arrival.
We were introduced to the families by Benjamin and entertained with a music circle by the children. We were told the theme of the children's entertainment was based on road safety and it looked like a fun and creative way to deliver an important message. Watching children fill buckets and water the grass, the teacher told us that the signs on the trees remind the students that sharing the planet and keeping our planet green is their goal.
The Head Teacher told us that 2,260 students attend his school, aged from 5 to 11 years . There are 45 teachers in the school, and two teachers are assigned to every 100 student classroom.
Yesterday I asked students from a similar size school if they "liked their teachers" and was overwhelmed by the positive response in English of "we LOVE both our teachers!" Education is an important goal of most of the people of Tanzania.
Today, we gave out 710 Bed kits without any glitches, and thanks to the volunteers, we learned enough Swahili to say to them "This is a gift to you from a friend in Canada" as they lifted the backpacks onto their backs.
Team Tanzania 2016\
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Tanzania: July 15, 2016
Today we had our first bedkit distribution
in Temboni at a small school about fifteen minutes off the main road. When we
arrived, the children and their parents were thrilled to meet us. We quickly set up and with Mama Wandoa’s help
had the distribution on its way. A highlight of the distribution (and a real
moment of enjoyment for someone who had never been on a trip before) was seeing
how happy the children were when we handed them the bedkits and mattresses. When
we showed the parents what was in the bedkits they were overjoyed and cheered
loudly. It’s so great to think about that over seven hundred children will be
sleeping better tonight.
Team Tanzania 2016
Tanzania: July 14, 2016
Part of the challenge with a distribution
in a foreign country is trying to adapt to every situation possible. Today is
an example, as we had to reschedule the distribution because of a change in the
country’s exams for students entering secondary school. Children had to attend
class so, we started our journey…. with a field trip! It was a great
opportunity for us to learn more about the people, their culture and the
country of Tanzania.
We had the opportunity to meet Said, a
history teacher, mentor and also a fantastic guide that gave us a lot of
information about how African history evolved over the years. We tried many
different regional fruits and ate local typical food. We also explored the
spice fields filled with many of the well-known spices of Zanzibar. Our guide seemed
to know everyone on the island and it was amazing to see his genuine involvement
with local citizens in need.
During the day, we learned so much, and as
nothing happens for nothing, we will be more knowledgeable about the children’s
reality for our first day of distribution tomorrow.
Team Tanzania 2016
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Sri Lanka: Mission Accomplished!!
Today we completed our last day of distribution. It feels so good to say that we've given bedits to 4,000 children in Sri Lanka.
Shelley was able to get some further information from a bedkit recipient and her father by conducting an interview on the usefulness of the bedkit.
We had an opportunity to visit another home of a bedkit recipient. The family of four resided in a mud hut. They were not able to stay in the home during the rainy season and needed to board with a family down the road. They also told us that they continually have challenges with elephants damaging their property.
It has been a wonderful experience distributing bedkits to children in Sri Lanka and working with our Overseas partners.
Sincerely,
Team Sri Lanka 2016
Judy, Marni, Shelley, David, John, and Katie
Tanzania: July 13, 2016
Team Tanzania started the morning with a
tour of the mattress factory, which has been manufacturing the foam mattresses
made for SCAW in Tanzania for 15 years.
The manager gave us a tour where we first saw a staggering pile of 5000
mattresses, colourful and bright, ready for distribution.
We watched the foam for the mattresses be
cut, carried, and piled high, ready to be covered in fabric, after which they
were wrapped in plastic to ensure that the mattresses stay clean and dry
through the night. The company is kindly
storing the mattresses for free in addition to providing transportation to the
distribution sites. The employees
proudly showed us their handiwork and we were able to ask questions and take
pictures.
Following the tour, our team was invited to Mama Wandoa’s home and workshop where the children’s clothes and backpacks are sewn and the bedkits are compiled. Piled high in two rooms are 5000 bedkits, readily waiting for 5000 children who will dream bigger and sleep better thanks to the generous donations through Sleeping Children Around the World.
Sewing machines were electric and manual, some for buttoning, some for serging. We also took a look through a bedkit to see how each item will help each child. Seeing each bedkit ready to go has us all excited to begin the incredible work we know is about to begin.
For the Children
Sri Lanka: Distribution Five!!
Today was another busy day of distributions. We delivered our goal of 700 bedkids very quickly despite the fact that we had brand new army helpers.
Our last image of the day was of about 40 happy children piled into the back of a pick-up truck heading home with their treasures. Their shyness gone, they were 'all smiles', waving and calling out their "good-byes".
Marnie Nelles for Team Sri Lanka 2016
Sri Lanka: Day Four!
Today's distribution was the second day of afternoon starting times. Much of the school and some of the recipients were writing state board exams in the morning. Although the humidity was high with temperatures rising we managed to distribute over 650 bed kits before the sun set at 6:30.
We were very sad this was the last day that our Sri Lankan army helpers were to be with us. Their assistance was an intricate part of our distribution. They enjoyed being with the children and were so gentle.
The finger identification station is a popular spot on the distribution. This is an opportunity for the team members to talk to each child and absorb the beautiful smiles.
The SCAW team members walked along the dykes of the rice paddies to make a home visit of one the days bedkit children. The pathways are very steep and narrow with no apparent pattern. These trails are only part of the route that the seven year child takes each day to school.
John MacDonald for Team Sri Lanka 2016
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Sri Lanka: Interviews!
It was another successful day as we distributed almost 600 bedkits, putting us over the halfway point of our 4,000 target. I had the good fortune to interview the parents of four bedkit recipients to get information that will help us to better understand their circumstances and needs. SCAW will use this information to determine whether we should consider adjusting the contents of future bedkit deliveries in Sri Lanka. Today's parents told us that, while everything in the bedkit is of great value, it is shoes, mosquito nets and school supplies that they see as the most helpful. It is very clear that Sri Lankans place enormous value in education, and some parents told us that a good night's sleep is a vital part of a successful day at school. At the end of the day, we visited the home of a recipient family, which involved a 15 minute walk through a rice paddy, and another 15 minutes back. This is harder than it sounds! The photos are of one family that I interviewed, our rice paddy walk and the home visit. All unforgettable.
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Sri Lanka: Visiting Homes!!
Today we visited two sites and delivered a combined total of 900 bedkits! The team worked very well together and we are all enjoying the friendliness and appreciation the children of Sri Lanka.
We were fortunate to visit the home of one of today's bedkit recipients. We were welcomed into the home by Mother and son, which they shared with the child's Father and three siblings. Seeing the home gave us a real awareness of the need of the family and we know the bedkit will be put to good use.
Thank you donors for your support. We are seeing exactly how it helps these families in Sri Lanka.
Katie Sandiford, Team Leader for Team Sri Lanka 2016
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Sri Lanka: First Day in Pictures!
Today was our first day of distribution, just over 600 bedkits were happily received.
Here are some photos that captured the day.
Photo 1
A few proud teachers
Photo 2
The team at the end of the day, still standing.
Photo 3
The girls looking so beautiful!
Team Sri Lanka 2016
Sri Lanka: The Team Is On Their Way!!
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| David Sloan, John MacDonald, Katie Sandiford, Judy LeFeuvre-Allan, Marnie Nelles and Shelley Herder. |
We're enroute to Sri Lanka tonight with our first distribution happening Saturday. The Team is excited and ready to go!
Team Sri Lanka 2016
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Uganda: It's a Wrap!
With mixed feelings team Uganda completed their last day of distributions. Happy to see the 5000th child receive her bedkit. Sad to see our amazing time here in Uganda come to an end. We were so energized that along with our oversees partners, the Inner Wheel of Kampala, we wished we could keep on going to more sites and give more bedkits. One member said to me “Jan, get more bedkits, let’s keep going. We still have lots of energy”. Working side by side with these ladies has been amazing. The Inner Wheel and Scaw have worked together seamlessly as one team. We can celebrate our accomplishments and know that we have made a difference to the lives of 5000 Ugandan children.
A Special Welcome From the Children!
“ Welcome visitors, Welcome. We have been waiting for you"
Jan Gayman for Team Uganda 2016
Uganda: Visiting an Orphanage!
We visited an orphanage following our successful distribution. It is new with two babies, five toddlers and four little boys ages three to four. It is a large building that can accommodate fifty children. Hoping with all our hearts there will never be that many.
Norma and Susan for the SCAW team Uganda 2016
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Uganda: An Emotional Thank You!
Sleeping children teams interview parents of bedkit recipients, to get feedback on the items and to learn a little of how the family lives. Today I spoke with a grandmother, Vida who is looking after her four grandchildren and her ailing mother.
When asked what she would say to the donor, Vida started to cry. She said "It is a hard burden looking after my four grandchildren who I love dearly, and my mother. I have no one at home to speak to, or to help me, other than God. I pray every day for the strength to carry on. Today my prayers have been answered. My granddaughter will be able to sleep well on her mattress, with a bedsheet and blanket to keep her warm, and a net to protect her from mosquitoes. My granddaughter (Adreen) loves to go to school, and the school supplies will help her. I will pray that the donors will live a long and happy life, and that they will receive many blessings."
Vida then kneeled down and said a prayer, after which we shared a long, quiet hug. It was a special, and an emotional time for everyone. Vida and Adreen then waved goodbye, and grandmother and granddaughter set off carrying their bedkit on their 6 kilometre walk home.
Thank you donors for making this Sleeping Children trip possible. Your gifts are truly making a difference in the lives of 5,000 beautiful Ugandan children.
Ted Swanston for Team Uganda 2016
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When asked what she would say to the donor, Vida started to cry. She said "It is a hard burden looking after my four grandchildren who I love dearly, and my mother. I have no one at home to speak to, or to help me, other than God. I pray every day for the strength to carry on. Today my prayers have been answered. My granddaughter will be able to sleep well on her mattress, with a bedsheet and blanket to keep her warm, and a net to protect her from mosquitoes. My granddaughter (Adreen) loves to go to school, and the school supplies will help her. I will pray that the donors will live a long and happy life, and that they will receive many blessings."
Vida then kneeled down and said a prayer, after which we shared a long, quiet hug. It was a special, and an emotional time for everyone. Vida and Adreen then waved goodbye, and grandmother and granddaughter set off carrying their bedkit on their 6 kilometre walk home.
Thank you donors for making this Sleeping Children trip possible. Your gifts are truly making a difference in the lives of 5,000 beautiful Ugandan children.
Ted Swanston for Team Uganda 2016
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Uganda: Small Gifts!
Mother Teresa once said, "We do no great things, we do small things with great love." Today during a parent interview a mother said that no one had ever given her anything. This is true for so many recipients of bed kits. Such simple gifts become their greatest treasures. We thank the donors from Canada for helping us to enrich the lives of the children of Uganda one bed kit at a time.
Nancy and Jean for Team Uganda 2016
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