Uganda- A Touching Moment!

Today the team visited the district of Suni and we were once again greeted by
singing and clapping children and parents singing traditonal African songs.
Much dancing ensued! We were happy to distribute another 500 bedkits, and were warmly thanked by the area priest.

A very touching moment came at the end of our visit. Three children came forward
to give us a gift - in this case 3 eggs. They have so little and yet they wanted to
give us something in thanks. The same gesture was made several distributions
ago. We received bananas and fruit from children who had just received a bedkit.
There were hugs all round. We then managed to "re-gift" these generous items
to another family further down the road...and wouldn't you know it, they turned
around and gave us corn!

Only 1000 more bedkits to go.

Debbie Stelzer
Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: A Hot But Great Day!

Today was a very hot day, but it was balanced out by the amazing reception we received as we arrived to our site.  The women greeted us with dancing and singing in their colourful clothing, while the children sang joyful African songs.  It was so great to see how the children naturally switched places to lead the rest of the school in the songs.  One would sing and the rest of the children would respond in song and dance.  

Today we saw a few more children who were suffering from malaria.  They were very weak as they sat for their photos.  Many of the children smile for their photo but it is clear that it can be difficult to smile when you are sick, hungry and tired.

Agatha's family provided us with a delicious lunch today at their home.  What an honour to spend some time with her family and meet her 103 year old father!

Now this evening we are preparing for two distributions tomorrow.  We will give out 1000 bedkits!

P.S. Check out our video from earlier this week. Click here for blog!

Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Memories Being Made!

Everyone was very excited today as we woke up in a new location. We had a fantastic breakfast buffet awaiting us down in the lobby as we prepared ourselves for another amazing day. The drive was short and as usual every minute worth it. Warm waves and big smiles always coming from the door steps and yards of the children and families as we make our way. We again were greeted with such a warm reception and songs of joy that only being here can you truly appreciate the beauty of such happiness and graciousness. The people have to see us when we enter the bedkit site. Another day that brings such joy to all the children. Nothing can beat that smile and the look in their eyes when they are walking towards you, to receive their kit. As they approach me, I give them the biggest heartfelt high five that I have ever given! Hoping that this memory will last forever for them, as it will for me. 

Ty Gauthier for Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Our Fourth Distribution!

Today marked our 4th distribution and a long travel day. Hitting the road at 6am, we traveled four hours to the village of Bwoko. Even though it was quite the drive, it was very rewarding and emotional. The women of the village greeted us with a beautiful traditional song and dance, that is native to the area. It was simply amazing to see! 

The greeting just ensured us of the work we are doing here in Uganda and how much it means to each and every individual. The children could not stop smiling and the parents dancing. 

I had the privilege of completing a few surveys with some of the parents and children who received a bedkit today. During this process, a reoccurring theme was present. The bedkits were everything and more; we weren't just giving a gift to this one child. It was a gift to the entire family, sometimes as large as 17 family members. 

I'm so thankful to be apart of this experience and with such a great group of Inner Wheel ladies. Their passion for the children, to ensure they become something more than the situation they were born into is exactly the type of people we want to work with. This is what makes the difference. 

Sheyndl Gauthier for Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Gimbo

Today, day 3 of our distributions, we headed to Gimbo, just 25 km from Kampala.  Travelling to the destination of the day brings new sights and sounds of the beautiful Ugandan countryside.  Lush green hillsides with maze, matoke, and root crops, to name a few.  Today we were challenged with very narrow, and dusty rut filled roads we had not encountered on prior days.  Thankfully our driver Hussan delivered us safe and sound.  

Driving into a location for the distribution is one of my favourite parts of the day, and a sight to behold.  Mattresses and bed kits piled high, children and their families lining the road in greeting and excitement of what's to come.   All are dressed in their Sunday best and singing in celebration.  It's hard not to get a little emotional each time.

Theresa Cheverie​​​​ for Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Muduma

Today was a beautiful day in Muduma, Uganda about 50 K from Kampala. We enjoyed our ride out with the amazing ladies of The Inner Wheel led by Harriet, and of course our SCAW Team. The local Church provided a wonderful setting for our distribution of 500 Bedkits to local children. The team was able to entertain them with bubbles and photography of the children and their families. The children looked great in their outfits and the distribution went very smoothly and in a timely fashion. The other volunteers there were a tremendous help in making things go very smoothly. Thanks very much to all involved.

Debbie Stelzer for Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Our First Distribution!!

Today was Team Uganda's first distribution.  We visited the village of Bulo where we were greeted with songs, applause, and many many thanks from the local priest.  We started out well, laying out the sample bedkit and getting all the children into their new outfits. They were entertained with  beachball soccer and lots of bubbles.  Then, the rain came down - in buckets! After a short delay we were on our way, and by the end of two hours , 500 children had their new bedkits.  The team pulled together beautifully, and our three "newbies" did a fantastic job.

Debbie Stelzer Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda: Working Hard!

​We began our first day in Uganda meeting 30 members of the Inner Wheel club.  It was an honour to be a part of such excitement!  All the women are so committed to making sure the Ugandan SCAW distribution is successful.  

Lois and Suzanne were reacquainted with friends they met on their past distributions to Uganda while the rest of the team were creating new friendships.  

After the meeting we all travelled to see the factory where the mattresses for the bedkits are made.  The staff worked very hard and long hours to ensure the order of 5500 mattress were ready for today. 

 

We  are all pretty excited to meet the first children to receive their bedkits tomorrow!  

Team Uganda 2017
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Uganda 2017: Post Your Comments Here!

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Togo: Goodbye and Thank You Togo!

Team Togo 2017 successfully handed out 5,000 bedkits with the help of our Togolese OVPs during the period 10 - 21 April 2017. The SCAW Travelling Volunteers made many new friends among the hard-working OVPs. They were always the first in and the last ones out of each distribution - we could not have done it without them. After completing the final distribution in Zomayi, Togo, the SCAW Travelling Volunteers and the OVPS held a celebration at Casa Blanca, which also served as a farewell party for us. Our Togolese OVPs sang a song of thanks and performed a traditional dance in our honour just prior to our departure to the Lome International Airport. It was hard to say goodbye to our good friends, but we hope to stay in touch with them. 

The SCAW Travelling Volunteers and our Overseas Volunteer Partners, along with last 10 of the 5,000 children who received a bedkit during their distributions in Togo.

The children gather at the team's van to say 'merci' and 'aurevoir' as we get ready to depart Zomayi after handing out the last 500 bedkits to the deserving children in this area.

Togolese children waiting to receive their SCAW bedkit.

Team Togo 2017
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Togo: A Distribution Day! Une Journée De Distribution! (Updated)

A music and dance greeting on our arrival! 

Un accueil à notre arrivée avec la musique et la danse!
Chaque jour nous parlons à quelques enfants pour apprendre des détails de leurs vies.

Everyday we interview some students to learn about their daily lives. 
After their photo for the donors, the children line up to receive their bed kits. 

Après leur photo pour les donateurs, les enfants se mettent en ligne pour recevoir leur kit.
First of all their back pack. 

D'abord leur sac à dos.
Ensuite leur nouveau matelas!

Then their new mattress! 
Here is our distribution area in front of the school. 

Voici notre site de distribution devant l'école.

Hélène Hyde & Joy Squire-Smith for Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Along The Way We Saw?

Along the way to our distribution today in Bedjeme we saw many gardens. A couple of examples of what we saw planted were yams, and cotton.

Along the way we encountered a Togolese pothole which was large even by Canadian standards. It took up half the road! Our driver skillfully maneuvered over it and brought us to our destination.

At the site we were greeted by the locals playing percussion instruments to a Togolese beat leading us to the waiting, cheering children.  The children sang their anthem and we sang ours.

Towards the end of the distribution, one of the girls waiting to get her picture taken became ill.  We found out she was in the early stages of malaria. Fortunately she was able to get her kit.  Given that this is an area of high incidence of malaria, the mosquito nets in the SCAW kits will be especially valuable.

Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Our Wonderful Overseas Volunteer Partners!

The SCAW team would not be able to conduct the distributions of the bedkits in Togo without the amazing work that Laurent and Gladys Dekalikan and their dedicated team of 40 Togolese Overseas Volunteer Partners (OVPs). Laurent and Gladys ensure that all of the items and materials for the bedkits are ordered well in advance and are ready for the distributions. When we arrived, we were met at the airport by them, along with our driver Menseh and Laurent's nephews - Messenh and Segnon. (See picture of van with Menseh and Messenh in it). 

On each of the distributions, there are at least 20 of the Team Togo OVPs to assist us. They usually arrive at the site 2 - 3 hours before we get there to prepare the site, unload the backpacks and mattresses in secure rooms near the exit where the children leave the site, and welcome the children who arrive an hour or two before the distribution is scheduled to start. For the children, this is a festival day - a day that they will be receiving a very valuable 'gift' - many thanks to our donors. When we arrive, Laurent gives us a tour of the distribution site and helps us show the children the items in the bedkits before they sing the Togolese National Anthem for us. Our team reciprocates by singing O Canada in French to the joyous applause of everyone present. 

During the distributions, each of the OVPs has a job to do, which makes the process effortless on our part. The OVP team has been doing this on behalf of SCAW for many years. They said that it is heart warming for them to be able to help the children of Togo in this way. 

They continue to be hospitable when get back to Lome by showing us the sites of this city of 1.2 million in our spare time. They have shown us the Place d'Independence (see picture) near the newest Togo parliament building in Lome, among other sites.

The members of the SCAW Travelling Volunteer team have been so blessed to have Laurent and Gladys and their team to work with in Togo. Thank you one and all. 

Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Happy Easter! Joyeuses Pâques!

Happy Easter! Joyeuses Pâques! 

Some of our Team went to St Michaels church this morning .  Quelques membres de notre équipe sont allés à l'église St Michel ce matin. 

We saw everyone in their Sunday best. Nous avons vu tout le monde bien habillé avec les beaux vêtements de dimanche. 

The children participated in the mass. Les enfants ont participé dans la messe. There was lots of singing and music . Il y avait beaucoup de chants et de musique. 

This afternoon we are off for a tour around Lomé. Cet après-midi nous allons partir pour une excursion à Lomé.

Joy Squire-Smith for Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Our Good Friday

Despite being cloudy all day, the sunny smiles on the faces of the children, brightened the day. 

For the 500 children of Agbessia, Togo and surrounding area, today was a 'Great' Friday.

Today is Good Friday. As we were driving home from our distribution we observed many church processions along the roadway.  Some with large crowds others with just a few villagers. This  picture was taken in Keve, a town north of Lome. It is of a Good Friday procession of over 300 people, walking from the local park along a major highway to the church. The police were directing traffic, thank goodness. 

This girl received a bedkit today. She walked about 1 km back to her mother's fruit and vegetable stand after the distribution. Not only were they selling avocados, palm nuts, and bananas. but also the biggest snails that we have ever seen. 

Helene loved visiting the Artisanal Atelier in Abgessia after today's distribution. It is home to dozens of Togolese artisans who make pottery, carve wood, paint pictures, make designer fabrics and musical instruments. Helene bought a Togolese 'Coro' (similar to a really fancy banjo) at the Artisan's Atelier. The maker of the instrument sold it directly to her and explained how her son should play it. 

Team Togo on a unique tree after today's distribution. 

Team Togo 2017
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Togo: A New Area for the Team!

We drove straight north from Lome today on one of its main roads to reach our distribution. When we turned east, we were on a newly paved highway, making very good time. Unfortunately, the road has not been paved all the way yet, so later we bounced along a dirt trail beside the road bed that had been prepared for the new extension until we reached the school where the children were gathered. The road construction is being funded by China, which the locals appreciate.

The Togo country side is a wonderful green with thick vegetation where the land has not been cleared for the planting of crops such as corn or with plantations of plantain. There were some special sites today as we saw many thousands of bats flying in a forested area near the new road, a number of ox carts, and lizard – sights considered normal by our OVP co-workers.

Our driver pointed out the collections of mud huts with the thatched roofs in the forests along the roads. He informed us that these 'villages' belonged to the Togolese who came down from the northern part of the country to find work in construction or in agriculture. They then return home in the rainy season. 

The SCAW team has completed its fourth distribution successfully with the assistance of our very capable Overseas Volunteer Partners. Will be doing one again tomorrow, Good Friday, before taking the weekend off to relax as well as doing some of the things that the team members want to do, including celebrating Easter. 

From Sunny Togo - your SCAW team. 

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Togo: The People, Places, Sights and Sounds of Togo!

Team Togo is enjoying the people, places, sights and sounds of this beautiful country. The children are amazing and very appreciative of the opportunity to receive a bedkit. At today's distribution we were greeted by 10 students performing a traditional Togolese dance to the beat of the accompanying drums. 

In this picture from the start of yesterday's distribution, all of the children lined up patiently waiting to come forward to have their picture taken. The 2nd is a picture of the children walking home from the today's distribution site. The picture was taken about a kilometre away from the site and we saw the furthest ones about 3 kms away as they turned off the road to walk down a path through the jungle to their village. The happy waves and smiles that we received from them as we passed them on the road have made being here so much more worthwhile. 

The next picture is of 10 foot tall ant hill in one of the villages that we visited near the distribution site. There are lots of ant hills around like it, and one even had a tree growing out of it. 

There is a picture with our team at a waterfall near the place where we did the distributions today. We drove up the hillside and then walked down into a glen near the falls and had our lunch there. It was so cool and refreshing near the fall while we were shaded from the sun. Once we climbed the steps back up to the van, the heat hit us like a ton of bricks. We sure do go through lots of drinking water in order not to be over powered by the heat and humidity. 

The final picture is of an open air weaving shop where five young people were hand weaving scarves with traditional Togolese patterns in them. The one young man's hands and feet were moving so fast, that we could see the pattern emerging as he fed the shuttles through the loom. Some members of the team bought scarves to take home as souvenirs of the trip. The young people were glad to have made some money today. 

We are off to a new area tomorrow, but are looking forward to the trip and working with our Overseas Volunteer Partners. 

Bill Sergeant for Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Our Donors!

Je descends du véhicule pour notre deuxième jour de distribution. Devant moi il y a 500 enfants qui nous regardent avec anticipation, habillés des nouveaux t-shirts bien colorés. 

As we get out of our vehicle in Kopégan, on our second day of distribution we see standing patiently in front of us 500 excited children.

Nous, les bénévoles sommes venus au Togo pour représenter nos donateurs qui ont été si généreux. Ces enfants se lèvent entre 4 et 5 heures du matin pour balayer le sol et chercher de l'eau du ruisseau avant de se rendre à l'école. Dans le kit se trouve un matelas et une moustiquaire qui leur permettront de dormir plus confortablement plutôt que sur le sol d'argile. Aussi, ils sont fiers de leurs nouveaux vêtements, les cahiers et toutes les choses scolaires dans le nouveau sac à dos. 

We, the SCAW volunteers are here in Togo to represent our wonderful donors who have been so generous.  These children get up between 4 and 5 o'clock in the morning to sweep the dirt floors and fetch water from the nearest stream before walking to school.  This year, included in the bedkit are a mattress and a mosquito net which will allow them to sleep more comfortably than on the clay earth. The children are so proud of their new clothes, exercise books and their new backpacks. 

Ce kit est un grand cadeau qui améliorera leur vie à partir d'aujourd'hui.

This kit is a great present that will enrich their lives from this day on.

Thank you donors!

Hélène pour Equipe Togo, 2017

Hélène for SCAW Togo 2017

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Togo: First Distribution

After an early breakfast, we headed our for our first distribution - 140  km north.  Along the way, we passed Togo's highest mountain peak, some impressive termite hills and a teak plantation.

We arrived at Atchanvé where we were greeted warmly by the students of four local schools.  The distribution of 500 bedkits went smoothly with the help of our phenomenal overseas volunteers.

Team Togo 2017
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Togo: Our First 24 Hours

The Togo team arrived safely on Saturday night and were met by our overseas partners.

We awoke early Sunday morning to the rhythmic beating of drums as a Palm Sunday procession marched by our residence.

We walked through the colourful local market with our cook; stocking up our food supply for the coming week.

We spent the afternoon with our overseas partner doing our predistribution meeting; reviewing the bedkit contents and discussing our schedule.

Early to bed tonight  looking forward to out first distribution early Monday morning.

Team Togo 2017
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