Tanzania: Hot, Hot Weather!!

Before our 7:00 am departure for the second last distribution, we loaded three hockey bags and two knapsacks filled with donations from generous friends and family (hats, flip flops, shoes, t-shirts, sunglasses, school supplies and sports equipment). Lyle used metres and metres and metres of rope to 'hogtie' the bags to the top of the van. The bumpy roads and huge potholes were no match for Lyle's knots!

Even though the distance to Mwangaza school was relatively short, the trip turned into an 1 1/2 adventure because there are almost NO street signs and Tanzania does not have GPS. When we FINALLY arrived at the school, the overseas volunteers greeted us with smiles, laughter and huge hugs.

Today was the hottest day yet with absolutely no breeze in the school's inner courtyard! The temperature was 33 degrees celsius with incredible humidity! We will NEVER EVER complain about the heat and humidity in SW Ontario again!

Following the distribution, we delivered the bags of donations to Matumaini school- a residential school for children with physical disabilities (ages 7-21). Since 1969, this incredible facility has been operated by the Salvation Army. Of the 210 children, 57 are albino. Sixteen teachers provide Form 1-7 education for all and almost all graduates advance to two designated high schools in Tanzania. Some regular supplies, like food are funded by Salvation Armies around the world, including Canada. A new boys dormitory is close to completion and Lt. Thomas Siana is seeking donations for metal framed bunk beds ($360 Canadian) as bedbugs pose a problem with wooden beds.

We were moved by the compassion of the staff and the caring actions of the students toward each other. Having seen some of the conditions from where these children came, it is heartwarming to see them In a place that can better accommodate their uniqueness. God bless!


Ruth Sealey & Kay McLean for Team Tanzania 2017
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Tanzania: Another Day in Paradise!!

Another day in paradise!  The skies were blue and the temperatures were warm.  Does it get better than this?

Today's distribution of 785 bedkits was at Kibamba Elementary School outside of Dar.  The traffic was much better -- hence the travel time was much better -- than what we experienced on the earlier distributions which makes a big difference when every seat is filled in the van!  The school was built on a hillside so setup on level ground was a problem but not insurmountable.  When I wandered to the back school it was clear that soccer wasn't the game of choice at recess!

As usual the children, moms and dads were elated to see us.  They listened attentively to the introductions and applauded in their own inimitable fashion to our distribution.  The children were well behaved and smiled at the drop of a hat with little or no encouragement.  It was a pleasure to see happy faces! 

There were two other things that struck me.  First was the number of "thanks you's" I heard in dispensing bedkits and mattresses.  When I inquired of a few children it appears that English is taught -- which it was at previous schools -- but also emphasized especially in circumstances as this.  Maybe it was rehearsed but it was nice to see the children taking risks with my language and encouraged me to continue taking risks with theirs!  Second was the friendships and camaraderie afforded the disabled children.  Their friends were excellent at guiding them through the process at the pace required of the disability.  I hope that sense of friendship continues with them forever!

Despite the fact that the clouds were white and fluffy, being of the cumulus kind, there were a couple of very short cloudbursts.  Not only did they not disturb the enthusiasm, they provided a welcome respite from the heat of the day.  With the slope of the hill, there weren't many trees and hence no shade.  

The day was wonderful, the children were wonderful and the impact of our efforts were noticeable.  Another beautiful day in paradise!

Lyle McLean for Team Tanzania 2017

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Tanzania: Day 3 of Distributions!!

Our third day of distribution went very well at the school in Chanzige.  We had some extra helpers today, as Benjamin's family has joined us from the UK. Although we had a small rain interruption, we successfully distributed 785 bedkits.

On our way back to our home base, we visited the factory where all of the bedkit mattresses are made. We were able to see how the foam is made, and some of the chemicals are from Quebec, Canada. The foam is then cut and covered with brightly coloured fabric and wrapped in plastic to protect it.

Mr. Davesh Dave and Mr. Dipak Desai were very gracious hosts. They have been supplying the mattresses for 16 of the 17 years SCAW has been distributing bedkits in Tanzania. They also donate the transportation of the mattresses to each distribution site and provide 50 extra mattresses for Mama Wandoa to distribute during the year. We were pleased to share with the representatives from Unoplast that SCAW had purchased a bedkit in memory of Mr. Paresh, a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.

And on a personal note, this distribution is extra special for me this year, as my daughter Lyndsay is on the team.

By Helen Scutt forTeam Tanzania 2017

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Tanzania: A Culture Filled Day!

Today is Sunday so there are no bedkit distributions. You might think we got to sleep in and relax but NO ...church began at 7:00 and lasted until 11:00.

It was an honour to attend Mama Wondoa's church, Magomeni Mviringo Lutheran in Dar es Salaam. This new church building was started in 2012 and although it is still a work in progress, the building is used every Sunday and throughout the week for a variety of programs including a 6:00-7:00 a.m. 'Praise and Prayer' service for daily encouragement.

Attendance on Sundays averages around 800-1000. The Sunday School roll includes 285 children with an average of 100 each Sunday. We had the opportunity to visit the Sunday School where we entertained them with a song and they entertained us.

Today was a special service lead by the young people ( ages 18-35) with music and drama. Three church choirs and two visiting youth choirs sang and danced-the acoustics were amazing with the open air sanctuary that soared five storeys high. The congregation responded to each performance with the ' Trinity Clap' (three claps; Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The SCAW team was welcomed by the pastor and introduced to the congregation.

The afternoon was spent at two craft markets where we were able to watch artisans at work and make purchases to take home to family and friends.

Ruth Sealey and Linda Straus forTeam Tanzania 2017

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Tanzania: Exploring Zanzibar

Since bedkit distributions in Tanzania take place at rural schools, today most of the team booked a personal day trip to Zanzibar. It was a very exciting and eventful day full of amazing sights, sounds and smells. The morning was spent touring Stone Town. Our guide Sahid was a wealth of historical information about the island, buildings, its people and its markets-fish, meat, fruits and vegetables.

After enjoying a tasty Swahili lunch, our guide took us on a very informative walk through a spice farm where we smelled and tasted many spices -lemongrass, peppercorn, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, mace, cloves, nutmeg and cardoman. We stayed at the spice farm a little too long and found ourselves running late. This was further complicated when traffic stopped due to road construction. Given the limited time to get to the ferry, our driver chose to drive down the sidewalk. It made for quite an adventure! Luckily we arrived at the ferry with four minutes to spare.

The return ferry trip to Dar es Salaam took longer than the morning trip of an hour and a half because of strong head winds and very rough water. It was a once in a lifetime adventure on "Spice Island."

Ruth Sealey and Linda Straus for Team Tanzania 2017

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Tanzania: "La La Salama"

Team Tanzania was on the road by 7am this morning. Today would be a big day as we were to deliver 790 bedkits to Sanze Primary School, located about a one hour drive southwest of Dar es Salaam. It is a hilly region with lots of tropical vegetation. The earth is so red due to the iron content in the soil.

When we arrived at the school, many parents and children were there waiting for us with big smiles and waves. Momma Wandoa’s team was already unloading the bedkit supplies. The SCAW team helped to tie up the mattresses to make it easier for the children to carry them home.

The team worked very well on our second day. On this distribution, we have four new team members out of a team of seven, so we have had to develop a fast learning curve. But there is an experienced group of Tanzanian assistants to help out all the SCAW team members.

To be begin the distribution, the children change into their new school uniforms. The colour of the uniforms varies with each school. The children are lined into various size groups for picture taking. Our partner, Mama Wandoa has her team complete this challenging task.

After picture taking the children receive their bedkit and a mattress. I personally had chance to wish them a good night sleep by saying “la la salama”, as they left carrying their new bedkit.

As a retired teacher it was interesting for me to meet two teachers at the school, Zamda Abdallah, grade 5 and Ndimbumi Undongole, Kindergarten  teacher at Sanze Primary School in the village of Kisarawe. We shared information about our teaching experiences and the challenges of the teaching profession.

Today was a wonderful distribution day. We finished early but got caught in traffic on the way back to our lodgings. However, I slept well that night, knowing that 790 children would have a chance to enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Donna Henderson for Team Tanzania 2017
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Tanzania: Learning in New Places!

This morning we were on the road at 7:00 a.m. The ride to Go Go Public Elementary School was an interesting one. The trip took us much longer than it would have for the same distance to be traveled at home because of the many stops. When you stop at a red light in Dar es Salaam, you REALLY stop and by that I mean for up to 15 minutes.   All due to construction and a lack of infrastructure, similar to many Canadian cities.  While we waited for the traffic policeman to allow us to go through, we watched many people walking between the cars selling various goods, shovels, peanuts, potato chips, maps (very large maps) to name a few. Along the way there were rustic stands selling almost anything you could imagine.

Upon our arrival we were greeted with lots of hugs from Mama Wandoa, her son Benjamin, her daughter Wendy and her grandson Jerome as well as many volunteer helpers . The trucks containing the backpacks and the mattresses were already unloaded and we were ready to start our day.

Being a retired teacher, I needed to see the inside of a classroom. So during a lull in activity I found one of the teachers sitting at her desk in an empty classroom. It was about one o'clock I was surprised to find that the 100+ five year old students that she teaches had already finished their day. She invited me in to look around.  There was nothing there but a cement floor -- no desks, books, toys, activities and certainly no computers. Sadly, the children sit on straw mats on the floor. The walls had a few hand made charts yet this wonderful teacher was excited to show me what they were studying. After leaving her classroom I was introduced to the assistant to the principal. He was an enthusiastic young man who clearly loves his job and thought nothing of the fact that he had 250 students in his class. I laughed thinking about what our Ontario teachers would have to say about that! He introduced me to his class and the students gave me an enthusiastic welcome.

From there I headed to meet the principal. He was so warm and welcoming. He asked if I knew of a school in Toronto that might like to partner up with his school so that they could learn more about life in Canada. I said I didn't have connections with Toronto schools but I would be more than happy to hook him up with the students in the school that I retired from in St. Thomas.  He said that the children are learning English; yet they have no books to read. I walked away from him knowing that I would do my best to make that connection for him and his amazing students as well as finding a way to send him some used textbooks. What a gift the textbooks that are too old and outdated in our schools would be to this community.

The day was long but it went by quickly because the children were such a joy to work with. Seeing them meet up with their parents with their bedkits made me forget about that dusty bumpy road that got us there. I will think twice before I complain about some of the trivial matters that I find irksome. I have shoes on my feet which is more than some of these children.

For the record we distributed 765 bedkits to deserving students.  The chaos was well controlled by the volunteers and the incredible logistical challenges were somehow overcome by these same volunteers.  For us it was relatively simple and straightforward but we all knew that the efforts of others were making us look like heroes!  And we are grateful to them for all they do! They must love the children as much as we do!

Kay for Team Tanzania 2017
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Tanzania: On The Go!

Team Tanzania 2017 has been on the go with our first distribution today in Gogo! 785 children and their families are sleeping better tonight thanks to the many donors who make this all possible.

Our bright-eyed team departed Toronto Pearson Airport on Tuesday, and we arrived in Dar es Salaam Wednesday afternoon (not as bushy-tailed). After claiming our luggage, we were immediately greeted by the big smiles and open arms of Mama Wandoa, Benjamin and Wendy. No time to spare, we jumped right into business, visiting Mama Wandoa’s house which housed the backpacks full of bedkit goodies, and met with one of the men responsible for sewing garments and backpacks for the bedkits.

Our first distribution site was in Gogo, just over an hour’s drive from Dar es Salaam. We arrived to crowds of excited children and parents, waiting in anticipation. Well… they weren’t the only ones excited, so were we!

Team Tanzania 2017 is half distribution newbies, and half veterans. Working together, we soon found our distribution groove, and did a lot of high-fives with the children along the way. As a newbie myself, I was fortunate enough to help out in an array of distribution tasks. But by far, the most special task I performed was interviewing parents and children who had just received bedkits.

With a strong focus on sleep habits and quality of sleep, I was able to connect one-on-one with nine families. Mothers, fathers, grandmothers and their children spoke with me (with translation help from Benjamin) about their lives and how well they sleep at night, prior to receiving a bedkit. I learned more about these families than I ever anticipated, holding back my emotions as I was moved by their stories and inspired by their strength.

What a wonderful start to our distribution journey here in Tanzania. My cheeks already hurt from smiling so much, and I can’t wait to get started on day two! 

Lyndsay Wallis for Team Tanzania 2017
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Sri Lanka: Distribution Completed!!

The distribution is complete!!!!  The team distributed 800 bedkits today to reach a grand total of 5,000! 

After our distribution, we had the opportunity to visit a boarding house where approximately 20 girls reside while they attend local schools.  Their families live outside the area.   Several of the girls living in this boarding house received bedkits today and are thrilled to be given this generous gift.  

Team Sri Lanka 2017
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Sri Lanka: Day Five Complete!

Day 5 is successfully completed! So many happy faces right from the beginning today in Sri Lanka. We started off this morning with an O' Canada sing-a-long and the kids absolutely loved it!

800 little ones will be returning home for a happy night's sleep after today. 😊

Mariah, a science major, has also included a diagram of a heart from a mural on the side of a school.  We've seen plenty of these types of visuals at schools throughout the distribution.

Mariah for Team Sri Lanka 2017
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Sri Lanka: 855 More Bedkits Given Out!

Another successful day here in Sri Lanka.  Although it's Sunday, we had a full turnout, distributing 855 bedkits.

Teachers accompanied some of the children who came by bus

Parents were on hand to collect others with their bedkits in tow

Children receiving their bedkits 

Waiting to catch buses home

Happy faces all around . . .

Team Sri Lanka 2017

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Sri Lanka: Bringing Joy!

Today was the hottest of three distributions. Full Moon Celebrations were going on in the District. The SCAW team are doing a fantastic job bringing joy and a better night’s sleep to 850 children.

Happy faces preparing to receive their bedkit

Various methods of travel for parents and children taking home their bedkit

Various methods of travel for parents and children taking home their bedkit

Various methods of travel for parents and children taking home their bedkit

Can always count on an ice cream vendor to keep the children cool with a treat

Faces of two Sri Lankan children about to have a Suwa Nindak. (Good Sleep)

The young child’s expression tells the story!

Team Sri Lanka 2017

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Sri Lanka: Our Distribution in Pictures!!

Another successful day!  Working with our local Sri Lanka partners, we distributed 850 bedkits.  

Here are some photos!

Neil watches welcoming ceremony with children presenting betel leaves to us on arrival at their school gate.

Very excited children lined up to get photos and receive bedkits.

Brian with three teachers who accompanied their children by bus from another nearby village.

Children outside after just receiving bedkits.

Time to take the new bedkit home!

Mariah with some of the children who helped out at the distribution.

Team Sri Lanka 2017
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Sri Lanka: We Are Hard At Work!!

We arrived early at our first distribution site to be greeted by young students gifting us Betal leaves.  We then were marched into the school grounds by the school band.

Once children had received their bedkits they waited with friends to board their buses back to their home villages. 

We were fortunate to visit the home of one of the bedkit recipients.  We were able to see how the young boy receiving the bedkit will be able to benefit from it’s contents. 

A great first day of distribution filled with lots of smiles!

Team Sri Lanka 2017
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Sri Lanka: We Are On Our Way!!

Here is Team Sri Lanka at Pearson International ready to take flight yesterday evening.

We'll be distributing 5,000 bedkits next week.  Stay tuned to follow our adventures!!! 

Katie Sandiford for Team Sri Lanka 2017 Post your comments here:

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Uganda: Mission Accomplished!

Team Uganda and The Inner Wheel of Kampala successfully completed our last bed-kit distribution on Friday in Banda. What a marvellous sight to see the smile of the 5,500th child receiving her bedkit!  We were all trying to make the most of our last day playing and singing with the children, and capturing those special memories to take back to our friends, family and future donors.

A long bus ride followed where we stayed near the 'Source of the Nile'.  The Inner Wheel women planned a special reception at the hotel where we shared tea and tasty treats.  The highlight of the evening was a round table discussion with each volunteer sharing a touching personal story experienced during this distribution.  There were many laughs, a few tears and lots of fun! Saturday morning we toured the 'Source of the Nile'.  We ventured onto a small wooden boat to experience the birds and plants before visiting the exact spot where the Nile River begins from Lake Victoria.  It then flows 4000 miles before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. 

Sunday was a day of closure with the Inner Wheel Club of Kampala.  Team leaders met to review the financial records and evaluate the success of the bedkit distribution.  Then everyone attended a lovely dinner and an evening of fun to celebrate the conclusion of our journey together.  There were silly skits and lots of laughs, as well as sincere words of appreciation for the great contributions made by both the SCAW travelling volunteers and the Inner Wheel women.  They had a lovely cake made to acknowledge the contributions of both teams working together to successfully deliver 5,500 bedkits.  The SCAW team presented the Inner Wheel women with Canadian maple leaf scarves as a token of our appreciation for their hard work and partnership.  These amazing women have been partnering with SCAW for about 25 years, working tirelessly each year to register the neediest children, purchasing and packing the chosen bed-kit items, and then joining us for the actual distributions of bed-kits.  We are lucky to be connected with such a dedicated group of passionate women.

This morning we visited the uniform factory where the clothing was made for this year's distribution.  Unique Uniforms is a modern factory that designs, cuts, sews, irons, and embroiders school and workplace uniforms.  It was interesting to hear how the owner of the factory started his business with only 2 sewing machines and is now able to employ 135 Ugandan workers. 

Well, this is the end of our journey.  Thank you for following our distributions over the past two weeks and offering your support from Canada.  It makes a difference to know that others care about our work to improve the lives of 5,500 children in Uganda.

Signing off!

Team Uganda 2017

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Hand in hand, we grow together

We've come a long way since our first distribution outside of Kampala 10  days
ago, growing personally, growing along with the others from SCAW, and growing
even stronger as a team with the women from The Inner Wheel of Kampala. They
pave the way with their planning and organization, and we are pleased to join
them hand in hand.
Today was our second to last distribution.  We've seen 5,000 happy children  and
 have 500 more to go. We are excited to have changed so many lives by delivering
the bedkits on behalf of the so many who have donated.  Each village makes a
point of asking us to bring back their  thanks.
Before the distribution each day, we have lots of fun playing with the children
and mingling with their families.  Memories we will cherish forever.   As you
can see, the  pictures speak louder than words...

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Another joyous welcome!

Team Uganda awoke very early to be on the bus by 7am.  The rocky hills of Tororo were beautiful to see in the early morning sun as we passed crops of rice, matoke, coffee, sugar cane and maize.Two bed-kit distributions for 500 children at each site were planned for today.  

We set out from Tororo and drove about 1 1/2 hours on very bumpy dirt roads in rural areas.  The sites were amazing with more small round homes with thatched roofs. Children, and parents alike, were excited to see a big bus coming into their community.  The first distribution was in Bumufuni.  We were greeted by lots of women dancing and singing; we enjoy joining in their dances and they think our efforts are quite amusing!  The children were happy to be dressed in their colourful new clothes and welcomed us with lots of clapping and cheering for the 'bazungu' (white people) who had arrived to bring them gifts.  After completion of the distribution, we were provided with a wonderful hot lunch of Ugandan dishes at the home of a local couple before heading off for a one hour journey to the second distribution centre in Magale.

In Magale, we received another joyous welcome from parents and their children.  At this centre a young boy of about 7 years of age bravely stepped up to recite a poem for us.  We couldn't believe it as he recited a long speech in English, demonstrating his knowledge of spelling in his second language.  He was followed by a young girl who also welcomed us with a short speech.  SCAW always encourages Ugandan children to attend school, and we were thrilled to see the competency and confidence of these children.  Everyone wanted to participate in the excitement, as you can see from the picture of the rooster who also wanted to pose for a bedkit picture.

Our Inner Wheel partners explained that some needy families had refused to register their children to receive a bed-kit, believing that the promise of such a generous gift  must be a scam.  It was sad to see their faces when they saw other children walking home in new clothing with a comfy mattress, wash basin, blanket, sheet, sandals, mosquito net, water bottle, lunch container, tooth brushes, a backpack and school supplies.  These parents were told there could be another opportunity for their child to receive a bedsit in a future year.  

We have now delivered a total of 4000 bedkits in 8 different villages and looking forward to our scheduled rest day.  Then on Wednesday we begin our last few days of distributions to provide another 1500 children with treasured bedkits.  

To all those who donated money for bedkits in Uganda, your gifts have been appreciated more than you can imagine.  Your $35 gift has made a world of difference for a needy child living in poverty!

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