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Kolkata: Kindness

There is a kind, caring group of people from various parts of Canada (and this year also from Bangledesh) who have given freely of their time and energy to be a SCAW volunteer.  These volunteers meet up halfway across the world at our destination and become fast friends over a two week period.  We are here for a common purpose, to deliver bedkits to the needy children of Kolkata and surrounding areas.



At our location we meet with our overseas partners, the Rotarians of Dum Dum.  It is evident from the beginning that this is a great thing we are doing.. we are all here for the children - there is such need.  The Rotarians pride themselves in what they can provide for the $35.00 bedkit and the recipients are so fortunate!



Those receiving the bedkits are overwhelmed by your generosity ... they have tears in their eyes, some bless us while others shake our hand in thanks , others freely give hugs ... all happy to be there to meet the SCAW team.



And then we have the kindness of donors - without you none of this is possible!  The volunteers that come on your behalf are very honoured to give your gifts to the children of India.  The children and their families are very grateful of these gifts, thanking us for your kindness and generosity through their smiles and blessings and happiness.


Team Kolkata 2018
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Kolkata: Rock Stars!

We felt like rock stars today at Domkal! Everywhere we went, the children rushed up to us, hoping to have us take their picture or blow bubbles with them!  Or, if you stood still for a second or two, volunteers or hosts would search us out to take our picture!  The paparazzi were out in full force today... Even driving to/from the site, everyone was curious of the van of people in their town... We had another great day!








Team Kolkata 2018
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Kolkata: A Long But Rewarding Day!

Today's journey was a LONG one ... We started at 8:15....it took 5 hours to drive 90 km! The roads and traffic were horrific, but we made the most of the adventure by celebrating Donna's birthday today with cards and singing.  We also checked out both sites to be used Friday and Saturdayy.... Arrived to hotel at 6:10 pm.. Took us 10 hours for a five hour anticipated drive! So glad we came today instead of taking our chances tomorrow... We are exhausted!  We have total respect for Dilip and his driving skills!! Thank you for keeping us safe on the road!  We also saw wild monkeys today...but stayed in the van and drove by them! Tomorrow we are at a school site, and Saturday we are at a plant that manufactures soy pasta...we saw the process to make it, and it is dried on the cement in the sun...very interesting ... And they also manufacture a concentrated soy nugget ... An alternative to mutton! Looking forward to seeing the children tomorrow ...








Team Kolkata 2018
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Chennai: Big Day!

Today we had an exciting day interacting with the men and women of 47 Rotary Clubs. 

At an engineering school north of Chennai, 2 teachers and at least 2 members of each Rotary club escorted 15 students from their communities. They came is small busses, jeeps, vans and of course tuck tucks. 


The first picture we set up was for 100 children. It was the best as the Governor for Rotary of that district assisted in getting the children to laugh as the picture was taken. 


We were then treated to an Indian lei and a silk shawl. What a way to start the day!


Since we had so many helpers we were able to really interact with the children and speak to them about their gifts. For us their smiles and interactions were the best gift ever. 




Team Chennai 2018
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Pune: Visiting Past Bedkit Recipients

Yesterday we were able to visit some children who had received bedkits from last year’s distribution.  After a warm welcome at the local school we walked to the home of a young girl.  There were ten members of the extended family sharing the two rooms that comprised her home; two brothers, their wives, their two children each, and two more relatives.  One of those relatives was an elderly great-grandmother who was working on the front porch shelling peanuts.  No one was really certain how old she was but we were told it was somewhere between 125 and 130 years.


We visited another home nearby to meet a second recipient whose living arrangements were very similar.  She and her two siblings shared two rooms with their parents.  In both cases the items in the bedkit were well taken care of but also well used.


A final stop was was at a school in a village close by where we met several students who had received bedkits last year.  The students proudly showed us items from their bedkits and were very happy we were able to visit their school.  It was a great day and it felt as though we’d had the opportunity, by seeing how important a year later the bedkits still were, that the story was completed.


Anne Kell for Team Pune 2018
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Kolkata: Vasa

The children were happy to see us today... 





Smiles, colours, hennas, bracelets, laughter, thumbs up, high fives, bubbles, happiness from the gift received...




We are sad that there are only 3 distributions left for Kolkata....

 Team Kolkata 2018
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Pune: 6008 Bedkits Delivered!

WOW! 6008 bedkits delivered. There is a lot of pomp and ceremony here, but as always it is about the children. It is amazing to enter into each distribution site and meet hundreds of children, and today was as exciting and special as any of them.

Our team leader decided we should demonstrate the bedkit during the speech portion of the proceedings. This has been an extremely successful way of engaging the children. One child is picked from the crowd and brought on stage to assist, and the rest are asked to show their appreciation for each item by saying “Wow”. You soon hear their spontaneous reactions and the noise level fluctuates as each item is displayed. This always gets a reaction and culminates in a very loud and raucous wow once they realize what they will be receiving today from our donors in Canada.  WOW!!!!

 Team Pune 2018
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Kolkata: Sudhir Memorial Institute


"You have really never lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you" John Bunyan

What a beautiful quote that is so appropriate for our distribution!



 Every day we are reminded why we are here, to do what we do... It is an honour and a privilege to distribute bedkits to children on behalf of our wonderful donors.  Thank you!




Team Kolkata 2018

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Chennai: Children Helping Children

Today we were welcomed by the founder of the school where we did our first distribution. After a true Indian breakfast we greeted the 600 children who would receive their SCAW bed kit. 

Along with all the children we had the pleasure of enjoying the help from 3 volunteer groups - the Girl Guides, the Boy Scouts and young members of Navy Cadets.  



It was a delight to be in their presence and experience their enthusiasm for the SCAW program and the help they gave us with the children. They served as a gentle bridge to the children, dressing them, guiding them to the photos and helping them out with their precious bedkits. 
Needless to say it was a GRRRRREAT first day. 

We even had time to have a little fun!


Theresa and Kay for Team Chennai 2018
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Kolkata: After 4000 Bedkits, A Day of Rest!

A well deserved day off...after 4000 bedkits...



Our day took us to the warehouse where the bedkits are assembled.  This was great to see.  They have a security person, insure the location and hire 8 workers for six weeks to assemble the units.  The workers were very accommodating to show us how they do the process in an assembly line....



Next we drove to a street where they make the festival idols, which were all very beautifully painted and decorated.



Our next stop was to experience a 200 year old coffee house on College Street, then we stopped at a Goverment run arts and crafts shop before a wonderful lunch at Flavors of India... Another great day in Kolkata!




Kolkata 2018
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Pune: Wai

It was all about colour, hospitality and the children today in Wai.



After an enthusiastic performance by some of the children, speeches and presentations, pictures were taken by our Team Leader Chris Hills and the bedkits were handed out to the delight of child and parent alike. On these Pune distributions the child is reunited with his/her parent after the photo is taken and accompanies them as they pick up shoes, sweater, ground mat, knapsack and main bedkit bag containing blankets, mosquito net and more. This eases any worries on the part of the child and all leave happy.


The final picture shows the team and some of the many Rotarians and local volunteers who made this distribution  happen today.

One more day!

 Team Pune 2018
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Kolkata: Day 7&8 - Bolpur & Sonamukhi

We were on the road again, staying outside of Kolkata, having distributions in both Bolpur and Sonamukhi...our local hosts were very gracious at each site by providing us delicious lunches...we are most grateful at the end of the day for nourishment before our drive to the next location.


Yesterday we did 523 bedkits and today we gave out 703! 




 In addition we handed out Canadian pencils to the first 150 children today!



 We also had the opportunity to visit 2 homes which were close to the site.  One child received a bedkit last year and one received one today....very happy families to be chosen.  They permitted us into their homes to view the inside and to see where they do their cooking... Their home is about 200 square feet and the cooking kitchen is about 2 ft by 2 ft.   It is very evident that we are doing a great thing!  There is such need!  



 Our return drive was 3.5 hours, which was considerably shorter than planned for a Sunday but tomorrow is a holiday as they celebrate the Goddess of Knowledge, music, art, wisdom, learning, philosophy, creativity and nature ... Saraswati .. We will enjoy a well earned rest day tomorrow.


Team Kolkata 2018
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Pune: Another Joyful Day!

Day 5 has come to a close...another joyful day for over 850 children heading home with the greatest gift many have ever received. The thanks to Sleeping Children"s generous donors shows in their eyes, their whispered "thank-you's" and the humbling (to us) touching of our feet.










Team Pune 2018
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Pune: Velhe

Our 4th distribution was in the remote town of Velhe. Our drive there was through mountainous narrow bumpy roads. Once we arrived we were met by an enthusiastic group of parents and children. 

The distribution was very well organized with the excellent planning and staffing of our Rotarian partners and other volunteers from local high schools. The next picture shows SCAW team member Anne Kell with her helpers handing out the bedkits on behalf of our donors (picture 2).

Picture 3 shows our Rotarian partners with the children in their new outfits and backpacks, smiles all around.



The SCAW team donated 8 bedkits to the Pune Rotarians, shown in picture #4 - they are great partners, we could not do it without them.

The final photo #5, is of the local high school volunteer group that assisted us through the day.

Team Pune 2018
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Kolkata: Burdwan Traffic...

Today we travelled to Burdwan for the distribution. A warmer day, and the children were so excited to attend the bedkit festival!



Traffic getting to and from these locations always opens our eyes, and sometimes stops our hearts! Wow, we have a new appreciation for our driver Dillip! We drive on the left hand side in India, which is ok, but....you have a dance to weave and maneuver toto's, trucks, tractors, trailers,  rickshaws, pedestrians, goats, cows, trains, buses and everything else to keep us safe! Through it all, everyone HONKS!



After lunch we drove to the next site which we will visit tomorrow...tonight we are staying in Santiniketan.  This location is a university town famous for Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Rabindranath Tagore. Here our wonderful hosts took us to a Tribal local arts and crafts market.  Some haggled for their purchases before we all got in a toto (electric tuk tuk) for the drive back to our lodge.

We also enjoyed an evening of music and dance...a group of very young tribal children sang to us tonight and melted our hearts...... Till tomorrow


Team Kolkata 2018
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Pune: Everyone Smiles in the Same Language!

Namaste! Welcome to the village of Takli Dhokeshwar. We are greeted by the beautiful, smiling faces of the local children. Some have traveled for over 2.5 hours, via school transportation, to receive their much appreciated bed kit from the generous supporters of SCAW.




Today, I had the privilege of interviewing several of the recipients. All are immensely thankful for their gift. Every item is found useful. The shoes are a favourite for many of the boys. The girls, often preferring the new set of clothing. Everyone said they would sleep better tonight because of the comfy bed mats.

Despite the long but productive day, I am restless, excited to start a new distribution  in the morning. I remember all the smiles. Hassa! Everyone smiles in the same language.

Theresa Moran for Team Pune 2018
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