Chennai: A Story of Renewal and Hope.

During one of the distributions we had the honour of meeting a woman who brought 50 children from a rural area to receive their bedkits. Dr. Supraja Dharini not only helps these children by transporting them to and from the distribution but she also helps animals in need.

The team all agreed to travel an extra 6 hours after the plane ride back from the Karur distribution to meet 3 very special elephants in an Elephant Care Facility. They had been captive in a temple, chained by the foot for 23 hours a day. 

They suffered massive abscesses, foot problems and depression. Dr. Supraja Dharini, a friend of our Rotary, just happened to be at the temple. Thus, began the long process of releasing them into the freedom of a new space.

Our team first met the 3 elephant girls in a palm jungle!! We fed them special treats and got to know each other. We walked amongst them along a path, where they were scooping up leaves from the trees with their massive trunks. They are such beautiful gentle giants. They mesmerized us! As Supraja was preparing their food, the three of them rumbled with delight and charged into the feeding area, surprising me.

We were able to feed them bananas and homemade super large brownies. Actually, they were delicious steamed food squares – I ate some! What an amazing 4 sets of teeth they have.

The doctor has devoted so much of her time, love and finances for these elephants. They need special care every day to heal their abscesses and abused feet and bodies, but it’s working. They are so happy and love to be stroked and spoken to.


The doctor has plans to build a Biodiversity Education Centre on their newly purchased larger property. Children will be able to come and visit and learn to experience first hand the value and richness of nature in all living things. Presently she invites classes to visit the elephants and each bring a handful of feed. Every little bit helps!

As we left the Facility, a flock of magnificent peacocks bid us farewell across from the orange sun setting over the Bay of Bengal.

Click here to watch a video and visit their website: www.elefriends101.org to know more about the elephants and the care facility that we had the opportunity to visit.

Kay Mountford for Chennai SCAW Team 2018
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Chennai: Factory Visits

After our distribution of 500 children at Karur a new location for SCAW, we visited the factory where the mosquito nets are made.

The Rotarians at Karur went out of their way to be sure the team and the children were comfortable setting up in the shade or under colourful canopies.

We were able to once again show everyone the contents of the bedkits which resulted in lots of great smiles during the pictures.

The factory visit was to a small cottage industry who makes the mosquito nets. This area was the final stage where the panels are sewn together by women working in cramped quarters for 8 hours a day. From there we went to the next area that weaves the plastic fabric from the fibre into the finished panel which then goes to the ladies who sew the panels together.

I was so impressed with the quality of the product considering the limited size of the working space.

John O’Donnell for Team Chennai 2018

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Chennai: Madurai

Yesterday was a travel day where we flew on a one hour flight to Madurai. There we were guests at the Rotary 3000 District Conference which was attended by over 2000 Rotary delegates from the surrounding areas. All delegates were treated to a 6 minute video presentation showcasing the creation of SCAW and its founder - Murray Dryden along with a introduction of this years team.

Today we had a distribution of 450 children in Madurai. Once again the needy children came from surrounding communities to receive their bedkits. We had the chance to demonstrate the contents of the bedkit to the children who were waiting before starting the process. They were thrilled to actually see and understand what was in the bedkit.

These children brighten our days more than they know.

John O’Donnell for Team Chennai 2018

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Chennai: Day 3!

After a long day of traveling our 4th destination for distribution was Nellore.
We were invited with other Rotarians to a dinner hosted by “Reddy” and his wife.

Reddy is a successful business man and humanitarian. His contributions include a school for gifted children, a hospital, and a mobile health unit. He has built a large convention centre which employs many locals.  His organization and planning skills were evident with how smoothly this distribution went.

Our distribution of just over 600 bedkits included children that came by bus, some as far away as 80km, which on Indian roads, can take as much as two hours to travel.

We finished the day with a tour of the school and the hospital and left knowing many children would be sleeping well.

Brenda and Mike for Team Chennai 2018
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Kolkata: It's A Wrap!!

It's a wrap! 6000 bedkits have been given out to children of Kolkata and surrounding areas!  We have had a fabulous time, enjoying the children and meeting wonderful hosts and volunters at each site!

We also have had a fantastic team! Thanks to Judy for guiding us, Jill for assisting, Judy and downloading photos, Helga for her endless energy, Cathy for her humour and her snaps, Donna for leading the children in chants, Ranjan and Rowly for their endless support in so many ways, and Deb for her blogs ...

A huge thank you to our overseas partner The Rotary Club of Dum Dum! You are all gracious hosts and welcomed us so warmly ...you have become extended family and it will be difficult to say our goodbyes...

Signing off from Kolkata India,
Team Kolkata 2018
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Chennai: Rishi Valley

After yesterday’s distribution in Vellore, we travelled about 6 hours to Rishi Valley.  The drive was slow as there seems to be traffic at all hours of the day in India. However, the long drive was totally worth it.

We arrived at Rishi Valley in the dark so I could not see much of the surroundings but I could feel the difference.  We emerged from the van to cool, fresh air and quiet.  A quiet we had not yet experienced in India.  We could no longer hear the horns and engines of the constant traffic that had accompanied us everywhere else.

When the sun rose in the morning we had the pleasure of seeing our surroundings.  We had spent the night in a building meant for the visiting parents of students at a boarding school.  The school, Rishi Valley School, is situated on 300 acres in a rural area, and it is a simple and beautiful campus.

We started our day with breakfast in the main cafeteria for the school.  For the senior students it was an examination day, however before their examinations they were having some fun at breakfast.  We arrived at the cafeteria building to see the students dressed up in costumes.  Cat in the Hat with Thing 1 and Thing 2, Alice in Wonderland, Star Trek’s Spock, and the entire main cast of Star Wars.  They paraded into the cafeteria full of smiles and applause.

After a cheerful breakfast we went to the site of the distribution, a field at the school.  The Rotarians had set up beautiful tents to provide shade for the volunteers and the children.  The sun was hot but the shade from the tents and the breeze made it quite pleasant.  Of course, the weather is completely secondary when you see the smiles of the children.

I was asked to hand the bedkits to the children at this distribution. The bedkits themselves are larger than many of the children who receive them.  Fortunately, we had many older students from the school there to help the children carry their kits.  Most of these children, however, did not need help.  

A few of the first children I met hoisted the bedkits onto their heads and walked off like they were wearing nothing more than a hat on their heads.  Just one more thing that brought a smile from my heart to my face.

  

By the time the children reach the end of the process, where they receive the bedkit, many are overwhelmed, confused, maybe even a little scared.  They realize that we do not understand their language and very few understand English.  They are told to say “thank you.”  A few of them even said to me, “say thank you.” And so I tried, without holding up the line, to connect with each child by looking deep into their eyes and letting love shine up from my heart and out through my smile.  Most of them understood this and responded with the biggest smile; a smile that shouted their gratitude.

I can only hope that these bedkits make as much of a difference in their lives as they have made in mine.

Team Chennai 2018
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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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Chennai: On The Road!

We received a short note from Team Chennai today, letting us know they are on the road for a few days with no internet access. They will update us as soon as they can!

Team Chennai 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: "Where's Chris?"

You have heard of the game “where’s Waldo”. Here is our version , we call it where’s Chris.

Team Pune 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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