Belgaum: Factory Visit
We made a visit to a tailor shop where all the clothing for the 7,000 bedkits were made for this distribution. This is all accomplished in an extremely small space of two rooms in which five employees using very old Singer sewing machines work very hard for four months to produce the beautiful dresses, shirts and shorts given to the children.
The tailor and his assistant come to each distribution site to ensure that each child is fitted properly for their new clothing. It is amazing how he can take one look at a child and chose the proper size.
For the children and their family, this is a very special day. The children’s hair is done in braids and decorated with flowers and barrettes. They look their Sunday best!
The evening was spent with our Belgaum Rotary hosts visiting a swimming pool which they financed, built and operate.
This pool is open to all the children from the variously handicapped to high-level athletes. We heard amazing stories about the children’s accomplishments. One young man who did his training at the pool swam the English Channel with just one arm. Neither deafness, blindness, delayed development or physical impairment can hold any of these children from enjoying the water or earning medals for India in international competitions. The head coach in charge of the pool, is extremely energetic and passionate about his work.
This concludes another busy, wonderful and inspiring day. Going on a SCAW distribution is truly an ongoing adventure, full of long days, lots of fun, with the reward of smiling children happily going home for a good night’s sleep!
Carol Diening for
Team Belgaum 2019
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Belgaum: Ekal at Ramnagar!
Today we retraced our way through part of the Mhade Wildlife Sanctuary to a small rural village called Ramnagar where once again we were warmly welcomed by the organizing Ekal volunteer Girish Pai, and his outstanding local volunteers, and most especially the beautiful children and their parents. It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child, but today it was the exceptional team of volunteers who raised the standard of this distribution of 800 bedkits to new heights. The accompanying picture shows the efficient volunteer team.
Each child on their arrival received a banana, and upon leaving with their bedkits, a sandwich and a sweet bun. In this year’s bedkit our Canadian donors have provided a sleeping mat, two light weight blankets, a very warm wool blanket, two sets of clothes and sweater, an insect repellent mosquito net, flip flops, raincoat, backpack and school supplies. The children and families are overwhelmed with gratitude and joy as kids go home for a better night’s sleep!
As we travel we are exposed to many unfamiliar, but interesting sights outside the larger cities, such as: religious processions on foot in special dress, some with offerings carried on their heads; protests marching on foot; shepherds with their flocks; herds of goats, and of course the sacred cows. Both in the large cities, small villages, and along the countryside, people selling their wares in small stalls or beautifully displayed vegetables sitting along the roadside; small brickwork factories; fields and fields of sugar cane blowing in the wind and the sight of hundreds of trucks brimming over with their load, lining the narrow road, waiting not hours but days to unload their trucks at the sugarcane factory.
But the almost unbelievable experience is the sight, sound, and speed of the congested traffic, consisting of motor bikes, trucks, cars, bicycles, tuk-tuks, pedestrians and at times cows! Up to ten lines of vehicles jostling for a spot to proceed, darting in and out, literally with inches to spare, stopping and starting quickly with screeching brakes all the while blowing their horns, both out of frustration as well as safety measures to alert the driver they are about to be passed.
Our donors and volunteers can rest assured another 800 children are sleeping better tonight!
We are now at 3,600 bedkits distributed towards our goal of 7000 bedkits!
For the children
Carol Rolph for
Team Belgaum 2019Post your comments here:
Belgaum: EKAL at Dandeli
Today we travelled south through a shady forested national park; as we descended we encountered a few rough areas of road construction. The topography and vegetation were in sharp contrast to the more arid and flatter terrain of the past few days, where sugar cane and rice fields were prevalent.
The distribution was in the small village of Dandeli where cows wandered freely in the streets.
Our partner today was the NGO EKAL ABHIYAN, and volunteers were mainly members and family.
There are several remote rural villages in this area, and many parents of the recipients work in the fields, laboriously assisting with the harvesting of sugar cane.
Some children in these areas are unable to attend school, and the EKAL volunteers, guided by their principle “If children are not coming to school, education has to reach at their doorstep.” provide evening lessons to some individuals.
The 800 bedkit recipients greet us with great enthusiasm, and are very happy and excited as they await their photos in their new clothes.
Many are a bit nervous about the process as they proceed through the various stations, and they are in awe of the various bedkit items that they receive.
Our pleasant and friendly SCAW team members, with their positive warm gestures and words encourage each individual; they greatly appreciate the heartwarming experience.
The EKAL leader and volunteers are very well organized and efficient, and we look forward to working harmoniously with them tomorrow.
Total bedkit distribution to date for Team Belgaum is 2,800!
Anne Mac Donald for
Team Belgaum 2019Post your comments here:
Belgaum: Ramburg
It is an in incredible opportunity and experience to be a new volunteer with SCAW - Team Belgaum. On today’s blog, I would like to give a “shout out” to the families .... single parent, mother, father, grandparent and/or uncle. Many travelled over 25 km to get to the distribution, either on foot, bus, or a shared vehicle.
The distribution takes time and the parents waited very patiently for at least 4 to 5 hours in 32 degrees Celsius, with limited shade from the sun and in crowded conditions outside the centre.
They also have to retrace their trip with the child and the bedkit. A very, very long day!!!! However, the wait was worth it when their daughter or son was escorted to their family with a bedkit often bigger than the child.
Every parent wants the best for their child, and our generous donors help them achieve this objective. The family interview on bedkit items and sleep habits is an important part of the process.
The gratitude, smiles and happiness are priceless!!!!
Today we distributed 600 bedkits, and to date there are a total of 2000 extremely happy children and their families who will get a better sleep!!
For the children,
Colleen Watson for
They also have to retrace their trip with the child and the bedkit. A very, very long day!!!! However, the wait was worth it when their daughter or son was escorted to their family with a bedkit often bigger than the child.
Every parent wants the best for their child, and our generous donors help them achieve this objective. The family interview on bedkit items and sleep habits is an important part of the process.
Today we distributed 600 bedkits, and to date there are a total of 2000 extremely happy children and their families who will get a better sleep!!
For the children,
Colleen Watson for
Team Belgaum 2019
Post your comments here:Belgaum: Gokak and Nipani
This is my first trip with SCAW and I am thrilled to be part of this dedicated team that distributed 900 bed kits at two locations today. It’s been a long 13-hour day for us! This late-night entry will focus on the children who so eagerly greet us in various ways upon our arrival at the distribution locations.
Their loud cheers are pleasantly deafening and very humbling.
Their eager two-handed waves are heartwarming. Their beautiful and sometimes toothless smiles are heart melting.
As hard as I try to capture their warm welcome in a photograph or two, it’s simply not possible.
I look forward to tomorrow’s distribution and to the enormous goosebumps I get when these patient, well behaved children welcome us into their world.
Total bedkits delivered to date is 1,400. Only 5,600 to go!
For the Children,
Line ‘Goosebump’ Forestier for
Their loud cheers are pleasantly deafening and very humbling.
Their eager two-handed waves are heartwarming. Their beautiful and sometimes toothless smiles are heart melting.
As hard as I try to capture their warm welcome in a photograph or two, it’s simply not possible.
I look forward to tomorrow’s distribution and to the enormous goosebumps I get when these patient, well behaved children welcome us into their world.
Total bedkits delivered to date is 1,400. Only 5,600 to go!
For the Children,
Line ‘Goosebump’ Forestier for
Team Belgaum 2019
Post your comments here:Belgaum: You Can’t Clap with One Hand!
Welcome to the first entry of our Team Belgaum 2019 blog…with a focus on the Overseas Partner Organization (OVP)!
Seven members of SCAW’s travelling team under the leadership of Sandy Riches arrived in Belgaum, India late Friday, 8 February. We were met by our OVP, the Rotary Club of Belgaum International Service Projects Association who are now in their 31st year of partnering with SCAW. Under the oversight of Rotarian Dilip Chitnis, members organized the 7,000 bedkit distribution effort in the region with the help of 12 local Rotary Clubs that will take place over the next 11 days.
Today, it took three hours of driving to arrive at Athani where we were met by the very enthusiastic and welcoming 40 members belonging to the Rotary Club of Athani.
The wonderful children were patiently waiting to receive their bedkits with their parents.
Once the team was organized, all 500 bedkits were handed out over the space of about 3 ½ hours, with pictures taken, family interviews completed and the children, who came from within a radius of about 25 KM around the distribution site, going home happily and with lots of gratitude to the donors.
To add a different focus, In the background to these distributions, there is a significant amount of volunteer work required to procure the items, assemble them and hand them out to the children. In the case of the Athani Rotarians, they visited the schools, spoke with the teachers, did some home visits to determine who needed bedkits and ensured that they met the standards set by Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW).
Over the last two weeks, club members put in over 90 volunteer hours to assemble the bedkits in the selected venue, a local community recreation centre, and get everything ready for today’s distribution. And they did an outstanding job!! This was their 11th year of organizing the bedkit distribution in their area and have helped over 3,000 children have a better sleep, which can make the difference between hope and despair, as stated by our first-time travelling volunteer, Colleen Watson.
When I spoke with them, one Rotarian, Deepak Patil, mentioned that club members were so impressed with what SCAW was doing for the children and how we, as travelling volunteers from Canada, freely gave of our own time and effort, they just wanted to do their part as it takes both sides to successfully complete a distribution. And that is why he said, “You can’t clap with one hand!”
What a great first day! We came back to Belgaum 12 hours after we left it, very tired and very satisfied to see those happy children go to their homes, knowing that they will have a better sleep to face tomorrow’s challenges.
For the Children,
Joep Diening for
Seven members of SCAW’s travelling team under the leadership of Sandy Riches arrived in Belgaum, India late Friday, 8 February. We were met by our OVP, the Rotary Club of Belgaum International Service Projects Association who are now in their 31st year of partnering with SCAW. Under the oversight of Rotarian Dilip Chitnis, members organized the 7,000 bedkit distribution effort in the region with the help of 12 local Rotary Clubs that will take place over the next 11 days.
Today, it took three hours of driving to arrive at Athani where we were met by the very enthusiastic and welcoming 40 members belonging to the Rotary Club of Athani.
The wonderful children were patiently waiting to receive their bedkits with their parents.
Once the team was organized, all 500 bedkits were handed out over the space of about 3 ½ hours, with pictures taken, family interviews completed and the children, who came from within a radius of about 25 KM around the distribution site, going home happily and with lots of gratitude to the donors.
To add a different focus, In the background to these distributions, there is a significant amount of volunteer work required to procure the items, assemble them and hand them out to the children. In the case of the Athani Rotarians, they visited the schools, spoke with the teachers, did some home visits to determine who needed bedkits and ensured that they met the standards set by Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW).
Over the last two weeks, club members put in over 90 volunteer hours to assemble the bedkits in the selected venue, a local community recreation centre, and get everything ready for today’s distribution. And they did an outstanding job!! This was their 11th year of organizing the bedkit distribution in their area and have helped over 3,000 children have a better sleep, which can make the difference between hope and despair, as stated by our first-time travelling volunteer, Colleen Watson.
When I spoke with them, one Rotarian, Deepak Patil, mentioned that club members were so impressed with what SCAW was doing for the children and how we, as travelling volunteers from Canada, freely gave of our own time and effort, they just wanted to do their part as it takes both sides to successfully complete a distribution. And that is why he said, “You can’t clap with one hand!”
What a great first day! We came back to Belgaum 12 hours after we left it, very tired and very satisfied to see those happy children go to their homes, knowing that they will have a better sleep to face tomorrow’s challenges.
For the Children,
Joep Diening for
Team Belgaum 2019
Post your comments here:Belgaum, India 2019: Post Your Comments Here:
As a courtesy to our travelling volunteers, please add your name to the end of your comments.
Chennai: Mission Accomplished on The Andaman Islands!
Every other year SCAW does a distribution on one of the Andaman Islands. This year 6 of the
terrific team of ten, travelled overnight for 8 hours on a ferry to Hut Bay on Little Andaman - the
southern most island in the Archipelago. There are over 500 islands here of which only 37 are
inhabited
After freshening up we made our way to the first site where we were greeted by 277 children
playing in the field. A few hours later we went to the second site where the parents of the 223
children waited patiently - women under a colourful canopy and men standing the sun. Many of
these children were tribal children from the Nicobar tribes and we noticed some obvious
differences. The girls wore their hair short and they all were much more cautious to give us a
smile. However once they received their bedkits they were all smiles.
This was the very first time that SCAW has been to Hut Bay. The schools, under the leadership of 2 special ladies provided a very well organized and what appeared to be a very happy environment!
We were thrilled to end our journey here on this little island completing our task of handing out 7000 bedkits to the children in India.
Theresa Carravetta — Team Leader
Team Chennai 2019
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After freshening up we made our way to the first site where we were greeted by 277 children
playing in the field. A few hours later we went to the second site where the parents of the 223
children waited patiently - women under a colourful canopy and men standing the sun. Many of
these children were tribal children from the Nicobar tribes and we noticed some obvious
differences. The girls wore their hair short and they all were much more cautious to give us a
smile. However once they received their bedkits they were all smiles.This was the very first time that SCAW has been to Hut Bay. The schools, under the leadership of 2 special ladies provided a very well organized and what appeared to be a very happy environment!
We were thrilled to end our journey here on this little island completing our task of handing out 7000 bedkits to the children in India.
Theresa Carravetta — Team Leader
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: The Last Day for Some Team Chennai Members!
Today at the Rotary sponsored school in Ambattur we handed about 1040 bedkits - 30 of
which were to the recently born babies. These layettes went to babies days old to 6 months.
It was the last distribution day for 4 of the team members who will be heading back to Canada
in the next few days. The other 6 will continue the journey to complete the 7000 Chennai
distribution with the last 500 bedkits.
Once again this school, the staff and the senior students pulled through to make this such a success. They knew the routine and initiated it without any issue. The team was grateful for their support and accuracy in completing such a large task. We couldn’t have done it without them - yet again!
We feel so blessed to have met these wonderful children and to have been a part of the next step of their journey. Our continued thanks go to the SCAW donors.
Team Chennai 2019
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Once again this school, the staff and the senior students pulled through to make this such a success. They knew the routine and initiated it without any issue. The team was grateful for their support and accuracy in completing such a large task. We couldn’t have done it without them - yet again!
We feel so blessed to have met these wonderful children and to have been a part of the next step of their journey. Our continued thanks go to the SCAW donors.
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: Pondicherry
Today was a long day for both teams. For us, starting with a 3 1/2 hour drive to Pondicherry district. We arrived to a lovely welcome by some of the schools already assembled. At this distribution we had the opportunity to showcase the actual contents of the bed kit. All items were received with a hearty round of applause until the school supplies were displayed and the cheers and applause rose into a crescendo. Interesting.
We made a couple of observations at this distribution. There seemed to be an inordinate number of tiny malnourished children, and conversely, quite a few very large children who could not possibly fit into the XXL size uniform. Finally we thought there were an above average number of children barefooted.
Our team handed out 571 bedkits. All went very well, smooth and orderly.
The other team gave out 534 bedkits and also had a very successful day, topped off with
incredible hospitality from the Ashram they visited and the MP Reddy.
Catherine Gayton for
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: Tiruvallur
Today we headed out 45 km (almost two hours in Indian traffic) to Tiruvallur where we handed out 700 bedkits
We were enthusiastically greeted with ceremonial shawls from the local Rotarians and a lovely young lady doing a native dance. It was very impressive to see.
Again we distributed in a school and it was so good to note that so many children are now attending. The school is in a low income area and has 3500 students. We were overwhelmed by the number of volunteers both teacher and student. Today we met a teacher who has been actively involved with SCAW distributions here for the past 14 years. It was a boisterous and happy distribution with the children smiling and willing to play games.
As an added bonus today we were able to interview a mother and her daughter, who received a bedkit last year and told us it had really helped her to sleep better and succeed at school.
After the distribution drove to visit the homes of two students who received bedkits today and had been interviewed about their sleep habits. Neither home had electricity and both had thatched roofs that leak with every monsoon. One of the mothers told us that the family couldn't currently sleep in their home because of snakes. Both families use wood fire smoke to clear their homes of mosquitos and so particularly valued the mosquito net. The children as always were happy and the family delighted to have a bedkit.
It was a satisfying and busy day.
Team Chennai 2019
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We were enthusiastically greeted with ceremonial shawls from the local Rotarians and a lovely young lady doing a native dance. It was very impressive to see.
Again we distributed in a school and it was so good to note that so many children are now attending. The school is in a low income area and has 3500 students. We were overwhelmed by the number of volunteers both teacher and student. Today we met a teacher who has been actively involved with SCAW distributions here for the past 14 years. It was a boisterous and happy distribution with the children smiling and willing to play games.
As an added bonus today we were able to interview a mother and her daughter, who received a bedkit last year and told us it had really helped her to sleep better and succeed at school.
After the distribution drove to visit the homes of two students who received bedkits today and had been interviewed about their sleep habits. Neither home had electricity and both had thatched roofs that leak with every monsoon. One of the mothers told us that the family couldn't currently sleep in their home because of snakes. Both families use wood fire smoke to clear their homes of mosquitos and so particularly valued the mosquito net. The children as always were happy and the family delighted to have a bedkit.
It was a satisfying and busy day.
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: Madurai
It was Republic Day in India. Republic Day honours the day in which the Constitution of India
came into effect on January 26, 1950.
Today our distribution took place at a school in Madurai. We distributed 592 bedkits to some very spunky, smiling, deserving children. The difference today was the bedkit that was being distributed. This was something new; it was a sample kit that is being tested. These bedkits included an all in one mattress and pillow with a bamboo backing.
It is slightly different from the other bedkits that feature a ground cover, bed sheet and pillow. I have participated in three distributions; this was my second one in India. It never ceases to amaze me how these children can touch your heart in so many ways, their smile, laugh and genuine appreciation reminds me why being a volunteer with SCAW is so very rewarding to me.
A bedkit distribution requires many things to fall into place to ensure it runs smoothly. It was heartwarming to see how many Rotarians and volunteers showed up, despite the local holiday that was taking place, a true testament to how much this distribution meant to them.
Today my job was to work with another team member, Iain Spencer (AKA Gramps). Iain obtained this nickname from a little girl that we met in the temple the day before. Our job was to put happy faces on the children’s hands which is a check procedure before they can obtain their bedkits.
The team is heading back to Chennai today and begins distributions in the local area tomorrow. Another successful day was had, 592 children will have a restful, comfortable sleep tonight on their new bed. Sleep well children!
Cheryl Warner for
Team Chennai 2019
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Today our distribution took place at a school in Madurai. We distributed 592 bedkits to some very spunky, smiling, deserving children. The difference today was the bedkit that was being distributed. This was something new; it was a sample kit that is being tested. These bedkits included an all in one mattress and pillow with a bamboo backing.
It is slightly different from the other bedkits that feature a ground cover, bed sheet and pillow. I have participated in three distributions; this was my second one in India. It never ceases to amaze me how these children can touch your heart in so many ways, their smile, laugh and genuine appreciation reminds me why being a volunteer with SCAW is so very rewarding to me.
A bedkit distribution requires many things to fall into place to ensure it runs smoothly. It was heartwarming to see how many Rotarians and volunteers showed up, despite the local holiday that was taking place, a true testament to how much this distribution meant to them.
Today my job was to work with another team member, Iain Spencer (AKA Gramps). Iain obtained this nickname from a little girl that we met in the temple the day before. Our job was to put happy faces on the children’s hands which is a check procedure before they can obtain their bedkits.
The team is heading back to Chennai today and begins distributions in the local area tomorrow. Another successful day was had, 592 children will have a restful, comfortable sleep tonight on their new bed. Sleep well children!
Cheryl Warner for
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: Vendor Visits
The main reason that I chose to give my time and energy to SCAW as a volunteer is their commitment to ensuring that 100% of all donations go directly to the children intended. However, another reason that I choose to support is SCAW is their support of local industry.
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| Computerized Loom |
Today we had the opportunity to visit some of the places where items in the bedkits are manufactured. These visits made it abundantly clear how much of an impact these bedkits make to the families of the area in terms of employment income.
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| Hand loom |
SCAW is so incredibly lucky to have the Rotary as their Overseas Partner in India. Our Rotary contact in Chennai, Ravi, explained to us that while the pricing, quality, and reliability are very important factors in selecting vendors, that Rotary also considers the vendor's business practices, ethics and moral values. For the vendors selected, supplying bedkit items is more about supporting the charity and providing local employment than it is about profits.
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| Hand loom up close |
Today we saw all levels of manufacturing, from women weaving the groundsheet on an entirely manually operated hand loom, to the computerized mechanical looms that weave intricately patterned blankets. The vendor who supplies the bedsheets has over 100 weavers who work out of their homes. We visited one home with two mechanical looms where the patterning is set by hand. The home owner owns the machines, although the supplier assists them with financing on the machines. Supplies are delivered and the finished product is picked up daily.
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| Women on the hand loom |
Today I saw first hand the impact that SCAW has in this area. It is impressive and heart warming.
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| Home loom |
Jennifer O'Donnell
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Chennai: Magical Yercaud
The team woke this morning to a brilliant blue sky and bright sunshine. The high-country morning air was crisp, clean, and full of the sound of birdcalls. At nearly 8000 feet above sea level, it is much cooler here than Chennai and most team members elected to wear a fleece pullover as they left their warm beds and headed to the dining building. A hearty breakfast was shared with our travelling Rotarian partners. Having scouted the distribution site the day before, the team felt well prepared for the site setup. At 8:45am, we loaded into our vans and headed to the school. We did expect some children to be present, but what a surprise, the multiple balconies of the school were lined with students, repeatedly yelling “HELLO”!
Another surprise was that our local Rotarian partners had arrived at 6:00am and organized the distribution site into various stations. Each station had a sign marking its purpose: Registration and Uniform Distribution area, Girls Change Room, Boys Change Room, Photo Area, and Bedkit Distribution Area. In addition, the local Rotarians had erected large canvas awnings over each station to protect us for the hot sun. The objective for today was to distribute 609 bedkits. To truly understand the full impact of this distribution, one needs to appreciate that today’s bedkit recipients came from 55 schools servicing 68 tribal mountain villages ranging as far away as 40 km. As the students changed into their new clothes, the SCAW team organized themselves into two photo teams and the distribution was underway. The photo shoot and bedkit distribution went extremely well and this could not have happened without the support of a local group of high school seniors.
I should mention, this is my first trip with SCAW and my first time in India. Today, it was my job to hand-out bedkits and to provide exit security. This gave me the opportunity to have close interactions with both students and their parents. It is a heartwarming experience to watch a small child nervously approach you, wondering what will happen next, and then leave with a bedkit in hand, a big smile, and a softly whispered “Thank You”. It is equally touching to watch the child deliver the bedkit to their mother, watch her smile and hug her child, and then have her turn to you and thank you personally for such a wonderful gift. After the distribution, the team joined the Rotarians for a wonderful lunch at a beautiful local inn. This was followed by a walking tour of the “Colony of Homes” and a visit to two homes that were recipients of today’s distribution. The colony of homes is a cluster of connected concrete homes with corrugated steel roofs built on a mountain slope. Each home is not much larger than a one-car garage, comprised of 3 or 4 rooms, in which an entire family lives. In the colony, communal drinking water and toilet facilities are the norm.
As many of us remarked after the tour, the homes of these children are such a contrast from what one would envision for them. This is real poverty!! But yet, they arrive at school, uniforms clean, wonderfully groomed and smiling. One last very important note: SCAW has been doing a distribution in Yercaud off-and-on over the last 13 years and in that time, school attendance and retention has increased by 20%. The local Rotarians directly attribute this incredible statistic to our bedkit distributions. Great work everyone!!!
Trevor Ryan
Team Chennai 2019
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Kolkata: A Sacred Visitor At Today's Distribution!
What a surprise when the cows came through the gates to the school and charged down the stairs past between the rows of children lined up to have their picture taken. (luckily) Everyone was set in motion
He really did pose for Nancy to take this photo
Team Kolkata 2019
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Kolkata: Haringhata
Driving north from the city this morning we enjoyed views of the rural countryside. Banana plantations, fields of mustard plants, market gardens and more cows and goats than we have seen up to now. It was a pleasant change from the crowded streets of Kolkata...
The distribution was in the courtyard of a school with grass instead of the usual dirt. However the ground was very rough and we had to be careful not to twist an ankle. The barefoot children were given a full meal of rice and curried vegetables before changing into their bedkit clothing - dresses for girls and shorts with t-shirts for the boys.
Part way through the distribution we had to stop to allow for the delivery by cart of large bags of rice. All government schools are mandated to provide a hot lunch for the students.
Rice, a vegetable and an egg every day encourages the children to attend regularly. The bonus for the family is that money isn’t needed for that daily lunch. Our Rotary friends said that even the cows benefit as they get the leftovers!
Team Kolkata 2019
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The distribution was in the courtyard of a school with grass instead of the usual dirt. However the ground was very rough and we had to be careful not to twist an ankle. The barefoot children were given a full meal of rice and curried vegetables before changing into their bedkit clothing - dresses for girls and shorts with t-shirts for the boys.
Part way through the distribution we had to stop to allow for the delivery by cart of large bags of rice. All government schools are mandated to provide a hot lunch for the students.
Rice, a vegetable and an egg every day encourages the children to attend regularly. The bonus for the family is that money isn’t needed for that daily lunch. Our Rotary friends said that even the cows benefit as they get the leftovers!
Team Kolkata 2019
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Chennai: Yarcaud
Today was a restful day for the SCAW volunteers and visited our next distribution site in preparation for tomorrow's distribution. Yarcaud is a beautiful place with its peaceful atmosphere overlooking the lake on a hill station surrounded by abundance of forest. It's well known for its cool weather and the scenic stations. The school kids we met were fantastic. The Rotarians are ever so grateful to the Canadians for the wonderful gifts they bring to the children. The Rotarians advised us that the number of children attending school has increased as a result of the bedkits given to the children at the school. Most of the children walk to the school and enjoy it. There is a big plantation of about 750 hectares nearby owned by one of the Rotarians who was more than willing to take the SCAW volunteers around his plantation briefing us on the history of the plant and thereafter hosted lunch for the Rotarians and SCAW volunteers which was great. It was time for SCAW volunteers and Rotarians to fellowship away from the busy schedule.
We took another trip to Shevaroy Temple, the highest point of the Yercaud mountain which is 5,500ft and went into the temple using a small cave. Each member had to ring a bell on the way in as is the custom and back at the hotel in time for dinner.
Team Chennai 2019
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Chennai: Vellore
Today was our first distribution out of Chennai. We were out of the hotel by 6 am for a 3 hour drive to Vellore. As always 70 percent of the bedkit was devoted to sleep needs but the major purpose of a good nights sleep is to do well in school. This year's school bag has a motto encouraging girls to stay in school plus a Tamil to English dictionary, pencils, erasers, books and a package of colour pencils.
The first group of enthusiastic children that we met were from an orphanage school and it seems very fitting that a large number of them received a bedkit from students at a Toronto school. The children, as always, were a delight and even when they were confused or uncertain they were unfailingly polite and quick to smile and say thank you. After bringing a smile to 225 children we moved to a new site.
We tried an experiment running 2 sites at a time for the second distribution which was both interesting and a challenge but a satisfying way to give another 639 children bedkits and a happy way to end the distribution day.
Many thanks to the Rotarians who very kindly provided lunch for both the children and ourselves. After our delicious lunch, which was much appreciated, we headed out for a long drive drive to our next hotel in the mountains.
Team Chennai 2019
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The first group of enthusiastic children that we met were from an orphanage school and it seems very fitting that a large number of them received a bedkit from students at a Toronto school. The children, as always, were a delight and even when they were confused or uncertain they were unfailingly polite and quick to smile and say thank you. After bringing a smile to 225 children we moved to a new site.
We tried an experiment running 2 sites at a time for the second distribution which was both interesting and a challenge but a satisfying way to give another 639 children bedkits and a happy way to end the distribution day.
Many thanks to the Rotarians who very kindly provided lunch for both the children and ourselves. After our delicious lunch, which was much appreciated, we headed out for a long drive drive to our next hotel in the mountains.
Team Chennai 2019
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Kolkata: Sonamukhi
We visited Sonamukhi which is a very poor rural area 4 hours outside of Kolkata. We had several cows visit during this distribution of 640 new SCAW children.We were able to interview 3 new SCAW children whose ages were 6,9 and 10. One boy and 2 girls. Each child was accompanied by a parent. All of these children lived in homes with their siblings and other relatives as well. All families interviewed slept on a raised wooden slat bed and usually all slept together as a family unit.
All of the families had a mosquito net and understood how to use one but the one they had was old and had holes in it. All of the families were thrilled to see their new mosquito net in the bed kit.
The parents and children were thrilled with all the items in the bed kit. It is wonderful to see the expression on the parents faces as each item of the bed kit is explained.
We discussed sleep with the parents and stressed that all the items in the kit were meant to help the children get a good night sleep and stay in school.
Team Kolkata 2019
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Chennai: Happy Faces!
This is my second distribution, the first time was in Pune and now Chennai. Its good to be back. Yesterday, the first distribution day, I got to look at every one of the 474 children in the eye, while I drew a happy face on their hand. It was such a touching and rewarding experience, to see the excitement in those eyes. They are happy little people, despite their lot in life.
Today, my assignment was to send the children out to get their picture taken. There were a group of children who stood out somewhat, in that they were severely deaf and required a cumbersome device behind their ears. This did not dampen their spirits at all. They were just as excited and waved goodbye to me as fervently as all the rest. We gave out 480 kits today. The young teenagers who assist us are an integral part of the team and the Rotary helpers are formidable.
Tonight was a very special night. Ravi, our Rotory leader, invited us, as honoured guests, to his Daughter’s engagement ceremony. It was a traditional Hindu ceremony followed by a traditional South India meal, served on a banana leaf. We felt very special.What would we do without Ravi.
Catherine Gayton for
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