Tanzania: Another 760 Bedkits Distributed!!

For our distribution today, we travelled two hours into the coastal area of Tanzania. We left the dust and concrete of the large city for lush green mango trees and rich red soil!

We passed monkeys and houses made of red clay on our way to the village school.

The school itself teaches just under 200 students but they invited six other remote schools to join in on the distribution. The other schools arrived by bus. It was quite a sight to see all of the students, their parents, teachers and bedkits trying to fit onto the bus for the trip home!

We were lucky enough to have chance to meet a few Maasai tribes people. Some were now living amongst the villagers and sending their kids to school for an education.

 All in all it was another great day! In total, we handed out 760 bedkits to very enthusiastic kids and appreciative families.

Allison M. for
Team Tanzania 2019
Post your comments here:

Tanzania: First Distribution!!

Our day began with a trip to Mama Wandoa's home. We arrived just in time to help load the truck with the backpacks and supplies

After a quick tour of Mama's home, we were shown upstairs to her cottage industry where the women and men sew the backpacks, bedding, and children's clothes.

Then it was on to the distribution. Today was a smaller group of children - 500! These bedkits were added on at the last minute. We were greeted by the parents with a warm welcome.

Backpacks and mattresses were organized, and then it was off to the races!

  

We knew it would be fun, we knew it would be rewarding, but not in our wildest dreams did we expect how much.

The day at school ends with the last child receiving his/her bedkit to the sound of ringing of the "tire-rim bell".

On our way home we stopped at the mattress factory that produces all the mattresses for all of the distributions in Tanzania – 7500 for this trip! We were shown the manufacturing of the mattresses from beginning to finished product. So many bright colours!

Louise W. & John M. 

for Team Tanzania 2019
Post your comments here:

Tanzania: We Have Arrived And Ready To Go!!

After two long, but (thankfully), uneventful flights, Team Tanzania arrived in Dar es Salaam on Saturday evening. The walk across the blistering airport tarmac in Dubai, coupled with the wait on the stairs to board the connecting plane in 38+ degree heat, didn't cast a chill over our excitement! As we flew over Tanzania we spotted the tip of Mount Kilimanjaro poking out above the cloud cover to say, "Jambo" (hello)!

Some of us were surprised to find the sun setting before 7pm, as our Canadian summer days are still gloriously long. We were greeted right at the arrival gate by Mama Wandoa, her son, Benjamin, and our driver, Abbas. Mama Wandoa and her family have been SCAW partners since 2000 and we were honoured to meet her, and humbled that she and Benjamin took the time to personally escort us from the airport to our "home away from home". We promptly proceeded to overcome our jetlag with showers and sleep.

Sunday morning began with a team meeting, followed by a trip to the local plaza for water and a few provisions. Someone, not me, forgot their toothbrush! Team Leader, Peggy, treated us to gelato, which is just as refreshing and delicious here as it is pretty much anywhere in the world! Abbas (pictured below with Team Tanzania and the van which will be transporting us all over the country over the next two weeks) also gave us a quick tour of Coco Beach, where we dipped our toes into the Indian Ocean. 

Team Tanzania 2019: Irene S., James C., Louise W.,  Abbas, Lynn B., Peggy M., Allison M., John M

We held another planning meeting in the evening, with Mama and Benjamin, to discuss particulars about the first distribution, including a factory visit, and upcoming home visits of former bedkit recipients. We were awed to learn that one of our Tanzanian partner volunteers, with whom we will be working alongside this week, received a bedkit when she was a child - full circle giving!

Monday morning, and our first distribution, can't come soon enough!

Off to the plaza (and gelato)!.

Irene S. for
Team Tanzania 2019
Post your comments here:

Tanzania 2019: Post Your Comments Here:

As a courtesy to our overseas' team, please add your name to the end of your comments.

Philippines: Signing Off!!

After wrapping up distributions a few days ago and having some time to see some sights and rest, we were back on official business today with two factory visits.  We were able to visit the backpack factory and the factory where the mattress, sheet, pillow and shirts were produced.  Both were small cottage industries.  The backpack production took place in a small building and also in the front room of the managers' house. The manager lived in the house rent free.  Two sewing machines were in operation when we visited at the front of the house.  

The mattress production took place in three rooms of a building which also housed several of the workers and their families.   No worries about getting to work on time when you live in the building where you work.  Also a flexible work schedule was available.

Both had hired workers on contract but the workers usually had steady employment as orders were good.  After the big order for our bedkits workers received a bonus and a bit of time off.  Both were paid by piece work and therefore overtime opportunities were welcomed. 

Some of our mattresses were piled up against a wall and these had been rejected due to flaws.  I was pleased to hear that the workers would receive these mattresses.  

There was a fan at each sewing machine and lighting seemed good.  

As this was our last official duty, Team Philippines is signing off.  Homeward bound soon.

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: 7000 More Bedkits Distributed!!

Today at our 2nd last distribution we had the honour of listening to 2 blind children who sang wonderful songs to us. 

The whole crew also took the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Irwin.

We had some special donations come thru. One was for the Kiwanis Club in Stratford. They had recently hosted a convention in Stratford Ontario and donated use of a booth for SCAW. As a thank you we donated 3 bedkits. It always brings a smile when Kiwanis labels come thru as we have many volunteers from Kiwanis help us thru the years.

We also took the opportunity to celebrate the ‘We the North’ fever on our team

After the distribution we took the opportunity to see the largest and oldest tree in the area. It was the biggest balete tree in Asia. It is 600 yrs old and 60m. Alternate name is the Millennium Tree

At our last distribution we gave out our 7000 bedkit.

Our mascot- lambchop- left us as she seems to enjoy being near the ocean where she can surf the waves.

We did some home visits afterwards. There are 9 children living in this home and the father is going blind. The mother works in Manila and visits every 6 months.

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: On The Road Again!!

We are on the road again. We stopped at a distribution and emptied our truck. 

We had a heavy rain during the distribution. 

We are traveling thru the mountains with switchbacks and S curves. It was a 4 hour drive. 

Arrived at our destination by the beach.   The town is known as a tourist destination for surfers.

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Another 900 Bedkits Distributed!!

Another day, another 900 happy children who will sleep better tonight.  `Here is a picture of the last 10 children today.

After our morning distribution we visited several homes of recipients who had just received their bedkit.  This young lady is showing me how she will sleep on her new mattress.  The whole family shares one bed. This girl will now have her own mattress to sleep on.  With this gift she will sleep well and be better prepared for school the next day.

In another home we found a recipient was sharing her new bed with this little one.

The homes we visited today had one small room shared by the family but they were able to do their cooking outside. 

These houses were built beside a river which floods during the rainy season.  This picture shows levels of water.  If it is in the yellow section it means be careful.  In the orange section it means watch out and the red section means get out.  Looking at the level of water in the river right now it is hard to imagine it overflowing its banks. 

That's a wrap for today!

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Always Grateful For Our Oversea's Volunteers!

Today we had 2 distributions giving 900 bedkits out. Both ran smoothly and were balanced. 

Following the morning distribution we went to visit a Church that was was affected by a volcano in 1995. The San Guillermo Parish Church floor is currently 24 Ft above the original floor. Lahar is the ash that covered the church and settled like cement. The Church windows had been high windows and are now below the floor level. We only see the tips of the windows now. Amazingly the church was not destroyed. The front windows became the doors. 

After the second distribution we took a tricycle ride to a mall and to return we took a Jeepney home.   Fortunately we had members of the oversees volunteers with us in each tricycle since we got separated at the mall. Thus we took two separate jeepneys home. We were all home safely with no real worries.  

Irwin Kelly for
Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Uganda: We Did It!!

Well, we did it!  Even though the roads were bumpy and the days were long, we completed twelve consecutive distributions for a total of 7000 bedkits to the children of Uganda.   This would not be possible without the partnership of the Inner Wheel Club of Kampala and Sleeping Children Around the World. These ladies worked tirelessly alongside our wonderful team of seven to provide a better night's sleep to some of the poorest children.   It is our hope that we brought some happiness to 7000 families in Uganda.

Rosanne Waugh

Team Uganda 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Travel Day And Distributions!!

While this a travel day we also had two distributions. We had a full van when we started the day at 8:00am and headed north. Our first distribution went like clockwork. Our recipients were overjoyed as were their caregivers. We enjoyed lunch in a beautiful museum across the street from our site. 
We maintained our schedule and even had time for a brief stop at Starbucks, compliments of Sue Orr. Arrived at our second site to a great reception including a traditional Filipino dance. The day went without a hitch and we arrived at our hotel safely.

It all fits!!

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Our Day Off!

Today was a day off from distributions and we visited Vagadan Village.  Many families were housed in a compound with entry through a gate.   We were welcomed by a wonderful woman who was the leader in the village.  As we wandered through the maze of houses we were greeted by many children and adults who were happy to have us visit inside their homes. 

It was interesting to learn that two of the women we spoke to had lived in the village since birth. Most families had several children and the whole family were sharing the small bedroom space sleeping on a thin mattress on the floor. 

The kitchen areas were small with a burner for cooking. 

  

Pumps were shared by families and water was collected in pails to use in the home. 

Visiting this community of welcoming people was a wonderful way to spend our day off.  

Tomorrow we travel north  with distributions in two locations on our way to our next hotel.

Lorna Hedger for

Team Philippies 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Day 4

We began at 8 am this morning and arrived at a downtown Church lot covered with tents.   They continued to do mass while we worked out of the parking lot.  We have our 450 kids and everything worked well. We had a tour afterwards of the grounds. 

After a delicious lunch we went to the second site. While we were waiting for the kits to arrive we enjoyed listening to karaoke from the kids.  Another 450 kits were given out and we were blessed to see our systems working to balance kids with kits.  It was a great team effort. 

Tomorrow we will have a day off from distributions and will tour some local areas.  Traffic is always a challenge and the weather is over 35 degrees. We have had thunderstorms almost every night.

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Uganda: Distribution 11!

After a slight delay to let some thunderstorms pass we headed out to distribution 11 of 12 at Rwijeere Uganda.

Even though the rain had stopped the mud covered roads presented a new challenge. Our bus nearly slid off the road and then got stuck on a hill. After emptying the bus and some skilled driving on the part of Moses, our bus driver, we got underway again through some difficult roads. Travelling to these remote villages reinforces why we distribute bed kits once you see the living conditions and poverty that exists.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a group of parents dancing to traditional Ugandan drum beats.

Once our distribution got under way, things went smoothly and another 585 bedkits were distributed to 585 smiling faces. We were also visited by a flock of chickens that decided to take a closer look at a bedkit and seemed to approve.

Our return trip from the distribution was less eventful although we did see a group of inquisitive Vervet monkeys at the side of the road hoping for a banana to be tossed their way.

Neil Waugh for
Team Uganda 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: A Successful Day 3!

Another successful day!

In the morning we had our 450 bedkit distribution. The kids were ready and waiting for us and we were blessed to have a group of teenagers dance for us. The distribution went smoothly with many volunteers from SCAW Philipines group and the Kiwanis group. 

After a wonderful lunch we were greeted by 400 children. After the distribution we went to see them piling into vans to be taken back to their local schools.  Even though there is a school break many teachers volunteered their time to take children to the site. 

Every evening it seems we have thunderstorms but they are welcomed as they cool the air that is generally 30 degrees but feels like 35.

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Uganda: Sharing the Road!

Many of our distributions have taken us out to the country. The red dirt roads, at times, make the term WASH BOARD SURFACE have a real meaning while riding on the minibus. Our bus had to share the road with the other vehicles, motorcycles, bikes, walkers and the cattle. Had to watch out for the goats which were usually tethered near the roadside where they had taller grass and shrubs for them to munch on. 

At these distribution sites out in the country I noticed many bare foot children. The sandals in the bed kits will be put to good use. The homes out in the country changed from being brick structures to small adobe homes and grass thatched huts, at times they were in clusters. They usually had some mango tress, small rows of corn and some other plants which appeared to have been newly planted around their homes. It was so good to travel these country roads to hand out bedkits to these deserving children and families.

Marianne Tomlinson for
Team Uganda 2019
Post your comments here:

Uganda: A Limerick from Uganda

There once was a SCAW team from Canada

That volunteered to travel to Uganda

They worked hard with Kampala’s Inner Wheel

Who always prepared a tasty midday meal

Will the children like the bedkits they were bringing?

And the ladies were dancing and singing

Carefully setting up bedkits for the children to view

Including new outfits, red, green, yellow and blue

A mattress, a bucket, bedding, sandals and math set

Thanks to the donors they now have a mosquito net

Posing for a photo with a big smile, you know

At last, free to go home, bedkit in tow

So dear, sweet children of Uganda, we hope you sleep tight

Your new mosquito nets won’t let those bugs bite

We hope you enjoy the bedkits we were bringing

And the Inner Wheel Ladies keep dancing and singing

Karen Bridgman-Acker for

Team Uganda 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: Home Visits And Interviews

Today after the morning distribution we went to some homes of recipients...  The homes were really 10 x 10 and had 3 children and 2 adults living in them.  There was one bed and the children slept on the floor.  The kitchen consisted of a 2 ft shelf with some pots and pans.  There was one burner.  The closet consisted of everything hanging on the ceiling.  In the “complex” there were 5 homes of similar standard.  They had a storefront where people took turns helping each other.

  
In our morning distribution we had 2 large groups… one of 142 children and one of 93 children. These photos take a little extra time but are really impactful for a group shot. 

The afternoon distribution was slightly delayed  due to traffic issues.  We were lucky as we were undercover as there was a heavy downpour.  We saw first had how important a raincoat can be to them.  

In one of our interviews we had a girl  who was a recipient of a bed kit a few years ago.  She was also lucky enough to have someone help her out with chemo treatments and costs.   She is now 12 years old and an honour student.  She has hopes of being a model or a stewardess.

Ruthe Vibe for
Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here:

Uganda: Masindi

We drove to Kitonozi from Masindi in NW Uganda for today’s distribution of 585 bedkits.  The people here speak a handful of languages including Lunyoro, Swahili, Lugsnda.

Once again, the Inner Wheel team in Uganda had everything on the ground well organized for the distribution.

Kitonozi is located in a rural area whose main industry is sugar cane grows and refining.  It’s an impoverished district with many children (at least 50%) who leave school at 12 or 13 years because their families do not have the equivalent of $20 to $40 a year for compulsory school fees.  Child disease issues are prevalent (eg. ringworm) with no money for child medical attention.

Still, the people are proud and do whatever they can to make a living.  Young girls help till crops and often get married in young teenage years.  The boys often work in the sugar cane fields and the sugar refining plant as young as 13 years to help cover family expenses. Families are everything in rural Uganda. They all look after each other.  The families were all so appreciative to receive our bedkits.

Brian Barr
Team Uganda 2019
Post your comments here:

Philippines: All About the Bedkit!!

Today’s focus was all about the bedkit.

1) Members of the SCAW Canadian Team experience packing a bedkit for a child in The Philippines.

2) Two of our members along with a member of our overseas team in front of colourful bedkits to be distributed later today.

3) The truck loaded with bedkits arrives at the school compound.

4) Happy smiling faces of children proudly carrying home their bedkits - part of the total number of 450 bedkits successfully distributed today.

Theodora Nandy for

Team Philippines 2019
Post your comments here: