Tanzania: Signing Off!!

Our work here is finished and we leave Tanzania with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

We would not have been able to enrich the lives of 7500 children without coming together as a united, strong team. 

Thank you to everyone for your energy, your commitment and your love of children.

Asante sana,
Peggy Morrison - Team Leader for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: Priceless!

Every parent wants the best for their child. At the SCAW distributions, a parent/guardian is required to attend in order to understand the purpose of the program, to learn about the research connected to our promotion of a good night's sleep, and to assist with the transportation of the bedkit home. 

When we first meet the parents, they are somewhat reserved, yet very polite, and perhaps a bit suspicious (too good to be true, perhaps?!)

Our SCAW partners, and our team leader, Peggy, explain our purpose and intent to the moms and dads, grandparents and guardians:

Then, the realization that their child, and their family, is about to receive a useful and practical gift that promotes a healthy sleep sets in...and we are so fortunate to be hanging around to be able see the true joy in the faces of these most appreciative parents and guardians:
  

The absolute best, though, is watching it all sink it on a child's face...

Quite the impact for $35.00CDN.  Priceless, actually!

Irene S. for 
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: A Tanzania Classroom!

What does a Tanzanian classroom look like? 

Being a teacher myself in Canada, I was interested in learning about this. I figured this was a simple enough question but soon learned the answer is not. 

After visiting 7 different school sites, I soon came to realize that there is no "typical classroom."  The learning can be in a class with desks and chairs.... like Canada, or it can take place in a classroom sitting on the floor as there are very few desks. 

In some schools, there aren't enough classrooms, so they teaching takes place outside!

The biggest surprise to me about the Tanzanian classroom is the number of students. Chatting with the teachers, I was told that some classes have over 50 students! I was shocked until other teachers told me of 100+ students in one room. I started to think that this might be a language problem - a miscommunication - until I saw a class with 200 students.... not just one classroom but an entire school with every classroom filled with wall to wall students. 

God bless these teachers!!!!!

Allison M. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: Conversations!!

As a SCAW group of travelling volunteers there are a number of activities we do beyond distributing the bedkits to the children. There are home visits to meet prior year recipients, reviews of financial records of our volunteer partners, writing these blogs, checking and re-checking the photos to make sure they are complete and accurate, etc.

One other activity that each of us gets to do is to engage in “conversations” with parents, guardians, and/or teachers of the current year’s children. Today was my day for these conversations. Some guideline questions are as follows:

Normally the conversation will go down a path where the adult is most comfortable, and not all questions will get addressed, but we usually get some very good and thoughtful insight into how our efforts will likely impact the home life of the children.

The conversations are facilitated by one of our local partner representatives, who help with translation, and who also benefit from the feedback that we receive. Mama’s son, Benjamin, has been helping us with our conversations throughout this distribution. 

My two conversations today were both with single mothers who each have 4 children at home. In both homes there are at least two people sharing each bed/mat, and a good night’s sleep is a challenge because of the cold and cramped conditions.

In reviewing the various responses received by team members during their conversations, there are some consistent themes that arise:

• all are extremely grateful for the bedkits and indicate that it will definitely improve their living conditions and the children’s school opportunity for learning.
• school supplies are expensive and many children go without.
• the water bottles are a big hit (thanks, Raymond James!).
• most parents are reluctant to “rank” the items in the bedkit. Our sense is that everything is cherished and they don’t want us to think some things are not valued.

My biggest takeaway from these conversations is that, if we think the children are excited with their new possessions, the parents are ecstatic!!!

Signing off on Day 8,
James C. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: Flag Day!

We arrived today just in time to witness the raising of the Tanzanian flag. 

At several of the schools we have watched the children sing their national anthem, and other songs like “Tanzania, Tanzania” accompanied by students playing the drums. 
 
 

This morning morning we had about 20 boys helping unload the backpacks and tie up the mattresses up for distribution. 

John attached Canadian flag pins on the boys’ lapels.  They were so excited! 
 

Allison hung our Canadian flag at one of the distribution stations. 

Louise and John for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Team Tanzania: Time Flies When We're Having Fun!

We finished our first week of distributions and our team wants to thank Mama Wandoa, her son Benjamin and her group of volunteers for all of their help. It is uncanny the way they anticipate our needs and we could not ask for better partners. Asante sana.

On Friday afternoon our team walked a long way through a village to visit the homes of previous bedkit recipients. How humbling it was to see where our children live.

Saturday was our day off and this hard-working group wanted to experience some of the sights in Tanzania. Up bright and early we met our guide, Tetula, and with our trusty driver, Abbas, off we went on our adventure.

First stop was the Mwenge Woodcarvers Cooperative where we watched the artists create animals from ebony wood. Some of our team made some purchases to support their work.

We took a drive through the campus of the beautiful Dar es Salaam University as Tetula’s son hopes to study Economics there in the fall.

The next place we visited was the Village Museum and we saw an impressive display of dwellings starting in the 1700s to the present day. John and Irene had to duck in the doorways.

We learned that this team sure can dance!!!!

The Tinga Tinga Arts Cooperative is an explosion of vibrant colours with a very distinctive style of art. John and Peggy were able to purchase their Christmas tree ornaments. 

At the National Museum we learned about Tanzania’ s history and appreciated Tetula’s knowledge of her country.

John had to have a Tanzanian flag to display on Independence Day which is December 9th.

The last stop was the Fish Market with lots of people, noise and interesting ‘catches of the day’.

Tomorrow is a rest day.  As a sleep organization we know that ‘a healthy team needs a healthy sleep’. Lala salama (sleep well).

We are excited to see our children on Monday for the last five days of distributions.

Peggy M.
Team Leader
For the 7500 Children

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Tanzania: Every Distribution Is Unique!

Every distribution day is unique. A different location with new recipients, new adventures, and new stories.  However, what remains constant, is the tried and true "method of delivery". If it ain't broke...!

Upon arrival at the distribution site, we first take some time to meet, and to mingle with, the families of the bedkit recipients. 
 

If we're at a school, we watch the opening exercises, and we practice our Swahili while the students switch roles and become our (amused) teachers. 
 

Then it's on to the business at hand. Our local SCAW partners have always beaten us to the delivery site. They unload the bedkits and mattresses and start to set up the stations. Children are then ushered into change rooms where they receive their first, of two, new outfits. 

The children then proceed, with both hesitation and excitement, to the photo station. Yes, it can all be a little overwhelming for everybody involved, whether you're 6 or 60!

However, when greeted by someone as happy and as warm as John, how can one not feel more relaxed?!

Photos are taken...

Then the children are reunited with their belongings and sent on to the check-in station.

  

A quick swipe with a Sharpie (colour choice is one of the perks of working at this station!) confirms that the child is ready to move on.
 

Backpacks first (different colours indicate sizing of school uniforms inside)...

Mattresses next...

"Mom? Dad? I'm ready!"

Repeat. 780 times a day. 

Nope, it never gets old.
 
Irene S.for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: 780 More Bedkits Distributed!

Today’s adventure started (not so) bright and early - up at 4:50 a.m. and on the road by 5:30 a.m. Everyone made wake-up call and we headed down into the southern coastal region. Even at this hour the streets are busy and there are people everywhere beginning their day.

We arrived at today’s school - Kilimahewa - by 7:45 a.m. The roads were less busy than anticipated which gave us extra time to spend with the children before beginning the distribution.

The children are fantastic all the time, but they have extra energy first thing in the morning and they love to help us get organized.

This is also the time when our team’s “child whisperer” starts her engagement with the children.

We had a special treat this morning as the children provided us with a half hour of songs, anthems and dance. A number of our group joined in the dancing and our team leader, Peggy, taught our new friends the hand jive to add to their repertoire!

I had the fun job of “mattress-giver” for the day. Always one of the best spots as you get to see the smiles on the children's faces as they receive their backpack and mattress.

The day progressed smoothly as the team delivered 780 bed kits in under 3 and a half hours - kudos to Mama, Benjamin and their team of volunteers who keep everything running like clockwork. Even the trip home was quicker than anticipated - all in all a great day.

James C. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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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
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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
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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
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Tanzania 2019: Post Your Comments Here:

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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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