Honduras, 2019: Day 9, Recognition of Our Wonderful Overseas Partners
We just finished day 9 of our 2019 Sleeping Children Around the World bedkit distribution in a rural community outside of Tegucigalpa and I’m pleased to say that another 500 children are getting a “Better Night’s Sleep” in this developing country.
To date, we have distributed 5,500 bedkits and with 3 days to go we are extremely pleased to be on track to complete a new country record of 7,000 bedkits. So far, the distribution has run extremely well and our overseas volunteers, the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa and the Rotaracts have been excellent partners.
We had an opportunity to attend the weekly Rotary, where Debbie Will-Dryden provided an overview of Sleeping Children Around the World and the Rotarians had an opportunity to share their experiences with SCAW over the years. After 18 years of working together over 90,000 children have benefitted from our collaborative efforts.
Key contributors to this year’s bedkit distribution were recognized and the SCAW team was thanked by the Rotarians for their efforts and the way in which we interacted with the children.
It was a wonderful evening and our partnership together was further enhanced. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful overseas partner.
It was a wonderful evening and our partnership together was further enhanced. We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful overseas partner.
Honduras 2019: The knock-on effect of donors' generosity
One day, en
route back from our distribution, the Team paid an interesting visit in La Paz,
Comayagua to see where the white tee shirts and navy shorts were sewn for our
2019 distribution in Honduras.
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This small-scale cottage industry has grown as a result of SCAW orders over the years. The
owner, who was first able to buy herself one sewing machine, now owns 8 modern
machines and is able to give employment to 20 families, many of which include single moms.
Here is the owner
of this enterprise
The Team watched in fascination a
demonstration of a pre-cut tee shirt actually being made, (using no pins)!!
The process took a total of 3 minutes and 45
seconds from start to final completion. At the same time another lady was
making a pair of shorts. Both articles were well made, using good quality
material.
The
employees are paid 250 Lempira (0.041Lempira to 1
US dollar) each day for 200 tee shirts and 5 Lempiras for each pair of shorts.
It took a
total of 2 months, 5 days to complete the SCAW order of 7000 shorts and tees for
the bed kits. It is wonderful that 20 local families also had employment -- a
side benefit that results from the generosity of our donors. It's a win/win
situation for the children and this cottage industry.
Joy
Squire-Smith
Team
Honduras 2019
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Honduras 2019: Who are the Rotaracts?
Rotaracts
are a group of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 31. There
are 20 clubs of Rotaracts in Honduras, eight of which are in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. These
young people have a strong commitment to social justice and work on projects to
better their communities and the environment.
The Rotaracts have been a tremendous support to us with the daily bedkit distributions. They help with the final assembly of the backpacks, stage the children for their pictures, help with the bedkit distribution, entertain the children, move equipment, and so much more.
They are a delight to work with and we are so grateful that they are here to support SCAW and the children of Honduras.
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The Rotaracts have been a tremendous support to us with the daily bedkit distributions. They help with the final assembly of the backpacks, stage the children for their pictures, help with the bedkit distribution, entertain the children, move equipment, and so much more.
They are a delight to work with and we are so grateful that they are here to support SCAW and the children of Honduras.
Sue Simpson
Team
Honduras 2019
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Honduras 2019: A chance to see our impact
Today we had the
opportunity to visit four homes where the bedkits were received last year.
It was heartbreaking to see how these families lived. Nevertheless, we were greeted by warmhearted and thankful people.
It was heartbreaking to see how these families lived. Nevertheless, we were greeted by warmhearted and thankful people.
This school was a distribution site.
Many of the children have to be bussed to the site from remote areas. It could
be up to a 3½-hour bus ride to get there for some of the children. Old buses
from Canada have made their way to Tagucigalpa, the capital city where we are
staying.
The crowding in some of the homes was horrendous.
One home had 14 people living in a 2-room house. Their small kitchen was
outside. While we were there, we observed one of the daughters cooking chicken over a wood-fired stove.
This family had a rabbit, a dog and an avocado tree.
We saw a corrugated home that used
cardboard to divide up the few rooms.
At one home we visited, the family had to roll up the bedkit every morning in order to have room on the floor.
One of the single mothers worked cleaning the school and taking in laundry. We saw laundry hanging everywhere in all the homes. Of course, it was all done by hand.
Dengue fever is a problem here and I
only saw a few mosquito nets, which were probably obtained from the bedkits.
Because the windows were covered only by curtains or a metal grill, the
mosquitos had easy access.
I found the pride demonstrated by these families to be very impressive. For instance, school pictures of their children were proudly displayed on the walls.
The older children helped with the
younger ones and everyone was wearing clean clothes.
This little guy was the receiver of
a bedkit. He was one of the 14 who lived in this small space.
Honduras 2019: Another day of smiles
Day 6 of distribution saw our
team on the road again at 6:45 am. We travelled for about an hour and a
half from the hotel to the distribution site in Lejamani.
As we approached the
school, it was an amazing sight to see hundreds of happy, smiling children
eager to receive their backpacks and bedkits.
Members of the Rotary and Rotaract clubs helped us set up and provided assistance in organizing the children, to ensure that the correct children received their bedkits.
After set-up was completed, the children were put in groups of one to ten to have their pictures taken. They then received their backpacks and bedkits, as well as the drinks and treats provided by the power corporation.
As always, it was an amazing sight to see the excitement in the children after they received their bedkits and exited the school grounds to meet their waiting parents.
Connie Beaton
Team Honduras 2019
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Honduras 2019: Day 5 of distribution
Today we were again on our
way at 6:45 for another adventure. Once again, along
the road families were greeting and thanking us, and we received spontaneous
hugs from the children. The school where today's distribution took place was built by the parents in the
village, which demonstrates how important education is to them.
When we first arrived, we set about working on
stringing the backpacks and moving them and the bedkits to the best spots to
distribute them.
The distribution process worked like this:
- First, the children received a t-shirt and shorts.
- Next, they had their pictures taken. If a donor had bought ten bedkits, a group of ten children would be photographed together for the donor’s photo.
- The next stop was exciting, because each child received a backpack filled with school supplies and books.
- Now for the important part: a bedkit with everything they would need for a good night's sleep, including a mosquito net.
- Before leaving, each child was given healthy snacks and a drink box to add to their backpack.
Now, happily carrying their new possessions, the children made their way to the gate, which was guarded, to meet up with their moms or dads.
When all was over, we walked back to the van through the now almost-empty streets with a lot of wonderful memories.
Team Honduras 2019
Honduras 2019: Excited and gracious children
Today we were on the road by 6:45,
heading to our next distribution site in the country.
After turning up a steep, rough road leading up to the school, our van was surrounded by excited families waving to us with big smiles on their faces. So many people!
When we exited the van we were greeted with lots of hugs.
After turning up a steep, rough road leading up to the school, our van was surrounded by excited families waving to us with big smiles on their faces. So many people!
When we exited the van we were greeted with lots of hugs.
The children were wonderful. I was impressed by
how caring they were of each other, especially with any of their friends who
were disadvantaged in some way. Many of the older kids had learned to say a few
words in English, including “thank you”.
When
we were finished the distribution, the once-crowded school looked deserted.
This
little boy couldn’t wait.
Carol
Maranda
Team
Honduras 2019
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Honduras 2019: A Special Gift
Today found us
distributing another 600 bedkits in a small community on the outskirts of
Tegucigalpa.
It was an especially difficult but meaningful day for me, as I got to photograph and interview 14 beautiful children who
received bedkits in memory of a sweetheart of a girl named Olivia. She loved
children and supported Sleeping Children. Her parents donated the bedkits in
memory of her.
After telling them
Olivia's story via a translator, I asked them a series of questions. The last
question I asked the children (all 6 and 7 years old) was, is there anything
you would like to say to Olivia's parents? Here are some of their responses:
“she was beautiful”
“she was very pretty”
“I would have liked to play with her”
“tell them we will say a prayer for her”
Thankfully, I was not
needed out in the open to help with the distribution. I volunteered myself to
go help move bedkits where I was alone and had time to gather myself.
Sweet dreams, children
Clarence Deyoung
Team Honduras 2019
Team Honduras: Day 2 of distribution
Day 2 had our Team on
the road at 6:30 am, as our distribution site was outside the capital city of Tegucigalpa, in the Amarateca Valley. Here, the farmers grow onions, corn,
guava and mangoes.
The Rotaracts are part of our overseas partners, the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa.
Our first task upon
arrival was threading straps for the 600 children’s backpacks! Luckily, we had
the help of our wonderful Rotaracts!
The Rotaracts are part of our overseas partners, the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa.
The school we were at
today was built with the assistance of a Honduran benefactor and the government.
There have been additions over the years, as the original building was
destroyed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998. When we arrived, one of the classrooms
was full of the mattresses waiting for our distribution.
At the end of the day, another 600 Honduran children went home with smiles on their faces and their
arms full of their new bedkits.
Thank you to our
generous donors!
Joy Squire-Smith
Honduras 2019: A joyous beginning
Today was our first day getting to meet the kids – all 600
bubbly, giggly, excited little girls and boys who bounced their way into the
schoolyard where we were working. They charmed us with their smiles and their
manners, their thank-yous and hugs. At every step our Canadian and Honduras
teams mirrored the joy on the faces of the kids.
It was great to look around the schoolyard and see the adults
high-fiving the kids, playing puppets with them, talking and smiling, and just
having a great day all together. And it was even better seeing the smiles on
each of the kids’ faces as the backpack was put on their back, and they carried
their cozy new mattress out the school gates to their family waiting outside.
It really was "teamwork makes the dream work" in
action! We are looking forward to traveling outside the city tomorrow and
meeting another 600 terrific kids!
Debbie Will-Dryden
Team Honduras 2019
Debbie Will-Dryden
Team Honduras 2019
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Team Honduras 2019: Ready and eager to go!
The team for the
Honduras distribution was together for the first time this morning after
travelling from areas right across the country.
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With no time to waste,
we were off to meet with our Rotary and Rotaract partners. There was a
thorough discussion of the upcoming distribution and we were able to see the
wonderful bedkit the children will be receiving. We were then treated to
a delicious lunch at the home of one of our Rotary partners.
In the evening, we
reviewed each role for the distribution and did a mock set-up of a bedkit for
the pictures.
We're all excited and ready
to go for our first day tomorrow!
Susan Simpson
Team Honduras 2019
Team Honduras 2019
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As a courtesy to our overseas team, please add your name to the end of your comments.
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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We would not have been able to enrich the lives of 7500 children without coming together as a united, strong team.
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...
Irene S. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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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!
God bless these teachers!!!!!
Allison M. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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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:
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.
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:
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!!!
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.
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.
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.
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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