Chennai, 2020, Day 7: A Very Successful Distribution in Chennai
Well we are back in the city of Chennai where the children seem to be more rambunctious - or maybe they are just overly excited to see the gift they are about to receive!
Again, many Rotary clubs within the city limits brought anywhere from 5-50 children to the large open site where today’s distribution was held.
The senior girls were our helpers today and they were with the children and the team throughout the entire day, despite the heat and the sandy playground area where the site was set up.
With over 900 bedkits handed out today we are on the last leg of our journey here. Stay tuned over the next few days as we complete all 7500.
The teachers and visitors to the site also wanted me to relay their sincere thanks to all the SCAW donors. The parents in the city of Chennai are most grateful for your donations that enable their children to sleep better!
Theresa Carravetta, Leader
Chennai, 2020, Day 5: A Warm Welcome and Careful Organization Made Today a Success
This is my fourth distribution with SCAW. On this distribution I am a Team Leader Assistant under the knowledgeable lead of Theresa Carravetta.
Today the team arrived for the fifth distribution. As we walked through the gates of the school we were greeted by the smiling children singing a welcome song for us.
The Head Master, Mr. Kumar, has won the award for the best kept school for the past three years. It was noted to be the best government run school in the area. Upon arrival it was evident the pride he took in his job and the sheer passion he had for the children.
Many may not know how much organization goes into a distribution site. The children arrive and change into their new school uniforms. A ticket is assigned to each child with a specific number.
Next, the child proceeds through a line up where the number is accounted for by a Rotarian.
The children are then assembled as they wait for their photo to be taken. Once the photo has been taken, they receive a happy face on their left hand. From that point they are only a few feet away from their most precious gift, their bed kit! Their smiles light up the sky as they receive their bedkit - something they will cherish for a very long time.
I am happy to say that 538 children will be sleeping and dreaming much better this evening! Sleep well children!
Cheryl Warner
Team Chennai, 2020
Chennai, 2020, Day 6: Treated Like Royalty Left Us With Wonderful Memories
When I first saw the schedule I was anxious that today was going to be a long day. We left the hotel in Chennai at 5:45 a.m. for a more than 31/2 hr. trip to our next distribution, but you will have to agree that Team Chennai hit the motherlode when I describe the warm hospitality that was extended to us as we arrived and throughout the day.
Before we even arrived we passed a billboard with all of our pictures on it welcoming us.
Our first stop was the beautiful VPR Convention Center, where we were treated to a scrumptious breakfast buffet. It was such a wonderful location.
Soon after we headed for the VPR School for Special Studies for Exceptional Children. As we approached we could hear band music and as we reached the front gate we were amazed at the unbelievable sight. The school band was playing and the sidewalk was covered with a Red Carpet. The carpet was covered in rose petals lined by many students from the school that would later serve as our helpers.
Lais of red roses, yellow mums and white gardenias were placed around our necks.
All the students were in attractive uniforms and all the female teachers wore identical coloured sarees. They would wear a different color each day of the week. The teachers and students were all so very helpful.
We all had wonderful memories of a successful distribution as we made the more than 4 hour drive back to Chennai.
Gym Flader
Team Chennai, 2020
Chennai, 2020: Day 4, Priceless Smiles after a Harrowing Drive
Well, from a hilltop station we descended a steep winding road with 20 hairpin turns! Delightful monkeys sat on the curbs watching our minibus navigate the road.
At a lovely school in another town we completed our 4th distribution. There were 60 different schools participating and 830 bedkits distributed.
Transportation was a challenge for many of the schools traveling a fair distance in a variety of vehicles: buses, trucks, cars and Tuk Tuks.
Handing out the bedkits today was a rewarding experience and the smiles on children's faces when they realized the bedkits were theirs - Priceless!
As always, the beautiful Sarees worn by the mothers and teachers made it a colorful event.
Nancy & Steve Jeffery
Team Chennai, 2020
Chennai, Day 3, Bedkits Help the Whole Family!
Today our distribution was in a hill station that developed because of the cultivation of coffee brought there by the British over a hundred and fifty years ago. We delivered 582 bed kits to the children of this area.
I had the job today of interviewing six different families. Three were from the town itself and three from the outlying areas. Many of the mothers helped with the coffee bean harvest. I found that some of the children were sleeping on plastic mats directly on the floor. Others were lucky enough to have one mattress that the whole family slept on. All families slept in one room. They said this bed-kit would definitely help the whole family get a better night’s sleep. The mosquito net particularly was a big hit. Surprisingly the Tamil/English dictionary was also one of the prized items. One thing they would have liked to have seen in the kit was something for rain as it can get very wet there. This should be something to consider for next year.
Post Your Comments Here:All families had great hopes that their children get an education and good jobs in the future. We hope that in one small way providing a better sleeping environment will help realize this goal.
Kathy Westbrook
Team Chennai, 2020
Chennai, 2020: Day 2, Another 1092 Happy Children
After a short flawless flight from Chennai to Trichy, we were warmly greeted by the local Rotarians.
The second day began by separating into two separate teams. Cheryl, Kathy, Nancy & Jim travelled to Perambular. Theresa, Steve, and Isabelle stayed in Trichy.
Throughout the day we saw shy smiles turn to wide grins as the bedkits were handed to the children. Timid thank yous and the confident use of a few English words brought delight to them and to us.
Thanks to fifty years of generous donors, another 1092 children have had a memorable day and a good night’s sleep.
Chennai, 2020: Welcome Smiles After a Long Trip
Well, after a cancelled flight and a few other speed bumps the team has arrived in Chennai from Canada and the United States. We’ve rested for a day and had to revise the schedule but we managed to greet and hand out bedkits to 832 children today in the sweltering Indian heat!
Seeing their smiling faces seemed to erase our travel misadventures and knowing that these children will all have a better night’s sleep not only brought them joy but also brought joy to the team.
Here are a few pictures of just how happy they made us!
Theresa Carravetta
Team Chennai, 2020
Chennai 2020 - Post your comments here
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Bangladesh, 2019: Our Final Distribution - What Adventures and Accomplishments!
The distribution that started in Bangladesh on November 7th has now reached its conclusion with a final 468 children in Mirzaganj receiving their bedkits. What a journey!
Rotary Dhaka's SKD team has achieved so many firsts with this 2019 Sleeping Children distribution. Since their modest start of 50 bedkits in 1984, approximately 180,000 bedkits have been given to Bangadesh's needy children in all areas of the country.
The generosity of Sleeping Children's donors has brought smiles, hope, and the knowledge that someone, far, far, away cares deeply for the children of Bangladesh.
Chris Hills,
Team Bangladesh, 2019
Bangladesh, 2019: Finally Continuing our Distributions on Nov. 29
After a break since November 16th, the SKD team was in fine shape for the 1300 bedkit distribution at Gerakul.
Yet again, their use of two photo-sites proved invaluable as two streams of children were delivered smoothly and efficiently from the change rooms all the way through to the handing out of the bedkits.
The more senior students from the school were the invaluable volunteers at this site, as well as volunteers from local Rotary clubs.
The site at Gerakul was especially meaningful as this was the ancestral home of Dr Niaz Abdur Rahman, not only this year's Rotary Club of Dhaka's chairman, but he was also the second site photographer!
Great teamwork from everyone involved!
Chris Hills
Team Bangladesh, 2019
Pune 2019: Mission accomplished!
Wow! 8,000 bed kits and 8,000 happy
children!
Can you tell by the smiles on our faces how happy we are? What a
team! Everyone worked so hard and accomplished so much. Tomorrow we will be
celebrating with our Rotary partners at a farewell dinner. Soon we will be home
with so many memories of this wonderful experience.
 |
| Sitting, from left to right - Kay Mountford, Fran Wilson, Diane Barrick, Andrea Tynan, Cindy Hobman and standing, Archie DeGaust |
Diane Barrick, Team Leader
Team Pune 2019
Pune 2019: Visits
Today was a day of visits. We
started our day visiting schools that had been selected last year to receive
bedkits. The teachers of each chosen school decide which 70 children receive a
bedkit, based on need.
Both schools were primary schools, grades 1-4. The children were in class when we arrived. They were so excited to see us and welcomed us with songs.
It was nice to chat with the teachers. According to them, the chance to receive a bedkit increases the child’s interest in school because they can only receive a bedkit if they are in school; and the children who receive a bedkit sleep better, which leads to better attendance and better learning.
Next, we visited the homes of some children who received bedkits last year. These visits give us a glimpse into how these children live, as well as how the family uses the bedkit items.
Our first visit was to a 2-room home shared by two children, their father and grandfather. Vaishnvi, 8 years old, used to sleep on the bare cold stone floor. Now she sleeps on her mat with blankets. Her teacher says Vaishnvi loves school and does well. School has extra importance for Vaishnvi as her mother passed away three years ago, and her teacher has become a surrogate mother to her.
Both businesses are family businesses, having been started by fathers and now carried on by their sons. Each employs 15-20 workers full-time, all working six days a week.
In order to produce the large quantity required for the bedkits, these businesses hired additional workers. In many cases, these additional workers were women who would sew in their homes.
A very interesting day. It was wonderful seeing the families continue, a year later, to use the bedkit items. It was so satisfying to see the bedkits provide additional employment and a boost to the local economy. Finally, it was heartwarming to hear the teachers speak of the benefits a bedkit brings to a child’s life.
Cindy Hobman
Team Pune 2019
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Both schools were primary schools, grades 1-4. The children were in class when we arrived. They were so excited to see us and welcomed us with songs.
Next, we visited the homes of some children who received bedkits last year. These visits give us a glimpse into how these children live, as well as how the family uses the bedkit items.
Our first visit was to a 2-room home shared by two children, their father and grandfather. Vaishnvi, 8 years old, used to sleep on the bare cold stone floor. Now she sleeps on her mat with blankets. Her teacher says Vaishnvi loves school and does well. School has extra importance for Vaishnvi as her mother passed away three years ago, and her teacher has become a surrogate mother to her.
Another home visit took us to a 1-room home owned by someone in the husband’s family. Six adults and two children all live together in this 8’ x 8’ room. We were happy to see the sleeping mat, blankets and clothing received last year were still being used today.
We finished our day with visits to a couple of manufacturers. We always like to see where the bedkit items are made and ensure working conditions are good and employees are treated properly.
Both businesses are family businesses, having been started by fathers and now carried on by their sons. Each employs 15-20 workers full-time, all working six days a week.
In order to produce the large quantity required for the bedkits, these businesses hired additional workers. In many cases, these additional workers were women who would sew in their homes.
A very interesting day. It was wonderful seeing the families continue, a year later, to use the bedkit items. It was so satisfying to see the bedkits provide additional employment and a boost to the local economy. Finally, it was heartwarming to hear the teachers speak of the benefits a bedkit brings to a child’s life.
Cindy Hobman
Team Pune 2019
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Pune 2019: Images from our travels through India
They say a picture is worth a
thousand words. There was no distribution today, so we thought you would
like to see India as we are. This is an India that you won’t see in any
tourist book.
Ploughing the fields.
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Migrant workers travelling to the farm.
Living conditions.
Ploughing the fields.
Selling socks on the street.
Apartment Building in downtown Pune
Laundry Drying
Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. Research tells us that a good night’s sleep improves health and the ability to learn. We thank all of the donors who have helped these beautiful children through your bedkit donations.
Cindy Hobman
Team Pune 2019
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Pune 2019: Interesting journeys and gratifying results
Today we were delighted to meet up
with a truck full of children and parents heading to our distribution site at
Supe. The children were already bursting with excitement!
We made a stop along the way to visit a very old temple dedicated to Ganesh, the Hindu Lord of obstacles.
It is always so rewarding and humbling to see the hundreds of parents and children eagerly awaiting our arrival. The distribution is planned and the children chosen many months in advance, so the excitement is palpable.
Each member of the
SCAW team was given a wonderful gift of a scarf and a plaque from the education
officer of the district of Baramati.
The long wait was finally over and the children and their families headed home with their gifts from our generous donors in Canada.
The team began the long journey back to Pune, which culminated in one of the worst traffic jams we have ever seen. Two of our brave Indian friends actually got out of the van and began directing traffic, and our skilled driver wound his way through the chaos that is Pune traffic.
Namaste
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We made a stop along the way to visit a very old temple dedicated to Ganesh, the Hindu Lord of obstacles.
It is always so rewarding and humbling to see the hundreds of parents and children eagerly awaiting our arrival. The distribution is planned and the children chosen many months in advance, so the excitement is palpable.
The long wait was finally over and the children and their families headed home with their gifts from our generous donors in Canada.
The team began the long journey back to Pune, which culminated in one of the worst traffic jams we have ever seen. Two of our brave Indian friends actually got out of the van and began directing traffic, and our skilled driver wound his way through the chaos that is Pune traffic.
Namaste
Diane Barrick
Team Pune 2019
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Pune 2019: A taste of local culture
Today, we had an exciting ride
through the countryside to our destination of Islampur, which was about 1½ hours
from the hotel where we were staying. The country roads are narrow, which makes
passing huge trucks full of sugar cane a real challenge.
When we arrived at our destination, the welcome ceremony included the turban wrapping, ceremonial dancing, and we were brought to the site on a tractor-drawn float.
The children came from many different schools in the area and some had travelled over an hour to reach the distribution. We had help from over 100 volunteers to make it a successful distribution, and 997 children were excited to receive a bedkit today.
After the distribution was finished, we were treated to a special dinner at the home of a farmer who helped with preparing the site for the distribution. We were given Puran poli which is a Maharashtra specialty.
Fran Wilson
When we arrived at our destination, the welcome ceremony included the turban wrapping, ceremonial dancing, and we were brought to the site on a tractor-drawn float.
The children came from many different schools in the area and some had travelled over an hour to reach the distribution. We had help from over 100 volunteers to make it a successful distribution, and 997 children were excited to receive a bedkit today.
After the distribution was finished, we were treated to a special dinner at the home of a farmer who helped with preparing the site for the distribution. We were given Puran poli which is a Maharashtra specialty.
Fran Wilson
Team Pune 2019
Post a commentPune 2019: Witnessing the joy and appreciation
November 21
Diane Barrick
Team Pune 2019
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Today was a day filled with hope for a thousand recipients of
the SCAW bedkit. To see the faces of so many children and their parents smile
with gratitude for the gift of a SCAW bedkit is a wonderful thing for the
volunteers to witness. The generosity of the SCAW givers is so appreciated. It’s
is only through the photos that most donors get to see the joy and hope their
gifts give.
Diane Barrick
Team Pune 2019
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Pune 2019: Raising awareness and remembering SCAW's beginnings
20 November
Today started with the realization the schedule had been more taxing for some of the team members. It was decided the prudent thing to do would be to rest up for the next leg of the distribution tour; there was much travel time ahead and thousands more kits to pass out to the many wonderful children.
Archie Degaust
Team Pune 2019
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Today started with the realization the schedule had been more taxing for some of the team members. It was decided the prudent thing to do would be to rest up for the next leg of the distribution tour; there was much travel time ahead and thousands more kits to pass out to the many wonderful children.
Kay and
Archie volunteered to represent SCAW for a midday press conference alongside
our Rotarian colleagues. It was our chance to get the word out and get some
name recognition for SCAW. We showed up at the press gallery with Sameer Rupani
and Pankaj Apte and took our seats at the table. In the 25 or so minutes we
had, we conveyed the scope and direction and depth of SCAW. Sameer and Pankaj
outlined a brief history of the Rotary Club/SCAW relationship, and their roles
as procurers and facilitators; describing efforts to maximize kit content, yet
retaining the highest value of each item.
Kay
described the story of Murray Dryden's experience in Pune, with wife Margaret,
nearly 50 years ago, and the subsequent passionate legacy that developed out of
which SCAW was born.
As a
newcomer to the SCAW team, Archie conveyed his experiences as a newbie, and the
depth of emotions that arise from witnessing the warmth of the community we
serve, and are serving alongside.
We closed
the press conference with a TV interview with Kay, who went into more detail of
SCAW. We left feeling good about the experience, knowing there would be a
little more exposure for this growing movement.
Afterwards,
our Rotarian hosts treated us to a wonderful lunch, followed by a tour of St.
Crispens Orphanage; the site of SCAW's first distribution in 1970. We were
grateful that the head supervisor was able to take some time out of her busy
schedule to show us through the orphanage and give us a little information
about how it worked. As we sat at the table discussing things of SCAW, Rotary
Club and St. Crispens, Sameer showed the supervisor a photo from that first
distribution all those years ago. To everyone's amazement she recognized one of
the young girls who was a bedkit recipient! Apparently, she was an orphan who had been
brought up through St. Crispens and had graduated to become a teacher ... at
the very same orphanage! To add to this great news, we were introduced to a
girl in her teens who had been a recipient in 2009 for the millionth kit
distribution tour!
Such a great
testament to the effectiveness of both SCAW and St. Crispens. This gave us all
much to contemplate.
After this
profound visit we went on to visit two temples. The day ended with a delicious
meal that was provided by Rotarian Shailesh Gandhi and his warm and wonderful
wife and family. India is really a home away from home!
Archie Degaust
Team Pune 2019
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Bangladesh, 2019: More Distributions Later in November
Cyclone Bulbul hit Khulna shortly after we arrived at the hotel, and although it had abated somewhat after crossing land, it still came with torrential downpours and destructive gusts of wind. Streets were flooded, sheets of roofing torn off, and there were multiple power outages. Over 2 million people were evacuated.
One day's distribution was postponed, and completed the following day. As the path of the cyclone tracked through all the places we were scheduled to go, the SKD team had to reorganize their plans. Some sites became unavailable in the short term, but we completed the distribution of 6,232 bedkits.
The remaining 1,768 will be distributed at two sites later in November. Stay tuned!
Chris Hills
Team Bangladesh, 2019
Pune 2019: The embrace of a community
Today we
traveled to a small school in Mahude, on a rough country road 70km from Pune.
This is a farming population that is scattered throughout picturesque rolling
mountains; a checkerboard of various crops colour the countryside, with small
temples dotted along the road.
Upon arrival we were introduced to all the people involved in making this distribution possible. In Mahude this endeavour was a challenge because of the sparseness of the population; children had to be brought from outlying schools, which in this area is arduous, to say the least. We were so warmly greeted by our hosts, and were each given a wonderful headdress. To my wonderment, we were seated on carts, and ushered in by oxen who were colourfully adorn for the occasion.
Distributing
the kits and ushering children to the photo area today firmly instilled a great
feeling of gratitude that these people allow us into their lives to share what
we have for them. The lines of giving and receiving blur in situations like
these. Thank you so much Mahude!
Archie Degaust
Team Pune 2019
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Upon arrival we were introduced to all the people involved in making this distribution possible. In Mahude this endeavour was a challenge because of the sparseness of the population; children had to be brought from outlying schools, which in this area is arduous, to say the least. We were so warmly greeted by our hosts, and were each given a wonderful headdress. To my wonderment, we were seated on carts, and ushered in by oxen who were colourfully adorn for the occasion.
The
celebration that followed brought tears to my eyes, as I felt as though I was
coming home from a long journey. These wonderful people offered us all they had
with smiles and warmth.
Archie Degaust
Team Pune 2019
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Pune 2019: First day of distribution
We have
traveled 12,000 km and 2 days to finally meet our first 1,000 children and
their parents. It was definitely worth our effort.
One of the classes performed a delightful song beneath the multi-coloured canopy.
The body language and expression on the faces of the parents and grandparents was one of deep gratitude, bringing me to tears on several occasions.
As the
minivan arrived in Palus, in the Sangli District, we were greeted at their
school. There they were, sitting so beautiful and SO patiently.
One of the classes performed a delightful song beneath the multi-coloured canopy.
The body language and expression on the faces of the parents and grandparents was one of deep gratitude, bringing me to tears on several occasions.
Thank you,
dear friends at home, who have given these beautiful children these gifts of
love.
Kay
Mountford