Partners in the country of distribution are advocates for the children in their communities. They work to support children with the greatest needs, organize the manufacture of bedkits, select and package bedkit items, arrange the logistics of the distributions, and assemble detailed Distribution Evaluation and Financial Reports. Our global community is strengthened through the collaboration between our Overseas Volunteer Partners and our Sleeping Children Team Volunteers.

The majority of Overseas Volunteer Partners are service clubs such as Rotary and other community-based organizations – locals who want to build a better future for children.

Overseas Volunteer Partners work for months to prepare for the bedkit distribution, devoting their time and personal resources. Without their volunteer commitment, Sleeping Children’s vision could not be realized.

Team Volunteers support our Overseas Volunteer Partners in the distribution of the bedkits. When Sleeping Children Team Volunteers travel overseas, they do so at their own expense and without benefit of a tax receipt.

Team Volunteers have a number of duties, including:

• Educating themselves prior to travel in order to be respectful of the country’s culture, history and the effects of colonialism

• Learning, unlearning, listening

• Working alongside our Overseas Volunteer Partners in the distributing of bedkits

• Learning the impact of the bedkit from conversations with the community members, families and children

• Visiting cottage industries and manufacturers of bedkit items

• Reviewing financial records to account for 100% of bedkit funds

• Following Sleeping Children’s photography policy when taking photos of the children.