SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 22

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 21

August 22, 2023

Today was a day filled with special moments.

First, we were all serenaded by a school band. September 15th is when Honduras celebrates their independence from Spain, so in preparation for this upcoming event, a school band was practicing their marching and performance. It was wonderful to watch the young ones really get into it ... even dancing as they played. There were xylophones, percussion, horns, drums/drums/and drums.

Second, we had several special needs children at today's distribution. Each one came with at least one guardian, some with two. Everyone jumped in to help get the children ready and into the photos. I am sure that the donors who get these photos will feel truly blessed.

I was fortunate enough to be on the camera today, so got to capture the faces and characters of each of the 506 kids.

While we have responsibility for things that happen at each distribution (and before and after), we do find humour and have some fun. For example - so far this week we had a bunch of strangers jump into the back of one of our pickup trucks when we were stopped on a steep hill (they thought we were a community pickup); Neil got asked for his passport when he tried to buy a coffee at the local coffee shop (apparently they offer a senior's discount with ID); one of the floor signs at a distribution kept falling over in the wind so we left it lying down and a stray dog walked up to it and peed on it; and we convinced a new local volunteer that the first day you have to wear a bucket on your head.

Well, that's all for now. Our last day is tomorrow and we have to be up and out of the hotel by 5 am for the last 701 bedkits.

Danielle

Team Honduras

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 19

August 20, 2023

How times have changed!

Sleeping Children relies on all our volunteers to help spread the word about this awesome organization. One of the ways in which we do this is by doing presentations to schools, service clubs, church groups, etc. To help us do this, in the past we would take lots of candid pictures of the local culture, landscape and the children that we would use in our presentations.

But times have changed.

Social media and the issue of respecting privacy has changed the way we photograph people. We get the parents’/guardians’ permission to take the childrens’ photos showing their faces for the SCAW donors. However, SCAW believes in respecting the dignity of all children so we no longer take candid pictures of children’s faces. Instead, we now take pictures from the side or from behind the children. I have attached two sample pictures - one of a side view of a child and one of me in my happy place with the children.

Another awesome day in Honduras yesterday. Thanks to our donors, 410 more children had a good night’s sleep last night.

Clarence Deyoung

Team Honduras 2023

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 18

August 19, 2023

Orchid, the National Flower of Honduras and the Flame Tree.

The moist and humid environment of Honduras is ideal for orchids to thrive. The 'virgin orchid' was designated as the National flower in 1969. Its genus-species name is Rhyncholaelia-digbyana. This orchid species is green-white and grows on trees throughout the country. The flower is highly respected and protected much like the Ontario Trillium. This orchid flower has a characteristic frilled lip that makes it fluffy looking and grows up to 18 cm in diameter. Its lemon fragrance is released at night to attract the moths for pollination.

Hondurans take great pride in the national orchid flower and grow many types of orchids in their home gardens. They often share pictures with each other of their beautifully coloured orchids.

Another tree sprouting beautiful flowers the SCAW team has noticed is the African Tulip tree. Its common name is the 'flame tree' due to its bright orange-red flowers that grow in clusters. The genus-species name is Spathodea-campanulata. This ornamental tree grows abundantly throughout the country. The large flowers capture rainwater that quenches the thirst of birds and insects.

Team Honduras 2023

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 16

August 17, 2023

Part of the distribution process is the children putting on their new t-shirt, getting a new backpack and supplies, then waiting for their turn for the donor photo to be taken. Today there were some children waiting so I decided to talk to them about who we are and the Sleeping Children charity. They had no idea where Canada is. I told them it is 'muy frio' (very cold) and they laughed. I don't know if they were laughing at my pronunciation or the fact that Canada is cold. I showed them the Canadian flag on the arm of my SCAW team golf shirt. Some of them told me they love the flag.

The children often don't understand that they are getting the t-shirt, the backpack plus the bedkit to take home. When we hand them this big bag with the bedkit in it they are surprised and sometimes overwhelmed. Once they understand they are leaving with it all, we get big smiles.

Looking forward to seeing more smiles.

Masud

Team Honduras 2023

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 15

August 16, 2023

Hola from Honduras!

Another early rise and off we go to the next distribution. This school was further out/up into the hills than the distributions of the last two days.

At first I didn't really notice how steep the hills had become because I was enjoying the lush greenery, until one of our team vehicles stopped ahead of us and we had to stop. What an incline we were on! We had left the paved roads already and were now on dirt roads only wide enough for one and a half cars. We even had to take a run at it to get some traction to keep going up. (Where is an ATV when you need one?) Our driver, a fellow Rotarian, was skilled at judging the width of our minibus - and prevented us from going into a ditch or down an embankment.

Upon reaching the school we recognized that this area was in dire need of our assistance, and I took a moment to reflect as I adjusted to the altitude. While the ride was a little nerve-wracking the view from the top was 'estupendo' (wonderful)!

You could see for miles and miles over thousands and thousands of homes all leaning up against each other in the valleys and on the hillsides.

One of the main challenges about being so high up is the lack of available water. All the water must be trucked up, by either the government or a private company (which is expensive to purchase). Water is a luxury here.

We completed the distribution and headed back into the city centre knowing that our three day total of bedkits distributed neared 1500 today. That's 1500 children (and families) sleeping up off the floor and protected from mosquitos.

2500 more kits (and kids) to go while we are here.

Hasta luego.

Team Honduras 2023

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 14

August 15, 2023

Today, six energetic and committed Rotaractors from the Rotaract Club of Tegucigalpa participated in the SCAW distribution at Camara Junior School. This Rotaract Club has a 30+ year history of service in Honduras. Today, club members are either attending or have recently completed University.

When asked their stand-out moments from today's distribution, they responded:

One little girl gave me such a big hug and squeeze when they received a bed kit.
I was able to recognize the unique characters in the students by their facial expressions and poses they wanted to do for the camera.
I had a great conversation with Masud, a SCAW member handing the bed kits to the little ones.
Moving the bed kits from one location to another was a fun activity and I enjoyed the work.
We had an opportunity to make a connection and interact with the students who were receiving a bed kit.
The smallest children were so cute and funny as they tried to hold the bed kit on their way out of the school compound (see photo below).

The Rotaract Club has been involved in three more projects this year:

"Help us Educate" distributes school supplies to students in grades one - four throughout Honduras.
In southern Honduras (Marcovia, Isla Boca del Rio Vigo) they have been providing clothing and shoes, and assisting with infant care and health.
They are participating in a safe baby turtle release program.

These six Rotaractors and others scheduled to attend, will participate in the eight SCAW distributions providing volunteer assistance. Today their service was outstanding!

Thank you for making the day a success and helping children get a good night's sleep.

Team Honduras 2023

Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Honduras, 2023: August 13

August 14, 2023

The SCAW team arrived safely in Honduras on Saturday, August 12th. We were given the gift of two additional hours in our day as Honduras is in a different time zone than Toronto.

Today, the SCAW team met with the Rotary Club and Rotaract (Junior Rotarians) Club members of Tegucigalpa for a pre-distribution meeting. There was a large turnout of members from both clubs (see photo below). Superior preparations have been completed by the Clubs for a successful distribution. A substantial and detailed review of finances, partnerships, and planning was provided. We recognized the tremendous amount of work and effort of the Rotary Clubs here in Tegucigalpa.

Following the meeting the SCAW team attended a Sunday Church Service and then explored a near-by shopping mall.

In a local grocery store we shopped for water and small snacks in preparation for the first of eight distributions, beginning tomorrow. We are excited to get started. We are looking forward to putting a smile on 543 children’s faces and creating an opportunity for them to have a good night's sleep.

Team Honduras 2023

Tegucigalpa 🇭🇳 + SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: August 1

August 2, 2023

IT IS A WRAP!

After ending our final distribution day we celebrated with a group photo of our team but then Mama Wandoa insisted that we include Dave Dryden as well.

Then we were off for our ‘50 +3’ birthday celebration with all the Upendo volunteers at Mama’s house for soft drinks and cake.

Peggy presented Mama with the 50th anniversary book with a message from Debbie and Sandra.

A very successful post-distribution meeting followed, including some new ideas for next year.

This is one of the memories we will hold in our hearts ❤️ as we leave beautiful Tanzania.

Lala Salama,
Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo🇹🇿+SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: July 31

August 1, 2023

THE WEATHER TODAY - WE HAD IT ALL.

A very rough road took us to our distribution today. The skies opened up on our arrival, just after our first set-up. We quickly moved the parents’ meeting inside a classroom and it worked out quite well.

After our second set up we were ready to go but fortunately we found a covered verandah area for the photos as the rain continued on and off.

Our sheltered area was only available until 12:30 when all the children would be fed so we did not waste any time. The Upendo/SCAW efficient teamwork prevailed and we finished at 12:29!

Wendy and Benjamin had arranged a home visit for us at Rashid’s house. He was thrilled to receive a bedkit today. His grandmother and mother gave permission for us to take photos to show everyone where they lived.
Rashid’s new bedkit will allow him to sleep alone on his own mattress.

It is humbling to visit these communities and drive on their roads.

Another successful and uplifting day and 750 children are sleeping peacefully tonight.

Lala Salama,
Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo🇹🇿+SCAW 🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: July 30

July 31, 2023

BACK TO WORK

Two schools had their photographs taken today so a very, very busy day.
Here are some glimpses of how the distribution went. . . .

Mama Wandoa was asked to sign one of the school’s guest book.

Kathy and Jerome are working hard in the intense heat.

Our wonderful Upendo volunteers are always there for us.

We are loving all the kangas on the children. Wendy and her team do a great job of tying 750 kangas.

Happy children are heading home. Our hearts are overflowing.

Lala Salama.
Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo🇹🇿+SCAW🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: July 29

July 31, 2023

OUR DAY OFF🌺

Saturday was our day to explore the city of Dar with Tetula Okama, a local guide. We visited the National Museum, saw a wood carvers’ cooperative in action, toured a beautiful cathedral and the Village Museum depicting the historical homes from the 16th to the 20th century. We ended our day by dipping our toes in the Indian Ocean and walking on the beach. It was lovely seeing all the children playing in the water.

As always we had with us our wonderful, kind driver, Abbas. Not only is he a conscientious and safe driver but he also has assisted us every day by helping to organize the children for the photos. You can imagine the excitement with large groups of ten children and how much patience, kindness and gentleness is required. He is a good team member.

Asante sana, Abbas👍.

Monday we are back to work.

Lala Salama.
Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo🇹🇿+SCAW🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: July 28

July 28, 2023

IN TANZANIA 🇹🇿 EVERYONE CAN BE FAMILY

Mama has been involved with Sleeping Children for 23 years. Over these many years she has involved more and more members of her family as it kept growing. There are now five generations involved in this bedkit distribution.

Her son, Benjamin, and daughter, Wendy, are the co-leaders with Mama.

For this distribution, cousins Prisca and Jerome were very involved.

Prisca excelled at the important role of checking the labels and coordinating with Peggy.

Here we see Jerome handing out backpacks from the truck. It was raining off and on and this kept them dry for the children.

Mama Wandoa has so much love in her heart that all the Upendo volunteers are family as well. The whole team gathered together around Mama as she presented the volunteers with a special Canadian 🇨🇦 button. Peggy thanked them as well.

Principal Moir is part of Mama’s family now as she has worked with him before. At this distribution he contributed to the fuel costs for the truck and provided a lunch for volunteers from his own salary. Mama originally thought that his school was too far to come but he wanted his children to receive bedkits. All the parents of the 750 children were there as well.

Another inspiring day.

Lala Salama,

Team Tanzania 2023

Upendo🇹🇿/SCAW🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania, 2023: July 27

July 28, 2023

NO CHILD IS EVER LEFT BEHIND

Did you know the word ‘Upendo’ means ‘love’ in Swahili?

At the Remote Distribution in 2022, young Amina was so excited to get her mattress she ran right to the mattress, bypassing the backpacks. Amina’s mother went over to Mama Wandoa to explain what happened and asked if her daughter could have one. In order to maintain the integrity of the process, Mama had to ask Amina’s mother to wait. Sadly, with a newborn, she could not stay.

Mama took her contact information and promised to get the backpack to Amina.

This year Mama Wandoa wanted to honour her promise. She contacted Amina’s mother making arrangements for them to come to a distribution so Amina would receive her backpack and a special 50+3 Sleeping Children button. With permission from her mother we were able to take photos of this touching occasion.

THESE are the moments we will remember.❤️

Lala Salama,

Team Tanzania 2023

Upendo🇹🇿/SCAW🇨🇦

SCAW Blog: Tanzania - Distributions 1 and 2 - July 25-26 - Blogs #2 and #3

July 26, 2023

Blog #2:

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY

We know 750 children are sleeping peacefully tonight.🥰

Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo/SCAW🇹🇿🇨🇦

Blog #3:

Our Distribution….Every Step of the Day

The day begins with the arrival of the big ‘yellow trucks’ from Super Banco and soon the students, the Upendo volunteers and Banco drivers are busy unloading the 750 mattresses.

The team now folds and ties each mattress and stacks them neatly.
Once the backpacks are unloaded from Mama’s truck, they are sorted for big and little boys and girls.

It is time for Peggy to set up the camera for the photographs.

Meanwhile Wendy and her team are registering the students and putting on the kangas. Carol is showing how it is done as kangas serve many uses. This is how a kanga looks on the children.

Next, Benjamin calls the parents together and we talk about having a healthy, restful sleep and how all the items in the bedkit benefit and help the children get a good night’s sleep. The team shows the items to the parents to great applause.

We are ready to receive the children and take the photos. Jerome leads the way.

Before the picture is taken thumbs and kangas are marked.

Once the photo is taken backpacks and mattresses are handed out. The children proudly head back to their parents with their backpacks on and the mattress on their heads.

There are some unique ways of transporting the bedkits home.

Another successful day comes to an end.🌺👍

Lala Salama,
Team Tanzania 2023
Upendo🇹🇿/SCAW🇨🇦

5 Comments

SCAW Blog: Tanzania - Pre-Distribution Preparations - Blog #1

July 23, 2023

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

We had an early start to our day visiting the place where a good night’s sleep for the children begins.

We visited the Super Banco mattress factory, a good partner for Mama Wandoa for 22 years. Did you know that the word “banco” comes from earlier spring mattresses that Wendy remembers jumping on? As we arrived the trucks are being loaded for our first distribution on Monday. How impressive are the colourful fabrics on the mattresses?

Some of the 6000 mattresses that they make, store for us and deliver to each distribution site. Impressive … inside the factory.

Our first meeting with Team Upendo/Sleeping Children at Mama Wandoa’s house with Mama, Benjamin and Wendy.

Mama Wandoa with ‘just a few’ backpacks stored in her house.

All of the backpacks, clothing and the kangas are made by Mama’s tailors upstairs in her house.

Benjamin showed us the cottage industry.

We are ready to go . . .

Lala Salama.

5 Comments

SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 9 - June 2023 - Blog #10

June 3, 2023

Today we enjoyed a scenic drive into Kapchorwa District for our final SCAW Uganda distribution. This area is known for its natural beauty, quality coffee, and is the training ground for Uganda’s national marathon runners who enjoy the flat and hilly landscapes.

Our distribution site was perched on a hilltop and surrounded by lush greenery and hills and valleys as far as the eye could see. We arrived at the site at the same time as the Crestfoam truck so we were able to see the entire team, including the community volunteers, set up the distribution site from the ground up. Mattresses were loaded off the truck and rolled, basins were separated and filled with bedkit items, and the photo area assessed. At the same time the children were registered and dressed and in no time we were all ready to begin!

It was a wonderful feeling to see the entire team come together for one last distribution. As the last child received his bedkit, our 7000th child over the past two weeks, we all hugged, high-fives and thanked each other for our dedication and hard work. It was a great team effort.

On the way back to Kampala we enjoyed a stop at Sipi Falls.

Well done everyone!!

SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 8 - June 2023, Blog #9

June 3, 2023

Our distribution today in Ililim was lively and joyous! The children light up when that basin full of goodies is placed upon their heads. They take great pride in carrying it themselves to their excited parents.

After the distribution we stopped to see the Nyero Rock Paintings, a nearby historical site. A short but challenging hike allowed us to view three sites with etchings in the rock, some of which are believed to be over 5000 years old.

Tomorrow is our last distribution. I will be sad to see this wonderful adventure come to an end.

SCAW Blog: Uganda - Distribution 7 - May 2023, Blog # 8

May 20, 2023

It is thought that seeing a rainbow is a sign of a happy ending. This was so very true today as on our way home after two successful distributions, our team saw a big, beautiful rainbow!

It was indeed a happy ending to a very good day. On our first distribution we were greeted by a joyous group of mother’s dancing and singing and beckoning our team to come and join them. It is an overwhelming feeling being greeted with such warmth and appreciation, especially before a bedkit is even distributed.

As the end of our time in Uganda draws near, our team is lingering a little longer before we set up so we can soak in these moments. The distribution went quickly and efficiently and before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head to our next site.

As we arrived at our second distribution, our team was greeted by a group of school girls that were asked by their teacher to dance for us. They were so friendly, and welcoming and enjoyed practicing their English. We thanked them each with a Canadian pin which they all quickly pinned onto their uniforms. It was another great distribution!

We hope the 1100 children who received a bed kit today have a wonderful night’s sleep tonight.

- Team Uganda 🇺🇬