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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 10

Well we had quite a day today with a start at 6 a.m. We headed north from Kampala to the Rwentobo Centre, one of the schools in the Ntungamo district. The ride was a real change from previous days not only in terms of traffic and roads but the scenery was spectacular. We moved up in elevation and into lush green hills and valleys. The temperature dropped too which we found very pleasant but the Ugandans find it cool and were donning sweaters and jackets.


The  farming became tiered and housing was well spread out. It reminded me of the book, How Green was My Valley. The ride was VERY long, about 9 hours total, but we were entertained by the Inner Wheel with gospel songs and sometimes up-tempo dancing. They enjoy life so much!

Tiered farming


We did stop at the Ugandan Equator and had a group photo taken and finally drove on to the school, arriving about an hour late, but it did not lessen the excitement and we were greeted with the usual clapping and cheers. Emily, one of our team, had a great time entertaining the kids by blowing bubbles while they were being lined up.

Emily blowing bubbles

The Community is so grateful for what SCAW does for them. As volunteers, that alone makes our day worthwhile but then the children get super excited when we display the gifts they are going to receive. I spent some time watching them greet their parents after they received their bedkit and headed off by various modes of transportation - bikes, motorcycles, trucks and of course walking. Some have walked a long distance to get here and we would pass them on the bus miles down the road on our way back to our hotel with the basin on their heads and mattress rolled up. Many also had hard climbs as they live up the steep hills.

Another successful day !

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 5

This blog was sent on April 5th and was lost. I apologize and will post it now. This is the second day of the distribution.

Our adventure began early this morning after a lovely breakfast. We boarded the bus for our first interaction with the group representing the Inner Wheel and had a hands-on tour of the factories where the the school uniforms and back-packs were made. A very enlightening conversation with the owner ensued, and he has only good things to say about SCAW and its continuing support of the business he self-started with the idea of employing untrained Ugandan women and men. It was very uplifting to see how it was a win-win operation for all parties. We then moved on to the mattress factory to see the process from beginning to final product and again saw the behind-the-scenes operation.

The photos posted above show the kits put together, the finished mattresses, and the cutting of fabric.


We ended the visits with a wonderful introduction to all the Inner Wheel women and were treated to a luncheon. They are a force to be reckoned with in their dedication to SCAW. We are very blessed to have such industrious partners!

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 9

Before each distribution begins, we speak to all the families and children.  We tell them “a day of hope begins with a good night’s sleep” and that sleep is good for their brains and their bodies.  We show them all the incredible items in the bedkit.  From both the families and the children, the biggest cheer seems to come when we announce the new “ngato” (shoes).  In fact, we’re not even sure that the children know they’re new - they are so accustomed to “new to them”.  The shoes in the bedkit are sandals which seem quite durable and come in red, black, or navy blue. 

We have noticed that many children wear no shoes at all.  Others wear winter boots.  Some wear dressy Mary-Janes.  Many wear crocs.  Some wear socks, though that is a rarity - a perhaps frivolous extra piece of clothing that would cost more money.  One child was seen wearing men’s shoes - many sizes too big for her small feet.  One of our team members noted that sometimes a family has “family shoes”- one pair of shoes shared amongst all members.  The person with the most important event gets to wear the shoes.  Getting a bedkit is a big event - worthy of the family shoes. 

Each item in the bedkit changes the life of both the child and their family.  The cheers, dancing, and “waveles” (thank yous) tell us that your donation is making a difference.

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 7

Our 7 member Canadian SCAW team was up and ready to board the bus at 6:30 this morning, ready to do a ”double distribution” today.  That means that 500 bedkits are given out in the morning and 500 bedkits given out at a different site to 500 more children in the afternoon.  It’s a challenging task but one which means we can maximize our time in a region and know that an amazing 1000 children will be having a good night’s sleep tonight. 

It was a 3 hour drive to our first bedkit distribution site and when we got there, we were greeted by crowds of parents singing and clapping for us, even a few dancers in the crowd.  The 500 children selected to receive their bedkit in the morning were already in their new shorts and t-shirts or dresses, singing a joyful and boisterous song of thanks to us.


We were  greeted similarly in the afternoon with the addition of posters held up by the kids.

Parents with tears in their eyes, some doing “happy dances” were seen amidst all the hundreds of smiles surrounding us when children received their bedkits and returned to their patiently waiting parents.

I even got a special wink from one little girl as I lined her up to get her picture taken and then went to pick up her bedkit.  Another child did a formal bow  as he moved on.  It’s moments like these and the opportunity to make a real difference that makes SCAW the incredible charity that it is.

Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 8

Day 3 of the distribution took us to the region of Wakiso, where I spoke with one of the teachers about sleep in children at his school. The teacher described the children at this school as “extra poor”. He told me that he often does home visits and that most children had no mattress for sleeping, but if they did, it was often for 3 or more kids. Children often improvised for bedding, for example using clothing as covers. He also told me that the mattresses from SCAW would be “exceedingly helpful for people”. When the teacher heard that the Ladies of the Inner Wheel of Kampala were coming with SCAW to distribute bedkits, he told his students the good news. He asked them how many had ever had a new blanket or sheet for their bed? None of them ever had. He told me that the mattress and bedding would “transform their sleep”. 

 

Later that day, we had the opportunity to visit the home of a single mother living in an 8x8 single-room house with her 6 children (two of whom were new-born twins).

Nalongo (meaning ‘the mother of twins’ in Lugandan) showed me the house, explaining that she slept on the old small couch, and all of the children slept together on a mat on the floor. Nolongo’s oldest child had received a bedkit that day, and I could see firsthand how the mattress and bedding would indeed be transformative for the entire family. 

 Team Uganda
Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 6

It was very early on a dark morning with rain threatening when we started off for our first distribution.  After three and a half hours on some suspension-punishing roads we arrived.

And, oh, what a welcome we had!  The guardians/parents lined the driveway to cheer us in and the children were gathered, singing a wonderful song to greet us. 

Wonderfully warm welcome

We gave the guardians and children a preview of the items in the bedkit. 

Bedkit Items - Preview

Each item was received with thundering cheering and clapping, confirming that the ladies of the Inner Wheel had chosen well.  After, the children changed into their new clothes and we set up the bedkit display, the distribution began.  

Heading home with the bedkits

We were treated to a delicious lunch after the distribution.

Lunch

As I write this blog we are on the way back to our accommodation as the rain that held off all day has finally begun to fall in torrents. 

We are thrilled to know that 500 children will be home tonight having a restful sleep to awaken to a new day tomorrow refreshed and ready to face the day.


Team Uganda

Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Uganda, 2024: April 4

After a variety of travel arrangements, the group finally met in Amsterdam and off we went on the last leg of our journey to Uganda. 

 We arrived to a wonderfully warm welcome from the women of the Inner Wheel of Kampala.  

 

Today was a day of rest and settling in to our comfortable accommodations.  Tomorrow the work begins in earnest.  We are looking forward to seeing the children at our first distribution.

 Inner Wheel of Kampala 🇺🇬 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2024: February 21

Greetings from SCAW Kenya 2024

Our busiest day of distributions took place at two different schools within Nairobi. Both of the schools took in children from one of the most economically challenged communities in the city.  Currently there are approximately 2 million people living in extremely impoverished settlements throughout Nairobi.

 At the first school we distributed 1000 bedkits, and then it was onto the second school where we distributed 500 more. It was a hot day for all the volunteers but we got the job done without any problems that we couldn’t handle.

 It is always a joy to distribute the bedkits to the children, especially when you can see how great the need is. The day was very well organized by the Rotary Team Leaders together with the teachers at both of the schools. It was a busy day for distributions, but  it is always such a great feeling when you see the children heading home with their parents and their bedkits!

We’ve had a great team in Kenya and each member has been very willing to take on each and every task of our bedkit distributions. Like a herd of elephants (tusks) we worked very well together - all 8 distributions were completed on time with few problems.

We were very fortunate to see several herds of elephants on this trip and harmony was clearly evident, much like our SCAW “herd”.

As for Tusker, this famous Kenyan lager was enjoyed after working hard in the African sun.

Tasks, tusks and Tuskers - all elements of our wonderful time together!!


Team Kenya 2024

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2023: February 19

Our last distribution day took us to an area 5 hours north of Dhaka to a beautifully serene farm generously donated by a Rotarian for the distributions.

The last day of a distribution is usually emotionally charged as  you long to be home with your own family but yet are sad to leave the camaraderie of the Rotarians and, of course, the children with their sweet greetings and smiles.

Today we met some severely challenged children. often carried by wizened grandparents, themselves on crutches, or mamas carrying children as big as themselves. 

It was a difficult time for us as we tried to keep our tears in check and make them as comfortable as possible.  A wheelchair or set of crutches would have been so practical.

We can only hope that they feel wrapped in love when they go to bed tonight.

A day to last forever.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2024: February 19

After our team distribution of 1000 bedkits on a beautiful sunny Kenyan day we were welcomed by the local rotary club, head teachers, Minister of Education and others who thanked the many donors and volunteers for supplying a special gift to the children in Kenya. 

 

After the speeches we were entertained by enthusiastic well-rehearsed children singing, dancing and thanking us for the bedkits which will help provide many benefits throughout the day and, most importantly, help provide a good night’s sleep. 

 Team Kenya 2024

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 18

Bengali music is based on a very long tradition of religious and secular song-writing and it spans a wide variety of styles. We were fortunate to experience several music demonstrations and we even had a Rotarian serenade us with his bamboo flute.

 I found the traditional musical instruments to be most intriguing. They are so vital to the unique sounds of Bengali music. As well as the bamboo flute, the harmonium (a reed organ similar to an accordion), tabla (hand drums), and the ektara and dotara (single and double - stringed lutes) added haunting and delightful sounds to the vocals.

 Combine this music with traditional dance, colourful saris and beautiful talented girls and you have an unforgettable experience.

It seemed there was always music somewhere - the jingling bells on the rickshaws, the call to prayer from the mosques, our groups singing in the van. And then, of course, the sound of excited children laughing and playing. This was the best music of all! 

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2024: February

Today was a travel and factory visit day for Team Kenya.  We left the Masai Mara and traveled through the beautiful Kenyan countryside to our base in Nairobi.  On arrival, we were fortunate to have the opportunity to tour one of the plastic factories that manufactures a portion of the bedkit contents.  

Along with our Rotary representative, we were able to see where the cups, bowls, water bottle and other pieces of the bedkit are made.  The team was able to see the start of the process which begins with bags of pellets.  These pellets and assorted colors went into hoppers and were heated to melting.   The plastic was then extruded from the equipment and cooled.  Factory workers inspected each piece and then packed each for shipping.  It was an interesting day and reassuring to see the care that was taken to produce the bedkit contents.  

Now, as our team members assist in handing out the bedkits, we have a much better awareness of the labor and care that went into each item in each one. Thank you to our Rotary partners in Kenya for working so hard to procure the best products for the children!

Team Kenya 2024

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 17

This morning, we travelled to distribute kits at a school run by the non-profit Jaago Foundation started in 2007 by a Bangladeshi, Korvi Rakshand, who was only 25 years of age at that time.  It is dedicated to providing quality education and social development opportunities to children and communities.

The children were from the local farming community and the school is located in a very rural setting.  We were told that for many they are the first generation in their family to attend school. They had school uniforms and are learning English. We heard many, "How are you? I am fine" and "Thank you".  We really enjoyed the opportunity to meet these beautiful children and their teachers in this calm, peaceful setting.

We looked in their classrooms and saw their art work including drawings that depicted scenes from the Guerilla War in 1971 when 3 million died.  The 26th of March became their Independence Day and the 16th of December is celebrated as Victory Day every year.

Before we left we watched the children leaving happily carrying their new bedkits to their waiting parents. It was another successful distribution.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2024: February 17

We embarked on our journey to Kenya with a mission to distribute 8000 bedkits to children in need. Today, we are overjoyed to announce that we have surpassed that goal by completing the delivery of another 1000 bedkits. Thanks to outstanding leadership and seamless teamwork with our Rotary partners, we navigated through any challenges with ease.

Despite the relentless heat, our dedication remained unwavering as we organized the bedkit distribution and worked tirelessly under the scorching sun. The children, displaying remarkable patience, greeted us with radiant smiles from ear to ear as they received their bedkits, making our every effort worthwhile!

Team Kenya 2024

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Kenya, 2024: February 16

Pre-distribution

Team Kenya arrived in Nairobi ready to begin our distribution of 8000 bedkits to Kenya‘s most deserving children. We were welcomed at the airport by our driver, Charles and his family.

Welcome to Kenya

The next day, the two teams met to get to know each other, review the itinerary for the next two weeks and look over the contents of this year’s bedkits. We were told that each $40 donation was stretched to manufacture and purchase an expanded array of items, in part due to the great negotiation skills of a few of the Rotary members.

One of the goals for 2024 was to visit more remote communities in Kenya outside of the inner city of Nairobi for some of our distributions. This involved long drives on bumpy roads, at times, cleverly navigated by our skilled driver, Charles.  

Some days we traveled 3 to  5 hours to get to sites north of the equator and south to the territory of the Maasai peoples.

Yesterday, as we drove through the Maasai Mara National Park to get to our destination on the other side, we encountered a very interesting road block!


Team Kenya 2024

Rotary Club of Nairobi 🇰🇪 and SCAW 🇨🇦



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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 15

Today we had the unexpected pleasure of a distribution in another Santal tribal village. We didn’t find out about this until all the luggage was packed for our travel/rest day . . . too late to change into our Sleeping Children shirts. Onward we went.

The site was a great choice as it was near a church and this compound also included a medical clinic where about 40 people appear daily.

The setup was no problem but again the road did not accommodate the bedkit delivery truck. No problem for our partners. They hired a flatbed pulled by farm vehicles to shuttle the bedkits from the truck to the site.

After completion we visited two houses belonging to people in the village. The houses are constructed of mud with walls a foot thick. This makes a warm home for winter and a comfortable cool home for summer. There’s an interior courtyard where the cooking is done, the chickens roam and, in one case, a cow had her own space.

Later today we stopped at the imposing Rangpur Museum. This was originally built in the early 20th century for the royal family who were emigrating from the Punjab. The owner was a jeweller by profession.  After Partition the building was taken over by the government of Bangladesh.

We were amused to find that we had to pay a foreigner's entrance fee of 400 Takas but locals pay only 30 Takas and Indian tourists pay 200 Takas!!

Inside we weren't allowed to take photos but we saw some stained glass windows, carved columns and 15th century black stone scriptures engraved in Arabic and Persian as well as many terra cotta pieces found during archeological digs.

The gardens also had some colourful flowers.

We left, having enjoyed our brief but interesting visit, to resume our journey back in time for supper. Thus ended another successful day with only 2250 bedkits remaining to be distributed.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 14

It is technically the winter season here in Bangladesh and everywhere is dusty and dry. The monsoons will arrive in about 4 months and then we are told the landscape will become a lush and verdant green with new growth. 

Temperatures now are a comfortable 26 degrees during the day and cooling down to around 16 at night.  Most days start with some morning haze and then turn sunny and warm.  Consequently, we are able to see and enjoy some flowers in bloom here now that we would normally grow during the summer in Canada, including marigolds, roses and dahlias. They give us occasional splashes of colour as we travel along the roads and country lanes en route to our distribution sites each day.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 13

Today’s distribution was quite close to where we are staying. It was only a short drive onto a narrow street to the distribution site, a girl's school. We got set up for photos and then the adventure started.

Ready for photos.

The delivery truck had a dead battery which was eventually resolved by a couple of young people with a battery and jumper cables. The truck was now on the way to us. When it went to turn onto the street there was a stack of bricks in the road. Even though the bricks were moved the corner was too tight, so the truck had to go in the other direction. Another stack of bricks had to be moved. Then there were low wires - electrical, phone and cable - all to be lifted with bamboo poles to enable the truck to pass. They were working their way toward us when they took down an electrical line to a house. The rather upset homeowner had them fix the wire before the truck moved on. We felt great joy when they arrived at the distribution site after a two-hour adventure.

Unloading the bedkits.

A great distribution followed the unloading of the bed kits and we soon saw the happy smiles of the children.

After arriving back from a successful distribution, our Rotary partners suggested we might like to visit a mosque. We loved the idea and quickly changed into long pants and head coverings and we were on our way.  Half an hour later we arrived to Kusumba Mosque, a serene setting along the river. It has been called “the black gem” because of the black stone. It was built from 1558-59. It is recognized as a heritage site and is one of the oldest mosques. 

The stone steps were used to access the court of justice which is still used today and the intricately hand carved patterns make it a very unique place to worship.

It was a perfect way to end a busy day.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 11

A Day in the Life of a Bangladesh Distribution

On the road again.

Greeting the children.

Bedkits are unloaded and we are ready to start!

Denis and Joy arranging the children for their photo.

Linda takes the photos

Jackie keeping track of the children while Judy marks their thumbs.

Cindy hands out bags of extra clothing.

The children receive a snack bag from a volunteer.

Diane and Kim give each child the gift of a good night’s sleep.

The papparazzi

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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SCAW Blog: Bangladesh, 2024: February 10

Today during our travels to our distribution we spotted many boats of similar design on posts and upon questioning we learned the following. In Bangladesh, a country with more than 700 rivers, it’s hardly surprising that the symbol of the dominant political party, the Awami League, is a boat - in this case, a traditional river craft with a high prow - the nouka. As in other developing countries, political symbols are important, especially in rural areas where literacy levels are lower than in the cities. Although urban areas are growing, two thirds of the population still live in rural areas. Voters may not be able to read a newspaper or a political poster, but they will recognize the party symbol.

To us, the boat also symbolized smooth sailing as this distribution was our best one yet. We worked like a well-oiled machine. The dedicated hard-working volunteers were an integral part of the day and of course the rewards were the smiles of the beautiful children.

Team Bangladesh, 2024

Rotary Club of Dhaka 🇧🇩 and SCAW 🇨🇦

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