We had a busy and successful distribution of bedkits to 765 children from schools in and around the Kilpauk area today. As it was Saturday and not a school day, we had a number of volunteer helpers, notably from area Girl Guides. We estimate that there were one or two people who came with each child and many of the children’s teachers who also came to see the goings on.Organizing that number of children is no small task and we marveled at the efficiency of the many volunteers. A special mention has to be made of the young people, most in the range of 11-14 years old, who helped us out. The girls kept the children filing from the entrance waiting area to the photography waiting area and helped us to organize them into smaller groups there. Once the children had their photograph taken and were moved to the area to receive their bedkit, the boys and girls who had previously brought the bedkits to the area in a long bucket-brigade line, then helped the children bring the
bedkits to the area where the parents were waiting for them. And then there were the local adult volunteers, many affiliated with the Rotary Clubs, helping with myriad other functions. It was a beautiful demonstration of the local commitment to the SCAW cause.
Beyond the on-site help, our hosts have certainly seen to it that we have been well fed! They held a lovely informal dinner at a local club last evening and a fine luncheon at one of their homes after today’s distribution. We were also invited to sample many sweet treats made by the Girl Guides after the distribution. We are all enjoying the great Indian cuisine and any hope of weight loss on this trip seems fairly unlikely at this juncture!
Cindy Harris
for the SCAW 2008 Chennai Team
Leave a comment here.
