Bangladesh: Wrap-up

Dhaka: The Last Day

Up at 5 AM today to get the 24 hour check-in and seat selection for our 5 AM flight early Saturday morning. Looking forward to a flight of 18+ hours is a good motivator to try to get good seats! Unfortunately, the Internet in Dhaka ground to a halt and it took two hours to get our boarding passes.

Then an early morning walk in the "park," breakfast, packing, reports, picture organization, and a wrap-up meeting with Mr Hadi before a culinary delight this evening at the Hadi's home.

We dressed for the occasion in our new finery with the ladies in saris and the men in white Punjabi suits. Very spiffy. Check out the photo. We think an appropriate team name is Sari Sisters and the Men in White. What do you think?

Our job is done and this was a very successful distribution thanks to the exemplary leadership of Richard and Joan Hryniw and a cohesive and enthusiastic team.

Thank you donors and volunteers for your ongoing support of Sleeping Children. Eight thousand kids have big smiles thanks to you.

Photo (Left to right) Back row: Doug Jamieson, Marg Garrett, Richard Hryniw. Front row: Doug MacDougald, Maxene Henry, Joan Hryniw.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangaldesh: Mission (8,000 Bedkits) Accomplished

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 16: Tongibari

We are finished — making it 8,000 bedkits, with today's six hundred at the village of Tongibari.

This village is now home for two hundred displaced families that lost everything during monsoon season when the river washed their homes away. After the distribution we visited some of the homes in the village that had received bedkits the previous year. It is hard to describe the sense of sadness that enveloped us as we tried to comprehend how little these people have and what joy and comfort such a simple gift as a bedkit brings.

We saw cow dung drying on sticks that is the source of fire, simple huts with one or two small spaces to live in, and men working at an ad hoc cement block manufacturing site hauling gravel to the cement mixer and carrying the mixed wet cement by hand to the block forms. These men work incredibly long and hard for about $1 per day.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Two pictures stick out from the ones added to the Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album today: sandals lined up outside a simple hut (take your shoes off before entering my home no matter how humble); kids wearing their new shorts from the bedkit already swimming in the local water hole and showing off their muscles for the camera. Kids are kids.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Joan is happy because we stopped in this little village at the fabric store and she bought 11m of cloth. The store owners hardly knew what to think as a van pulled up, six foreigners jumped out and filled this little hut, talking and taking pictures, while the rest of the village gathered for the spectacle.

Tomorrow we get organized to head home: tired, fulfilled and numb from the sensory and emotional overload.

Good night and we will talk tomorrow.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Another day in Shibpur

Blowing bubbles. More pix in Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 15: Shibpur

Fabulous day in the Shibpur area again although a different locale than yesterday. Seven hundred happy kids later we bumped our way home over the road from hell for the last time. Tomorrow is our last distribution and is in the opposite direction out of Dhaka with I am sure completely smooth roads. ;)

Marg brought bubble blowing supplies today and it was great fun playing with the kids. You know, rich or poor, kids just want — beyond basic needs — to be loved and have fun. It just warms your heart to see the laughter and joy that Marg brought to the kids today.

Doug learns a new trade. More pix in Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

And some of us just never grow up. With 740,000 bicycle rickshaws in this city it seemed reasonable to drive one, so Richard, Doug J., Marg, and I headed to rickshaw central (taxi stand equivalent) a few blocks from our hotel. I picked out of the crowd the driver with the smile and a gleam in his eye and offered to take him and Richard for a ride. He was a good sport, hopped into his rickshaw with Richard and away we went down the street, ringing the bell like mad, elicting cheers from the shop owners and bystanders and getting a wide berth from all the other rickshaw drivers when they saw who was driving. Marg and Doug J. meanwhile were running along attempting to take pictures and laughing -at or with - I am not sure. All part of experiencing a new country.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Interviewing parents

The Canadian travelling team, the kids, and the community. From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 14: Shibpur

For the past three days we travelled in and out of Dhaka on a short-cut that took about and hour out of the trip but it is, as Richard describes it, a "noggin' knocking road."

We drove up to the distribution site at a small school and yard flanked by little huts all roped-off. There were 700 kids inside and two or three times that number of family and community surrounding the area. Spontaneous clapping, along with the Bangladesh national anthem sung by the kids, greeted us as we walked in. We reciprocated with a rather good rendition of "O Canada" (I am biased, but this is a singing team) and got down to work.

For the donors receiving pictures from this site the background is the family and community members with the odd dog and chicken thrown in. There were not many other options today for the photo background but, in fact, it is nice because it gives you a real perspective of what we were in the middle of.

Singing "O Canada." From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Marg did a series of interviews today on the specifics of the bedkit as well as the stories of some of the families. Here is her summary of these stories:

"Of the ten families interviewed today, the number of children ranged between 4 – 9. When asked about the value of the 2 most valuable items, most answered the blanket and mattress, second most valuable item was the school back pack. Without exception the one item they wished added was school supplies. They all were very appreciative for the entire kit contents as there are no finances available to buy any of it."

"The annual income for the families interviewed ranged from 12 000 taka to 20 000 taka (170 – 285 Canadian dollars). The family wage earner was always the male, although one woman sometimes worked in the fields with him. Many were farmers of rice or vegetables, few owning any land."

"Many men were day labourers working at anything available. Idleness is not wanted. All of the women delivered their babies at home with a midwife who was often a relative. One said 'close to her heart.' The monthly pension for 60 years old is 200 takas. All their children were currently in school. They started at ages 4, 5, or 6 years old. When asked how old they would be when they left school ... the answer: 'when he has a moustache.'"

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

I wandered off to a little hut before we left and communicate with a young couple with two little boys. They were thrilled to have their first family photo taken. I wish I could have printed it off and given it to them.

Doug MacDougald & Marg Garrett
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Faces of Bangladesh

Happiness, sadness, grief, joy, concern, anxiety, relief all show themselves to us in the faces and eyes of children and adults.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Lions Club distributions

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 13: Balaboo

We are, with today's 700 bedkits in Balaboo, half way through the Lions Club portion of this Bangladesh trip. Mr Hadi and his wife have done an exceptional job of choosing bedkit materials and organizing the distributions.

Again today we were in a school and we set up inside since it has continued to rain with very high winds. The school and yard was a great spot for our distribution. The family and community were cordoned-off but close enough to see what was going on.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

It also allowed us to interact with the families and even though we do not speak Bangla it was easy to communicate in this festive environment. It also made for great photo opportunities and kids and adults love seeing their picture on the camera.

All it took was one photo and we were surrounded by kids jostling for position for the next.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Back into Dhaka we took a walk down a small back street where the commerce of the city happens. These streets have many very small "hole in the wall" businesses that service the city. The accompanying picture shows team leader Richard Hryniw ready for a haircut.

Today was happy families and kids, happy OVO, and a happy Sleeping Children team.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Sree Nagar Distribution

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 12: Dhaka

A second day of rain and cool temperatures!

The team had an early start this morning at 7:00 AM for the distribution of 500 Bedkits in Sree Nagar. The journey took us along some extremely narrow roads with steep slopes and water on both sides. There were some challenging times when our minivan had to share the single-lane road with big buses. The temperature was 22 degrees Celsius and we were not prepared to have a morning swim. Thankfully, we arrived safely in Sree Nagar at 8:30 AM.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

It was raining heavily, but the team-spirit was high. The distribution had to be done indoors, and the designated room was quite dark. However, the team attended to the tasks at hand and, before long, the room was set up to photograph the children and the camera was poised, ready to go!

The rain was not a show-stopper for the children. They all looked very spiffy in their new outfit, (part of the content of their bedkit), as they waited patiently to have their pictures taken and to receive their bedkit. Their smiles were like rainbows. Thanks to the donors.

Lots of puddles on our way home, but we made it safely back to the hotel, after a lengthy detour for a bit of shopping. Kudos to the guys for their patience, and valuable comments.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

We had much laughter and fun today, and look forward to tomorrow.

Maxene Henry & Marg Garrett
for Team Bangladesh
Pictures from Douglas MacDougald

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Bangladesh: Southwest distribution

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 11: Noria on Noapara Island

We travelled on a rainy day southwest to the Padma River and then by ferry to Noapara Island to distribute 800 bedkits to families that inhabit this island that has no electricity. They also have contaminated and silty river water for their drinking water. It was a very interesting day starting with a three-and-a-half-hour trip travelling through mostly a rural area with little villages along narrow roads. We were delayed with a truck snarling traffic as it had almost slipped off the road onto a sharp slippery embankment leading to a water channel.

There were many areas where there was water on one side and sometime two. On the approach to the ferry we travelled for perhaps a kilometer through a village that had only huts perched over the embankment and literally living on the road and over water. These villages continue to be fairly self-contained with services including barber shops, material stores, and a forge.

Docking the ferry dock simple: ram the boat into the muddy bank and let passengers like us slip down the slope with our equipment to clamber aboard — but not before singing "O Canada" to what seemed like the entire village. The ferry was a small beat-up, roughly-built tin can with a tin roof and we sat in the one and only compartment with a very loud engine until escaping to the top of the tin roof for the trip over.

The distribution was great, although we set up under a canopy — remember, it was raining a little — and got half-done before the real rain and wind came and blew the canopy away. We thought afterwards that we had perhaps waited a little too long before moving into a storage room. ;) This is a very optimistic team!

For those donors that get pictures from the storage room the backdrop looks like a low four poster bed with handles but is actually the village equivalent to a hearse. Did I mention earlier an interesting day?

Eight hundred kids didn't care about the rain, or what the backdrop was — they just went home happy.

Through a taste of monsoon season we made it back across the Padma river in our leaky boat and made it home by 7:30 PM.

A good day.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: A hot day in Dhaka

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 10: Dhaka

This was a sleep-in day since we weren't meeting the Rotary Club for our final review until 11 AM; however, the phone rang at 6 AM with Asad from our hotel wanting to know if he should bring tea. Hmmmmm. Asad is looking after us very well but there is a point of being too keen!! Oh well, I had planned to go for a run this morning but not quite this early. At 6:20 AM I stepped out of the hotel and it was 26ºC and 90% humidity.

Welcome to Dhaka on their second day of winter!!

This is the time of the day when people exercise and the walking path along the water, just down the street from where we are staying, and a park close by with another path has lots of people walking with a few jogging. This tall (for here) white guy with running shorts (everybody has track pants but, come on, it is already a humidex approaching 40 and I am sweating buckets) loping around the path weaving around the walkers brought lots of stares but you know what? A smile and "as-sa-lam wa-lai-kum" ("Hello.") or "shavo shakell" ("Good morning.") changes everything with big smiles and hellos and good mornings back. Very friendly people.

Everything was quite smooth with our discussion with Rotary and M & M (Maxene & Marg) went off shopping with Capt. Hossain. They came back later in the afternoon excited about their purchase of modern Bengali attire consisting of a Kamiz (a long tunic top), a Salwar (pants that come in various styles), and a Dopatta (a sash). They chose 'loose fit.' Don't worry, folks, I haven't gone fashion-forward but I am going somewhere with this.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

After the meeting with Mr. Hadi and his wife, Marzan, from the Lion's Club to organize for the second half of our bedkit distribution in Bangladesh which starts tomorrow, the M & M's were showing the rest of us their purchases.

Well the Salwar apparently comes in one-size-fits-all which led to howls of laughter as it was apparent that Richard (see picture) and the M's could all fit into this together.

Sorry folks, you sort of had to be there, but you get the jist. We are getting ready to rock 'n' roll tomorrow for 800 more kids.

Yippee!!

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Team Review

All photos are from the Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 9: Dhaka

We arrived back in Dhaka at 5AM to a beehive of activity with dinghy's (small boats with a single-oarsman that ferry people and supplies) on the move as several steamers docked.

We had a great night back including a "serious" game of euchre that was loud enough with laughter that the rest of the ship must have heard it. For the record the M & M's will gloat over the Doug's until the re-match. Perhaps we should make it really serious this time and have a bet on the match? Bedkit donations from the losing team would be appropriate with the only question being how many. Perhaps our blog readers could weigh in on this dilemma?

The rest of the day was a needed day of rest, touring some of the city, a team review of the rest of the week, and another delightful evening and dinner with the Rotary Club group.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bandladesh: Barisal Distribution

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 8: Barisal

We woke at 5 AM as the steamer docked in Barisal and we proceeded immediately through a rural, almost jungle area with many small villages that are rough, basic places connected by, at times, not much more than a cart path.

These villages, however, often have strong family connections and community spirit and are somewhat self-contained.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Captain Hossain who is heading up the Rotary 4,000 distribution comes from the Barisal area and the hub for today's 1300 bedkits was at his family home. His family settled at this site in the 1600s.

Today's distribution was, as mentioned in the previous blog, originally planned for two days; however, communication issues led to this being the best option. It was quite successful thanks the efforts of the village, family, Rotarians, and our team.

We ended the day with a walking tour with Captain Hossain through his village as he recounted some of his family and village history.

We are finally back on the steamer at 8:30 PM tired and ready to sleep on the overnight trip back to Dhaka.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Thanks again to wireless technology it is easy to stay in touch. (This report was sent from my Blackberry and the photos were sent from Doug Jamieson's iPhone.)

Doug MacDougald and Doug Jamieson
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Heading to Barisal

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 7: From a steamer to Barisal

This is a day of several parts starting with a very hot 400 bedkit distribution in Dhaka at a wonderful club that some members of Rotary belong to. Lots of happy kids heading off on bicycle rickshaws and pictures to follow in a couple of days and you will see why shortly. Lunch at the same club was a delight, with chili fish, chicken beryani, beef curry, and ice cream. We are well-fed and looked-after by the Rotary Club of Dhaka.

Then it was back to the hotel to pack up to leave most of our stuff at a Rotarian's home, take our overnight bag, head to the Rotary club for a brief meeting, and then to the Old Port of Dhaka to catch a steamer for an overnight boat ride down the
Buriganga river to our next distribution in Barisal.

We had a fascinating walk through the streets and shops of the Old Port as we waited for departure. This is the poorest area of Dhaka and also the busiest.

We stood on the top deck and watched Dhaka disappear and then feasted again, this time on Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh, pomphret fish, and eggplant. We will need all the nourishment and stamina we can get as we — due to circumstances beyond our control — do two day's distribution in one tomorrow. Then we will be back on the boat for an overnight to Dhaka.

Thus no pictures but, thanks to wireless and a Blackberry, blogging is still possible.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device.

Arrival in Barisal: view from the foredeck. From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

A photo was sent by Doug Jamieson from his iPhone® early Tuesday evening after Doug M's report had been posted:  "After a peaceful night's sleep aboard the steamer, we've arrived in Barisal. Here's the view of the dock from the foredeck."

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Bangledesh: Feni Distribution 1

Day 6: Feni

We left at 5:30 AM for the four-and-a-half-hour drive to Feni, a rural area, to distribute 500 bedkits to very poor children. This distribution site was in a school surrounded by a low wall that allowed families and others to view the event. This also allowed for more interaction with the families and children as they left, which also showed us the excitement of what this donation means.

Keep up the good work to everyone connected to Sleeping Children and especially the donors!

The drive to and from through Dhaka and the countryside was filled with unusual sights and experiences for us: thousands of bicycles, rickshaws. Considering they are smaller and slower than just about everything else, the driver and passengers have to be fearless.

This country sits atop the world's largest river delta, a vast flood plain where an intricate system of rivers and tributaries weave like a network of roads, reshaping the land on their way to the Bay of Bengal. As much water flows through Bangladesh as through all of Europe. There is water everywhere with rice fields and fish lagoons and then even more water.

We passed many outdoor brick manufacturing sites with all manual labour.

This is the most densely populated country with any significant landmass in the world — 1045 people per square kilometer compared to Canada at 3.2. 140 million people in an area sixty times smaller than Canada. There are people everywhere - in the fields, on the water, and fearless on the roads.

It's now 8:30 PM and we are back to our hotel. A good day.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Sirajgonj Distribution

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 5: Sirajgonj

The SCAW Team was off to an early start this morning. We left at 6 AM for the northern city of Sirajgonj to distribute 500 bedkits.

Our Rotary hosts treated us to a very delectable breakfast en route to the distribution site. When we arrived at the site we were greeted by some of the children who were already dressed for their pictures. The SCAW team got organized very quickly and the children were happy to get their bedkits. The weather was great once again, which facilitated a smooth distribution with loads of Bangladesh sunshine. Thanks to all the donors who have made another 500 children very happy today. They are now, hopefully, having a comfortable night's sleep using the contents of their bedkit.

The team had a very interesting ride to and from Sirajgonj. This was our first trip out of Dhaka, so we got a really good perspective of the life in Bangladesh.

We had never seen so many rickshaws in our lives and we were awed by the variety and size of the cargo these vehicles were able to accommodate. We also noticed that a two lane highway could be readily used as four lanes and that the rickshaws were well-respected by all motorists. A rickshaw would go in any direction it wished but, interestingly, there were absolutely no accidents.

The drivers are all very skillful in using up every inch of the road to move along quickly. Needless to say, we had some anxious moments, but all in all we arrived back at our hotel safely at 7:15 PM, with much enthusiasm for another early start tomorrow: 5:30 AM!!!

Maxene Henry
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Distribution Two

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 4: Dhaka

This was a very smooth 702 bedkit day and it may not have been apparent in Marg and Maxene’s blog but this was in sharp contrast to yesterday. Both occurred in the same location: a small courtyard surrounded by small classrooms and piled high with bedkits. It was a bake oven that did not work for kid, man, woman, or camera.

We led the charge to empty the bedkits from one of the rooms. Anyone who has slugged bales under a hot tin barn roof as the mow is close to filled has the picture. The only good news: we got through the rest of the distribution sort of OK ... and Richard, our co-leader, finally had a team member that could give him a run for his money on ability to sweat — we just “puddled” through the day. At some point in the day when things were not going well Marg, Maxene, Doug J. and I were happy to see our other co-leader, Joan, jump in to keep things organized.

Back to today — same place, same people and it ended up textbook. Hats off to the Rotary Club of Dhaka who did a great job.

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

The kids were bussed in from as far away as 150 kilometers and arrived hot, tired, and apprehensive. Trust me, they and their families need all the help we can give them.

But of course when the day was over and the buses were loaded and heading home the kids were excited and happy. A better ride home.

We and you are helping one child at a time.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: The first distribution

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 3: Dhaka

It was much to our surprise that the distribution site was only 10 minutes from our hotel. We left at 8 AM and arrived at the site at 8:10 AM greeted by the children and parents who were gathering.

There were lots of Hello's, How are you's, and smiles. The many Bangladesh volunteers were already on site with lots of enthusiasm and politeness.

600 happy faces were our treat of the day. The children were orderly, patient and full of anticipation. The girls particularly looked beautiful in their colourful outfits for picture taking.

Click to go to the Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

There was one girl today with only one leg and no prosthesis. She was hopping along using only a stick. She radiated grace and appreciation for her bedkit. We were thrilled to see her.

Maxene Henry and Marg Garrett
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Preparations

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 2: Dhaka

Off the plane by 6 AM and it was warm and sticky in Dhaka as we headed to our hotel. We got a glimpse of the sights and smells of the fourteen million people that live in this city on the ride -- but only a little glimpse.

We spent the rest of the day resting and prepping for our first distribution tomorrow. We met with the Rotary Club of Dhaka’s committee and discussed details of their portion of this 8,000 bedkit distribution. The Lions Club will organize the other portion.

Then we examined and did a dry run of the bedkit set-up.

Ahhhh ... bed.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: The team has arrived

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Day 1: Travel

Our day of travel to Dhaka started Tuesday early evening in Toronto, and ended early Thursday morning after seventeen hours flying time, nine hours layover in London, and ten hours time change.

Not so bad compared to my Dad’s longest mission of twenty-two hours flying out of Jessore, India (now Bangladesh) in WWII. We had the comforts of modern travel; he was crammed into a tail turret. We have no complaints!

Well perhaps one: our best-laid plans during our layover of heading from Heathrow to Windsor for a walk-about, lunch, and perhaps see the Queen didn’t happen due to a comedy of logistical errors. Instead, we walked through all five Heathrow terminals. Long story, one best not repeated.

But, at the end of it all, Team Bangladesh has arrived in Dhaka.

In the photo, we have just been welcomed by the Rotary members. In the photo (Left to Right) Doug MacDougald, Marg Garrett, Richard Hryniw, Maxene Henry, Capt. M. Khaliquzzaman of the Rotary, Joan Hryniw, Doug Jamieson.

Doug MacDougald
for Team Bangladesh

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Bangladesh: Leave your comments here

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Bangladesh: They're on their way

From Bangladesh 2008 Photo Album

Here's the Bangladesh 2008 travelling team for Sleeping Children Around the World at Pearson Airport this afternoon.

They're on their way to distribute 8,000 bedkits in Bangladesh.

Back Row (Left to right): Doug Jamieson, Doug MacDougald, Richard Hryniw (Team Leader). Front Row (Left to right): Maxene Henry, Marg Garrett, Joan Hryniw (Team Leader).

Nicaragua: 4,000 Children sleeping well

The first-ever distribution in Nicaragua is completed. Thanks to SCAW donors, 4,000 children in this country will be sleeping well tonight. In addition to handing out 516 bedkits today, our team had the opportunity to visit the homes of two families in central Managua.

Upon arrival at the first home, the mother hugged our team and was so overcome with emotion that she was sobbing and thanked us profusely for the gift SCAW had given her daughter. We were invited into her home to see where the bedkit would be used. The mosquito net had already been set up, and the children in the family all piled onto the bed, and we asked if we could take their photographs. Please see the attached Slideshow.

At the second home, the mother was heating milk in a metal pot over an open fire when we arrived. The team was shown through their home. We were struck by the clothesline in a communal courtyard made of scrap barbed wire, with well-worn items hanging over the rusty metal barbs.

After witnessing the conditions in these two homes, the team was happy to have had the privilege of providing help where it is so obviously needed.

Because tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, the team felt it was only appropriate to invite our new friends in Rotary and Rotaract (young and future Rotarians) to a celebration to thank them for all their hard work in organizing this first-ever distribution.

Thank you donors for making this Thanksgiving truly meaningful for the team and for 4,000 children and their families.

Thanks for all the e-mails. We have appreciated your encouragement and best wishes.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: Outside Managua

First girl recipient today. From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Our team today travelled outside the capital of Managua to do distributions in three different rural locations. It was enjoyable to leave the city for a change and enjoy the openness and fresh country air. The weather co-operated: bright sunshine throughtout most of the day was followed by rainfall which started as our final bedkits for the day were being given out.

Following one distribution, our team spoke with a Sister, and her teachers, who operate a school which, as an additional community service, houses, feeds, and educates forrty orphans. One of the team's pictures today shows the Sister and several of these young ladies.

Sister and the orphan girls. From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Interviews with parents again confirmed how important the mosquito net, mattress, clothing, and other items would be to the children receiving bedkits. Our team saw children leaving the distribution site on horse-drawn carts, bicycles, and other simple modes of transportation.

The trip has gone quickly. It's hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last distribution day.

To see more photos, go to our Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: Making bedkits

From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Our fourth distribution in Nicaragua was on a very sunny day. The sun shone all day and so did the faces of 765 children. At 8:00 this morning the temperature gauge read 37 degrees and the children patiently waited for their turn to pose for their photos and receive their bedkits. As one little boy enthusiasticly proclaimed, in perfect English, "It's Santa Claus!"

Today, the team was again overwhelmed by the appreciation expressed by the children, families, and schools. One particularly brave little boy stood in front of the crowds and thanked Sleeping Children Around the World and the Rotary Club. They were all so grateful for their 765 friends in Canada. The simple gifts of mosquito netting, bedding, mattress, clothing, and school supplies were indeed valuable and precious to all the children and their families. Each child would certainly agree that every donation from Canada will improve, if not change, their world!

The clothing factory. Click to see more photos. From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Following today's distribution, the team had the unique opportunity to visit the two workshops where the clothing and mattresses had been made. Under hot tin roofs, Nicaraguan men and women have worked tirelessly to manufacture 4,000 matresses, 16,000 t-shirts and 12,000 shorts on behalf of the SCAW donors. Without the luxuries of air-conditioning and space, these workers have made the mattresses, stuffed with cast-off material, and sewn each shirt with ancient sewing machines, for the Nicaraguan children. It quickly began apparent to all team members that SCAW's bedkit order had vastly improved these workshops' economy. Murray Dydren's vision of contributing to the local economy was certainly maintained.

At the end of the day, there were still more children at the gate asking for food and supplies. Therefore the team is very happy to be continuing the bedkit distribution tomorrow.

To see more photos, go to our Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: Day 3's Distribution

From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Following yesterday's heavy downpours, everyone appreciated a day without rain.

With the co-operation of the local police, the road outside the school (where the distribution was held), was blocked off from all local traffic. This allowed the bus loads of children and their parents clear access to get their bedkits. As you might imagine, there was great excitment and total confusion as the children checked in, dressed in their new clothes, and sat down for their photographs.

Clarence and Marianne had visited the school yesterday to coordinate the set-up of today's distribution: this was a great help.

From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Some of today's bedkit recipients attend the school where the distribution was held. This school is supported by several charitable organizations where children receive food, transportation, uniforms, and school supplies.

One highlight of today's parent surveys was the comment that receiving the bedkit for their child meant the family would have more money available now to buy food for the family ... thanks to receiving the bedkit.

The children and parents continue to be appreciative of you, our donors, for making the gift of a bedkit possible.

To see more photos, go to our Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: 701 Bedkits in the rain

Our team went today for our second distribution to a local school in Managua, to give out 701 bedkits.

It poured, several times during the day but the children were remarkably resilient and patient with the delays and being soaked! When they had to change from their own wet clothes into their SCAW outfits we were delighted to see the sun come out and everyone's mood brightened accordingly.

We started interviewing some of the mothers/grandmothers to find out what they thought of the bedkits. Liz, who did the interviewing, was quite overwhelmed by their stories and the descriptions of their living conditions. The parents were ecstatic about the inclusion of the mosquito net in the bedkit as mosquito-born infections (e.g., malaria and dengue fever) are a huge concern here.

One grandmother we interviewed is caring for her five grandchildren because four of their parents had died of unknown causes. She sleeps on the hard mud-packed floor and she was delighted to know that her children will sleep so much better tonight on their brand-new mattress with their mosqito net protecting them.

We hope you enjoy today's photo slideshow.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: 802 Bedkits in Managua

Mothers waiting. From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

This was our first day of distributions in Managua, handing out 802 bedkits at a school outside town.

The weather forecast of heavy rain fortunately did not come to pass. This was the first ever distribution by the Rotary Club of Managua, and they are to be congratulated on an excellent job. The children were happy and content, thanks to entertainment provided by senior school students on Nicaraguan traditional folk dancing and music.

One of our pictures shows a few of the mothers of bedkit recipients, waiting patiently. The other picture shows the human chain moving bedkits from the storage area closer to where they are to be given out to the children.

The human chain. From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

Rotary and the SCAW team were assisted by an outstanding group of young people who worked throughout the day moving the heavy mattresses and the rest of the bedkits on behalf of each of the small children, many of whom were unable to carry the gift of the bedkit from our SCAW donors.

Best wishes to all, and talk with you soon.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: Ready to begin

From Nicaragua 2008 Photo Album

The Canadian travelling team arrived safely in Managua yesterday evening. We were warmly received this morning by the Rotary Club of Managua Organizing Committee. This is the start of an exciting first-ever distributon in Nicaragua. The SCAW team ran through a typical distribution process to help Rotary understand the complexities of a Sleeping Children distribution. The Canadian team was impressed with the preparation that Rotary had already done to ensure that the distributions flow well and that needy children receive a quality bedkit.

This afternoon, the team is off to the first distribution site to survey the site and practice setting up the bedkit in preparation for Day 1 and 850 joyous children.

On location, the Sleeping Children bedkit distribution is a co-operative effort between two teams: The Overseas Volunteer Organization and the Canadian travelling team. We have attached photos of the two teams. The top photo shows the Rotary team core organizing committee members: (From left to right) Marcia Miranda, Gunther Hewig, William Rodriguez, Justo Arauz, Jose Delgado, Fabiola Monterrey, and Napoleon Munguia. The bottom photo is the SCAW Canadian travelling volunteers: (From left to right) Lynette Jenkins, Dave Yeaman, Liz Yeaman, Marianne Tomlinson, Ted Swanston, and Clarence Deyoung (Team Leader).

Stay tuned everyone. Love to all. Hasta mañana. See you tomorrow.

The SCAW 2008 Nicaragua travelling team.

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Nicaragua: Leave your comments here

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