Chennai: 508 bedkits in the Andaman Islands

From Chennai Photo Album 2009

I am writing these notes on the ferry we are taking to Havelock Island on the Andaman Islands. As typical, the weather is beautifully sunny in the 30 degree range. Two days ago, we flew from Chennai to Port Blair on the Andaman Islands. After landing, we visited Ross Island, which was a picturesque land preserve for the British, before the Japanese destroyed it during WWII, but subsequently restored to its former grandeur as a historical park.

Yesterday, we did a "slumber kit" distribution of 508 kits. At the opening ceremony, the Administrator of the Andamans, who reports directly to the federal government in Delhi, spoke, and was accompanied by his education minister. Both the Ambattur and local Rotary Club representative spoke as well; the latter did the organization of the distribution in Port Blair. Tamil, Telugu and English were spoken, and of course, Hindi is the official language. Then Tom made a brief presentation of SCAW, and introduced our team, we all sat on the podium with the parents, children, and teachers in the audience. The distribution went very smoothly with assistance from high school students and some university students. The university boys were keen on peppering us with questions about Canada.

Local Rotary members, took a keen interest in the bedkit, when we laid it out for the photo sessions – this was the first time that they participated in the SCAW program. One member offered that we should have a water bottle in the kit, apparently, the government is trying to educate people on the significance of use of clean water for drinking and he thought that a water jug would be a good beginning for the children.

Later in the day, we visited the Cellular Jail, used by the British colonials to fetter the Indian freedom fighters, a dark age for the Andamans – the Island became a penal colony in the late 1800's and evolved into a national historic site in 1966. We came back the same night to see a light and sound show at the prison and learned more about the history of the Island and British rule. Later that night we had a joint meeting with the local Rotary Club, who seem to be very interested in continuing the relationship with SCAW.

As always, the real satisfaction was from the distribution and the anticipation in the kids' eyes receiving the "slumber kits".

Andy Greiner
for Team Chennai 2009

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