Chennai: Port Blair, Andaman Islands, India

From Chennai Photos 2010

It was a hot and humid day on Thursday February 11^th, 2010 when we made our way over to the secondary school in Port Blair for our second last distribution of this campaign. The first job we had, as with most of the distributions, was to find a suitable spot for taking photos. Choices were limited and we finally determined that we would take the photographs in the hot sun. There were unfortunately no shaded areas that met our needs.

All the children were inside a large hall at the school and we started off with a welcome ceremony attended by a high government official, the deputy commissioner for the area. We were met with rousing applause and hundreds of small waving hands and arms.

It’s hard to believe this is opening day for the Winter Olympics back in Canada. Even the thought of snowy hills and sub-zero temperatures didn’t help to reduce the sauna-like heat as we moved the kids through the photo area.

From Chennai Photos 2010

We attempted to keep the kids inside as long as possible. Every patch of shaded area outside the hall was occupied by parents waiting for their special child to complete the task of having an image made for the SCAW donors. Today we distributed nearly 500 bedkits and collected hundreds of smiles. The smiles are the currency with which the volunteers are paid and personally I feel we were once again well-paid.

Knowing how hot it was and how we were looking forward to cold drinks and air conditioning, I realized that the kids and their families had no such luxury awaiting them. They would need to cope with the heat and high humidity without respite. I also realized that at least one child in the family would have a bedkit to help ease the burden and for that we thank the donors.

From Chennai Photos 2010

Each bedkit carries with it a special message that someone cares for them. Someone is concerned about their well being and their plight. That someone is a SCAW donor. While the SCAW volunteers receive the thanks and the smiles, we are well aware that we are receiving these on your behalf.

Nevertheless, the smiles I collect are mine to keep and I shall hold onto these for many years to come.

Bill Baker, SCAW Volunteer
for Team Chennai 2010

Leave your comments here.