Mama Wandoa and her team of volunteers
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| From Tanzania 2010 Photos |
Before we even arrived, Mama Wandoa had been working tirelessly to ensure we would not only have 7,000 complete bedkits, but that each and every bedkit would be ready to be delivered on the right day and at the right time to the specific children who are identified by schools and local authorities as being in need.
In previous posts, we mentioned our 5 AM wake-up calls – but did you know that before we even arrive at the distribution sites, Mama Wandoa and her team of twenty volunteers have already begun their work? We thought for today’s blog we would walk you through the experience of our Overseas Volunteers in Tanzania.
4 AM: Twenty volunteers wake up at Mama Wandoa’s house. They have all slept over wherever they can find a spot and wake up ready to start another distribution day. They are out the door as quickly as possible so that they can get to the sites, start unloading the trucks, and plan the layout for the distribution.Mama Wandoa has recruited these dedicated volunteers from her work with the Upendo AIDS Centre. Many of them are Peer Educators whom she has worked with for some time, as well as a few friends and extended family members who have also graciously given their time to our cause.
7 AM: By now the SCAW volunteers have arrived. Mama’s team have already unloaded 700 mattresses and bedkits and begin to take their 15-minute breakfast breaks, in groups of five.7:30 AM to 1 PM: When the distribution starts, Mama’s team focuses on getting the arriving children organised, checking their names on Mama’s long list (which she oversees with a careful eye), and helping the children change into their new t-shirts and shorts for photo-taking. This carries on throughout the day until the distribution in complete.
1:30 PM: After taking down the site, the team of volunteers heads towards the BANCO mattress factory, having lunch along the way.
3 PM: Arrival at the mattress factory. Mama Wandoa’s daughter, Joyce, oversees the loading of 700 more mattresses for tomorrow’s distribution.
6 – 7 PM: After loading the trucks, the volunteers grab a quick dinner before heading back to Mama Wandoa’s for even more packing and sorting!
8 PM: Back at Mama Wandoa’s the bedkits are packed, checked, and counted and then loaded onto the trucks for the next day.
11 PM: Bedtime at last! If things go perfectly the team finishes by 11 PM, but sometimes not until midnight! After the trucks are loaded and everything is double checked, Mama Wandoa and her fantastic crew get to bed, ready for another 4 AM wake-up call, and another day of distribution!
Team Tanzania 2010
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