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| From Belgaum 2012 |
What is SCAW’s impact in India? There are over 22,000 bedkits being distributed here during the months of January and February this year. That may seem like a lot but we are just scratching the surface of the number of families here who would love to be the beneficiary of a bedkit.
Today the SCAW team worked with the Rotary Club of Hubli and their families to distribute 900 bedkits to deserving children. Similar to other distributions, the children were selected from the surrounding villages based on need and the recommendation of their teachers. Today though, they also came from an eco-orphanage which is located in the jungle about 30 kms from Hubli. There were also children who were physically challenged, hearing impaired, and a number of them with visual difficulties.
These children would be brought to the distribution and carried or escorted by a parent or guardian until they reached the location where we were taking the pictures. The parent would then wait patiently until the picture was taken, which could take some time depending on the number of children in the photo. The child would then be taken to the place where the bedkit was being given out and the local Rotarians would ensure that the bedkit was carried for them out to awaiting transportation to take the child home. Usually the transportation would be a motorized rickshaw or small pickup truck. One that we saw had 11 bedkits and children in the back of the pickup, all of whom felt blessed for having been given the rare privilege of getting a bedkit. The cab was crammed with five adults and the driver but they were used to travelling like that.
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| From Belgaum 2012 |
Afterward, we were invited to the Hubli Gymkhana Club by the Rotarians to share a bite and discuss how the distribution went. Considering the number of bedkits involved and the work that had gone into planning the distribution, all of their hard work paid off. The Rotary Club president and the chairman of this year’s distribution committee were quick to ask us whether we would be back again next year. Ideas were exchanged about the distribution and how it was conducted. For most of this year’s team, they would not be back. Since I will be taking over from ‘Mr. Duncan,’ (boy do I have big shoes to fill), I said so long to them until next year.
So what is the impact of SCAW in India? It is considerable and one that the SCAW overseas volunteers and bedkit recipients hope will continue to grow.
Bill Sergeant,
for The 2012 Belgaum Team
Click either photo to see more in the Belgaum 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.
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