Kolkata: Wheel Primary School

Today, some of the Kolkata team visited the Wheel Primary School in the heart of Kolkata.  We distributed pencils, pencil cases and exercise books to the Principal who will distribute them to the children.  There are currently 70 students at the school being taught by six teachers.  The six classrooms are very basic but the children are energetic and happy and all smiles!

Team Kolkata 2017
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Chennai: Thank You Thangavelu!

Today we visited five cottage industries that make articles for the SCAW bedkit. Each community benefits from the production of the SCAW item.  For the last ten years Thangavelu, a SCAW volunteer, has supervised the production of the SCAW quilt, mosquito net, pillow and t-shirt. 

Happy Children!

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Team Chennai 2017
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Chennai: Trichy

Our first experience with rain so far, but thankfully it held off until the last few photos. Over 600 recipients received bedkits…our largest distribution so far.  The Rotarian/SCAW team’s system ran like a well oiled machine:  line up children, photograph them, put a smiley face on their arm, collect their identification card and finally they gratefully accept their bedkit! 

Team Chennai 2017
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Chennai: Puducherry

Yesterday was a travel/rest day so we were all eager to get back to work. 

Since all the children were congregated in one hall, we were able to interact with them as a whole before handing out 520 bedkits.  We had fun singing songs and doing chants.  Surprisingly they all knew Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.  Once again the heavens unite us all!

Team Chennai 2017
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Kolkata: Near and Far!

Children and parents travelling from near and far by various modes of transportation to get their bedkits. Incredibly, some children travelled for seven hours, one way!  A testament to how prized a bedkit really is in Kolkata.

Team Kolkata 2017 

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Kolkata: Entertaining!

During a big distribution, it is helpful to keep the children occupied while they wait for their photos and bedkits.  Clearly, the SCAW volunteers are having a good time, too!

Some of the over 900 children waiting for their photos and bedkits.

Playing catch with the children that are waiting for their pictures.

Saadoun finally catching a throw from one of the future professional ball players.

Clapping along with a Rotarian volunteer.

Blowing bubbles was a bit hit with everyone standing in line.

Team Kolkata 2017

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Kolkata: Lean on me

No matter where we are, we all need someone to help once in a while.  We had plenty of help at our two distributions today.

The buddy system begins at an early age

High school students helping with handing out the bedkits, taking tickets from the back packs and reuniting the children with their parents.

The Rotariannes helping with distribution.

Teachers of the future were on hand to help the children get into their new clothes.

Parents helping to carry the bedkits on the way home.  

Team Kolkata 2017
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Chennai: Nellore

Five hundred and fifty more bedkits were handed out today!  When the individual items were held up by our passionate leader, Sue, they cheered the most for the backpack.

Team Chennai 2017
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Chennai: Kilpauk

Our 4^th distribution today was in Kilpauk at a school very close to our hotel. However, some of the children who received the bedkits were bussed from great distances…some as far as 90 km. Most children are dressed in their new clothes when they arrive at the site.  Today some arrived from the villages dressed in traditional clothing. 

On this delivery we had the company of Thiru at the grand age of 89.  He was a participant on the first SCAW distribution in Chennai with Murray Dryden 31 years 

Team Chennai 2017
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