Today we did our last
distribution of 600 bedkits at Tungi Primary School about 30 minutes south of
Dar es Salaam. Each distribution day we
headed south at 7 AM and crossed the bay using a car ferry which let us witness
the hustle and bustle of the various vendors along the route, the fish market
near the ferry terminal and the thousands of commuters going in either
direction on the ferry. Everyone is very
busy doing what they can to provide for their families.
On arrival at Tungi,
the children already had their assembly and were beginning their classes while
others were getting ready for their bedkit distribution. Being on our fifth day, everyone executed
their assigned roles of the day very quickly.
Our team lead Doug even got in some bubble time to the delight of the
kids and the parents.
After Carol briefed
the parents on the contents of the bedkits, who clapped in gratitude at each
item, the distribution commenced and was completed with many happy faces
throughout the process.
We took a group picture of all the folks from
Mama Wandoa’s team as well as ourselves with the last recipient of a bedkit
today.
After a small
celebration with the complete support team consisting of watermelon and soft
drinks, heart-felt thank you speeches were given from both sides and after some
hugs and Tanzanian handshakes, we said our good byes. The support of our Tanzanian Overseas Partner
Organization of Upendo Information and Counselling Centre could not have done
more to help us ensure that the bedkits were of excellent quality and efficiently
distributed.
As this was our first SCAW
distribution experience for Carol and me, it was a real pleasure to be with Doug
MacDougald and Gary Jewitt, two very experienced SCAW travel volunteers, who showed
us and coached us on how to best do the various tasks that needed to be
done. Our whole very positive learning
experience, was done in a very gentle and patient manner. We shared many laughing moments which was
very helpful as the situation that you find yourself in can be very
heartbreaking, especially when you do the home visits.
Given the great need
that exists wherever SCAW does distributions, it can be overwhelming as you
want to help everyone and can’t! It
reminded me of a short film clip that I saw where a man was running on the
beach and would stop now and then to pick up something and throw it into the
water. A person watching the runner do
this stopped him and asked what he was doing.
The runner said that he was picking up starfish left high and dry on the
beach and threw them back in the water to help them out. The man pointed out to the runner that there were
thousands of starfish stranded on the beach and asked him what difference it
made to throw one back. The runner
picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea. He then looked at the man and said, “It makes
a difference to this one!” and continued on his run. I feel that is what we do with our bedkit
distributions…helping one child at a time.
We are very grateful to be a part of this distribution and look forward
to participating in the future.
…for the children,
Joep Diening for Team Tanzania 2017B
