Chennai, 2020, Day 7: A Very Successful Distribution in Chennai

Well we are back in the city of Chennai where the children seem to be more rambunctious - or maybe they are just overly excited to see the gift they are about to receive!

Again, many Rotary clubs within the city limits brought anywhere from 5-50 children to the large open site where today’s distribution was held.

The senior girls were our helpers today and they were with the children and the team throughout the entire day, despite the heat and the sandy playground area where the site was set up.

With over 900 bedkits handed out today we are on the last leg of our journey here. Stay tuned over the next few days as we complete all 7500.

The teachers and visitors to the site also wanted me to relay their sincere thanks to all the SCAW donors. The parents in the city of Chennai are most grateful for your donations that enable their children to sleep better!

Theresa Carravetta, Leader 

Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, 2020, Day 5: A Warm Welcome and Careful Organization Made Today a Success

This is my fourth distribution with SCAW.  On this distribution I am a Team Leader Assistant under the knowledgeable lead of Theresa Carravetta.

Today the team arrived for the fifth distribution.  As we walked through the gates of the school we were greeted by the smiling children singing a welcome song for us.

The Head Master, Mr. Kumar, has won the award for the best kept school for the past three years.  It was noted to be the best government run school in the area.  Upon arrival it was evident the pride he took in his job and the sheer passion he had for the children.

Many may not know how much organization goes into a distribution site.  The children arrive and change into their new school uniforms. A ticket is assigned to each child with a specific number.  

Next, the child proceeds through a line up where the number is accounted for by a Rotarian.  

The children are then assembled as they wait for their photo to be taken.  Once the photo has been taken, they receive a happy face on their left hand.   From that point they are only a few feet away from their most precious gift, their bed kit!  Their smiles light up the sky as they receive their bedkit - something they will cherish for a very long time.

I am happy to say that 538 children will be sleeping and dreaming much better this evening! Sleep well children!

Cheryl Warner

Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, 2020, Day 6: Treated Like Royalty Left Us With Wonderful Memories

When I first saw the schedule I was anxious that today was going to be a long day. We left the hotel in Chennai at 5:45 a.m. for a more than 31/2 hr. trip to our next distribution, but you will have to agree that Team Chennai hit the motherlode when I describe the warm hospitality that was extended to us as we arrived and throughout the day.

Before we even arrived we passed a billboard with all of our pictures on it welcoming us.   

Our first stop was the beautiful VPR Convention Center, where we were treated to a scrumptious breakfast buffet.  It was such a wonderful location.  

Soon after we headed for the VPR School for Special Studies for Exceptional Children. As we approached we could hear band music and as we reached the front gate we were amazed at the unbelievable sight.  The school band was playing and the sidewalk was covered with a Red Carpet. The carpet was covered in rose petals lined by many students from the school that would later serve as our helpers. 

 Lais of red roses, yellow mums and white gardenias were placed around our necks. 

All the students were in attractive uniforms and all the female teachers wore identical coloured sarees. They would wear a different color each day of the week. The teachers and students were all so very helpful.

 

We all had wonderful memories of a successful distribution as we made the more than 4 hour drive back to Chennai.

Gym Flader

Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, 2020: Day 4, Priceless Smiles after a Harrowing Drive

Well, from a hilltop station we descended a steep winding road with 20 hairpin turns! Delightful monkeys sat on the curbs watching our minibus navigate the road.

At a lovely school in another town we completed our 4th distribution.  There were 60 different schools participating and 830 bedkits distributed.

Transportation was a challenge for many of the schools traveling a fair distance in a variety of vehicles: buses, trucks, cars and Tuk Tuks.

Handing out the bedkits today was a rewarding experience and the smiles on children's faces when they realized the bedkits were theirs - Priceless! 

As always, the beautiful Sarees worn by the mothers and teachers made it a colorful event.

Nancy & Steve Jeffery

Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, Day 3, Bedkits Help the Whole Family!

Today our distribution was in a hill station that developed because of the cultivation of coffee brought there by the British over a hundred and fifty years ago. We delivered 582 bed kits to the children of this area.

         

       

I had the job today of interviewing six different families. Three were from the town itself and three from the outlying areas.  Many of the mothers helped with the coffee bean harvest. I found that some of the children were sleeping on plastic mats directly on the floor. Others were lucky enough to have one mattress that the whole family slept on. All families slept in one room. They said this bed-kit would definitely help the whole family get a better night’s sleep. The mosquito net particularly was a big hit. Surprisingly the Tamil/English dictionary was also one of the prized items. One thing they would have liked to have seen in the kit was something for rain as it can get very wet there. This should be something to consider for next year.

         

 

All families had great hopes that their children get an education and good jobs in the future. We hope that in one small way providing a better sleeping environment will help realize this goal.


Kathy Westbrook
Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, 2020: Day 2, Another 1092 Happy Children

After a short flawless flight from Chennai to Trichy, we were warmly greeted by the local Rotarians.

The second day began by separating into two separate teams.  Cheryl, Kathy, Nancy & Jim travelled to Perambular.  Theresa, Steve, and Isabelle stayed in Trichy.

Throughout the day we saw shy smiles turn to wide grins as the bedkits were handed to the children.  Timid thank yous and the confident use of a few English words brought delight to them and to us.

Thanks to fifty years of generous donors, another 1092 children have had a memorable day and a good night’s sleep.

Isabelle Parliament

Team Chennai, 2020

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Chennai, 2020: Welcome Smiles After a Long Trip

Well, after a cancelled flight and a few other speed bumps the team has arrived in Chennai from Canada and the United States. We’ve rested for a day and had to revise the schedule but we managed to greet and hand out bedkits to 832 children today in the sweltering Indian heat!

Seeing their smiling faces seemed to erase our travel misadventures and knowing that these children will all have a better night’s sleep not only brought them joy but also brought joy to the team.

Here are a few pictures of just how happy they made us!

Theresa Carravetta

Team Chennai, 2020

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