Bangladesh: From Barisal to Khulna

We left Barisal at 6 AM on the Rocket, a paddleboat steamer built in 1929 in Calcutta. The 5 AM arrival to the dock area was alive with rickshaw horns and driver shouts (possibly curses) as the traffic snarled to a standstill. We finally gave up and lugged our gear to the steamer.

It was then the harbour’s turn to come alive as a beautiful dawn broke over the Kittankhola River and as we started the journey down ten different rivers arriving in Khulna late evening.

From Bangladesh 2010

We stopped at numerous interesting ports allowing a glimpse of life so different from ours. Kids especially would crowd around us at the docks, friendly and curious about us as to why we were here.

These rivers with the myriad of boats and ships move goods and people the same way as our highways do. Of course fishing boats zigzag all over the river as they work at feeding the people of Bangladesh. We enjoyed Hilsha, the national fish of Bangladesh for lunch and caught in these same waters.

This was a day of relaxation spent mostly on the front deck of the Rocket enjoying the unfolding river in the company of the Sleeping Children and Rotary Team, and after 2,832 bedkits in three days we needed the rest.

From Bangladesh 2010

In addition to great food, scenery, and camaraderie, we also enjoyed the services of the shoeshine guy that was on the ship. He proceeded to shine, buff, and primp ten pairs of boots, sandals, running shoes and flip flops – anything we had on our feet! He clearly was an artist at his craft, spent one and a half hours doing this work, and his regular charge would be 100 taka ($3). We gave him 1000 taka ($15) and made his day – but disaster struck as he was packing up his tools. The 1000 taka bill slipped out of his shirt pocket and disappeared in the wind over the river. What a look of despair on this poor man’s face but we quickly gave him another 1000 taka’s and all was and is right with the day.

It is all fun as we help the world one child at a time.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Barisal, The Third Distribution

From Bangladesh 2010

What a day of excitement, colour, high intensity and fun!

We were greeted by a family gathering of thousands. Not only did the 1,032 children show up from the local village and surrounding districts, but all the local families were there to witness the distibution of today's bedkits.

What friendly people and so glad to see us. The children were welcomed not only by us but also by the large number of volunteers that helped. They smiled, clapped and "thumbs'd up" when they received their bedkits. Lots of hand shaking and practising of their English: "Welcome and Thank you."

From Bangladesh 2010

We had lots of fun with this distribution and many of us were being constantly touched by these children.

We finished the evening with a local supper provided by Captain Moazzam, President of the Rotary Club of Dhaka with pigeon and prawns on the menu. An hour evening ride in rickshaws throughout the village ended a wonderful day for all of us.

Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Overnight to Barisal

From Bangladesh 2010

What an action packed 24 hours since the last blog. An hour and a half of chaotic gridlock to the harbour and boarding the Sunderban, the launch (ferry) for the overnight to Barisal, experiencing the very interesting and exotic harbour life through the evening and an early arrival the next morning to start the 1,000 bedkit distribution after having breakfast in a good Bangladeshi “joint” (restaurant).

From Bangladesh 2010

We were not very rested on arrival in part due to trying to sleep on a packed and noisy ship but mostly because of Steve’s early morning mishap. Mike and I shared a very small cabin with enough room for two cots and Andy and Steve were two rooms away. I woke up about 2 AM to guys yakking outside our room and went out to find Steve looking a little distraught with the story of going to the common washroom at the end of the corridor, locking the cabin door from the outside -- there is no latch thus it does not open from the inside if locked -- when leaving and with no pockets shoved the key under his arm. While in the washroom the key fell and bounced into the floor level toilet and then proceeded into the Padma River, part of the Ganges River. So Steve had a dilemma with Andy locked in the cabin at 2 AM! After finally finding someone to help it became apparent there was no spare or master key and so the noise out in the corridor was four guys with a box of hundreds of keys trying them one by one with Andy watching through the cabin window. Planning was well underway to break into the room when near the bottom of the pile of key, one worked! Crisis averted but way too much excitement in the middle of the night!

From Bangladesh 2010

After a long and challenging distribution (More about that in the next report.) we unwound into the early evening with a long rickshaw ride through the beautiful countryside outside Barisal. From the looks and hoots from people along the way you can bet there are not many times six Canadian are riding rickshaws through the tiny villages of that part of Bangladesh. Wonderful experiences!

Tomorrow is a day off and a day on the “Rocket,” a river paddleboat taking us to our next distribution.

Maybe we will see a Bengal tiger?

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Day 2 - 783 kids

Click for the Photo Album. More photos from Bangladesh 2010

Hey, do we have a team!

Day 2 and 783 bedkits later, worked through some distribution wrinkles yesterday and everyone had fun today -- especially 783 kids!

A recuring theme is kids just want to have fun and today was full of laughs, bubbles, frisbees, thumbfights, "quacker" (Mike's stuffed duck) and boy do you know it is working when the kids are giving a thumbsup when the bedkit picture is taken. How cool is that?

All good here in Bangladesh everyone. We are rushing out the door to catch an overnight launch (ferry boat) to our next distribution. Stay tuned!

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Our first distribution

After months of waiting for our first distribution assignment, here we are – standing in Bangladesh waiting for the first bus of children to arrive.

The first bus pulls up shortly after 8 am, followed by another ten minutes later, then another, then another. Within the hour a sea of children filled the distribution courtyard.

Some travelled as far as 150 km, and many arrived without so much as shoes on their feet. A small grin creeps across our faces as we know that when the kids open their bedkit they’ll find a pair of brand new flip flops.

As wave after wave of children come and go from the courtyard it becomes apparent to us how much time and effort was put forth by the Rotary Club of Dhaka to arrange and organize today’s distribution. Hats off to their team.

First stop – changing into their new donated outfits. The girls appear from the change room in beautiful and colourful salwar kameezes. The boys have new pants and a warm shirt for the approaching winter months.

Next stop – picture time. The children are set up. Some sit, some stand. “Everyone smile.”

And now, for the best part – the bedkit. We share a word or two with each child ... whatever we can communicate in the two different languages. Some hesitate as they take the big bundle. Some of the smallest kids quickly and easily hoist the heavy bed kits up onto their heads and head for the gate with a huge smile across their face.

As they leave we are overwhelmed with the pride and emotion of being part of such a great experience.

After the last child gets on the last bus, the joint SCAW/Rotary Club of Dhaka Team celebrates a successful Day One over a meal.

Good Night from Bangladesh,
SCAW Newbie #1: Steve Allen
SCAW Newbie #2: Danielle Lalonde
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Getting ready in Dhaka

From Bangladesh 2010

First day with all of the team together in Dhaka with the last of us arriving early this morning.

We spent the day acclimatizing, meeting the Rotary club group for the pre-distribution meeting, visiting the warehouse where the bedkits are stored, and getting ready to rock 'n roll tomorrow for a test by fire with 1,114 kids receiving bedkits. This is way over what we will normally do but stay tuned on our various travels to the outlying areas of Bangladesh and it will become clear why we are packing a bunch in early.

From Bangladesh 2010

We also strolled the streets seeing the unusual sights of Dhaka life including a market with the boys pretty excited about selling their vegetables and a guy quite happy about his prowess with fish.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Preparations

From Bangladesh 2010

The Rotary Club of Dhaka is in full swing for the upcoming Bangladesh distribution. All of the 6,000 bedkits have been packed and are in the process of being shipping to the various parts of Bangladesh that will be visited over the next two weeks during the distribution.

464 bedkits are being moved from the storage warehouse into the awaiting truck bound for Cox's Bazar. Over the next couple of days all bedkits will have been shipped and reached their final destination in preparation for the arrival of the Bangladesh 2010 team from Canada.

Mike Foster
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Bangladesh: Team is collecting

From Bangladesh 2010

The Bangladesh Team 2010 is getting organized. Some have already left for Bangladesh and the rest will arrive Monday Oct 25th in Dhaka, a city of 15 million and the capital of Bangladesh with a population of 156 million. This is a country that is twice the size of New Brunswick with a population of greater than 1000 people per square kilometer. It is hard to imagine isn’t it living here in North America?

We have a great itinerary planned and it will take us to the four corners of the country with 6,000 bedkits distributed to 6,000 of the poorest kids in some areas Sleeping Children have never travelled to.

We will travel by most available conveyances: overnight steamer ferry, river paddleboat, bus, train, car, plane and rickshaw! – these are the ones we know!

The team is excited and challenged, but able, and thanks everyone involved in Sleeping Children Around the World for “helping the world, one child at a time.”

Stay tuned to our blog.

Doug MacDougald
for Bangladesh Team 2010

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Read about the trip in the Stratford Beacon Herald.

Bangladesh: Volunteers prepare

This weekend the SCAW Bangladesh team met at 28 Pinehurst to prepare for their distribution of 6,000 bedkits later in the month.

Shown at the front door is the Canadian team: (Left to right): Steve Allen, Kathy Greiner, Doug MacDougald (Team Leader), Mike Foster, Danielle Lalonde, and Andy Greiner.

Meanwhile, preparations were also taking place in Dhaka where the Rotary Club of Dhaka team had a quality assurance meeting at the warehouse where the bedkit items are stored.

They are (Left to right): Bayezid, Khaliq, Ranjan, Masud, Faruk, Apu, and Rowly.

Watch this space for more reports as the teams get together in two weeks.

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Tanzania: Trip Reports Posted

The donor newsletter for the Tanzania bedkit distribution has gone to print and can be downloaded from the Sleeping Children Website.

Tanzania 2010 Photos

Photos are available in the Tanzania 2010 Photo Album. You can view them by clicking the link above.

If you would like to read the reports on the web, you can read them in their entirety here.

Here is a download link for the PDF version of the newsletter.

Honduras: Distribution complete

From Honduras 2010 Photos

Yesterday, the last of the 5,000 bedkits were distributed. Threats of a tropical storm had almost suspended the distribution, but we ran with our luck and managed a successful day once again. Umbrellas were in sight as children were shepherded from station to station by the volunteers before receiving their bedkits. Soldiers in camouflage ponchos quickly guided and escorted the children onto waiting busses for safe journeys home. Fortunately, the weather forecast was worse than the reality of the storm here in Tegucigalpa. And the bright smiles of happy children shone brightened and lightened the atmosphere.

The constant torrential rains have decimated the hillsides, flooded homes, and made some roads impassable. Crops have been destroyed. One cannot fully describe the conditions in which these poor children live. Mother Nature has added considerable more hardship to their families.

We leave with some hope that our gifts of bedkits will alleviate some of the suffering. We have not been able to touch all of the children in need, but we do know that many of them know that someone in Canada loves them.

Irene Harrison
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: Rain and Hurricane Matthew

From Honduras 2010 Photos

We finished our 8^th day of bedkit distributions to over 600 children. Unfortunately we saw a lot of deaf and physically- and mentally-challenged in this inner-city school site.

But today we had lots of help from not only Rotary Club members and their families and friends, but also from about a dozen dentistry students. They looked sharp and brightened the distribution, threatened with dark clouds and rain, in their white lab coats.

Only one more day left, but a hurricane is expected at midnight.

Stay tuned.

Rae Waring
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: House visit

From Honduras 2010 Photos

What an immensely informative and emotionally mind boggling day.

Today our team, along with some Rotarians, went to visit some of the houses of the children receiving the bedkits. When we first showed up to the area being visited we saw what looked like a respectable brick home. After this sight, I thought, "This won't be that bad."

We all got out of our vehicles and were told that the house we were visiting was in from the road and not the brick one. As we walked along the barbed-wire fence I noticed that my smiles were being returned in a different way than in the city. As we entered the dirt-floored houses, not only were they very small (12 x 16), but they also had a brutal angle with a stream of water going through the middle. No plumbing and one ceiling light.

The families, mostly female, were happy with the love they have for each other as they do not have a choice with their surroundings. It's very gratifying to know that the bedkits distributed are being put to good use in these distressing conditions.

Greg Hotchkiss
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: Difficult times

From Honduras 2010 Photos

It is the rainy season here in Tegucigalpa. Daily thunder showers are the norm, sometimes accompanied by brisk winds. This combination wreaks havoc: bridges collapse, mudslides make roads impassable, and homes of those already in dire straits are rendered unlivable. Even the national football stadium could not withstand a sudden, but short, gale the other day and a part of it collapsed.

But the hand of fate has been very gentle and kind to us and carried us through all our distributions successfully. We manage to finish our work just as the rains begin and both children and volunteers are spared a total drenching. Finding a spot to take pictures has sometimes been troublesome as the grounds are wet and walking is hampered by sinking ground beneath our feet.

From Honduras 2010 Photos

But the euphoria that carries us from day to day as we help in providing some comfort for the children of Honduras can not be dampened. We know we have touched the lives of many children -- over 3500 to date -- bringing much comfort and ensuring them a good night's sleep. It touches us deeply to see their broad smiles when they realize that the entire bedkit is theirs.

Mothers seem to deem the mosquito net and blanket as particularly important; the children, also recognize the value of these items, but sometimes express great delight to have a pillow - a real treat.

From Honduras 2010 Photos

We have had tremendous support from the Rotarians of Tegucigalpa, their wives and many young Rotaracts. The entire project is also supported by the First Lady's Office and many volunteers under her auspices attend each distribution. We are particularly grateful for Miguel, deemed an honorary member of our team, who assists us at the photo site. He has an ability
to work with children, allay their anxieties and bring assurance particularly to those who are disabled, blind, or upset. Without him, our work would be much more difficult.

On the way home from the last distribution, we heard a song whose lyrics repeated the phrase "we belong here." The presence of SCAW and its commitment to help the children of Honduras is particularly important at a time when the poor have lost their crops, sometimes their homes, due to the heavy rains.

And, indeed, we do belong here.

Irene Harrison
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: Making a difference

From Honduras 2010 Photos

Today's distribution took place at a school in one of the very poorest sections of Tegucigalpa.

In Tegucigalpa 70% of the population live below the poverty level. The typical home in this area is made of any combination of available materials such as wood, aluminum, stone, and plaster. Most frightening is that the houses are built on the side of very steep hills where heavy rains during the six-month-long rainy season pose a constant danger.

The children were brought to the school in military buses and trucks. Military security was obvious to everyone outside and inside the school. I spent an hour or so interviewing three mothers and a grandmother of children receiving the bedkits. From their perspective the most important items in the kit were the mosquito net and the mattress. Only one of the families had a mosquito net in their house and it was used exclusively for a baby.

It was very humbling talking to these folks and I began to understand how SCAW is making a difference in the lives of these families.

Jim Gibson
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: First time distribution

From Honduras 2010 Photos

I am having an amazing experience here in Honduras! It's my first time on a distribution and it's really been incredible. So far we've distributed over 1700 bedkits in three different schools in the capital city, and in the outlying countryside. I've had so much fun playing catch with the children while they waited in line to get their picture taken, as well as seeing their faces light up when I've handed them their bedkit. They're really sweet children and when they smile at you and say "gracias", it's such a gratifying feeling!

The Rotary Club here has been great to work with. On Friday we had a special opportunity to attend a meeting they arranged with The First Lady of Honduras at the Presidential Palace. Through her translator she expressed great appreciation for all that SCAW has done to help the children of Honduras. Their was a lengthy discussion on the desperate need for mosquito nets and the issue of Dengue fever which has killed 69 people so far and made numerous others very ill. As there isn't a vaccination yet to prevent this, the nets are essential. Every bedkit we're handing out includes a treated mosquito net so this trip alone will result in over 5000 children being protected.

It's very rewarding being part of making such a difference in a child's life and seeing Murray Dryden's dream continue. Seeing it all first hand makes me have an even deeper respect for this amazing charity! Can't wait to see the kids again and give out more bedkits!

Susan Hicks
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: Our first distribution

From Honduras Photos

"Hola, Canada," from Team Honduras 2010.

We finished our first day of distribution quite early. We were situated in the central court of a School for the Blind in mid-town Tegucigalpa. The students were on holiday for a week and home visiting their families. Thus the school was empty but for the children bussed to the distribution from neighbouring barrios.

We photographed 523 gorgeous kids and enjoyed every minute.

My memory for the day was the interaction of the soldiers who will be present at each distribution with the little children. There they were with their camouflage jumpsuits and strapped on holster guns -- but they had the kindest faces and gentlest ways as they helped the little ones carry their bedkits to the busses. I will remember this contrast and this love.

Tomorrow we are back to work for Day 2.

Marilyn Waring,
For Team Honduras 2010

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Honduras: The team has arrived

From Honduras Photos

The team has now all arrived [Left to right: Jim Gibson, Irene Harrison (Team Leader), Marilyn Waring, Susan Hicks, Greg Hotchkiss, Rae Waring.] amidst the colour and celebrations of Honduras' Independence Day and national holiday. Along with the official parade and festivities held at the huge, local football stadium in Tegucigalpa, a parade of thousands marched in colourful garb, waving flags and slogans of every political persuasion and self-interest group through the streets to the city centre. 'Twas a colourful initiation for those of us who watched the action right outside our hotel.

Tomorrow a more sombre day awaits us as we see the reality of poverty in Honduras. But it will be an equally joyous day when we witness the beautiful smiles of hundreds of children receiving bedkits. For the children of Honduras, thank you friends and donors for making it a very special day for so many.

Irene Harrison,
For SCAW Team Honduras 2010

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