Philippines: Mothers and Babies

During the distributions one of the most enlightening jobs is the interview process. We decided for the last 2 days to talk with mothers who have young babies. One of our first mothers had twins and six months later conceived again resulting in triplets. She only has enough breast milk and is buying formula for the triplets. This means she only has enough money for herself, her husband and mother to eat every other day. From other mothers we learned their biggest struggle is also supplying food for their babies and family.

The majority breastfed for at least 2 years due to lack of food. A positive thing we discovered is that in this province the current governor has implemented free prenatal care, vitamins and hospital deliveries. They are heading in a positive direction as there is nothing after birth as of yet.  After the interviews concluded each mother left with a package of clothing donated by friends and family from home.

Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: On The Road Again!

After a day's rest in Manila, we are on the road again. This time we are headed north for a few days. Our first stop today was a distribution in Malhacan about 50 km north of Manila. After lunch we drove for about another hour doing a distribution at Mabalacat. The van was packed as we are away for a few days. Pat found a spot at the back and arranged the luggage into a chaise lounge and was gone before we hardly turned the first corner.

Hat's off to our great support team.

Our driver, Lando, guides us through the countryside and Manila with unbelievable driving skills. He slides through seemingly hopeless traffic jams with ease. He goes above the call of duty to help us load and unload. Our day usually starts at 8:00 but he is at the hotel waiting by 7:00 AM. After he drops us off he then has to drive back home. He also has been with us every day including our days off to shuffle us around.

Our OVP support person Jess is always there in many ways. Today he met us at the hotel with cheese filled rice doughnuts for breakfast. He also brought some honey and peanut butter. I could go on for a long time of all the things he does for us but the one we get the most laughs is his saying "We are halfway there as we pull into our destination".

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Philippines: Precious Gifts

As SCAW travelling volunteers it is our responsibility to present each child with the gift of a bedkit. In return we receive special gifts from these beautiful Filipino children.  We thought you, our followers, would enjoy receiving these gifts as well.  The precious gifts we receive are shown in the pictures below.  Please enjoy these amazing smiles!!!!!

Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: Happy Birthday!

Team Philippines 2017 have become one with their overseas partners. For 4 days now they have worked side by side to distribute bedkits so when an opportunity for a small celebration was presented, everyone was happy to take a well deserved break . The occasion was Team member Jan Gayman's 65th birthday and it became an all day event. The children at the first distribution site today honoured her with a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday and a delicious locally made coconut pie. They performed a dance and invited the SCAW team to participate. We quickly discovered that the 8 year olds were much better dancers!

Later in the day we met at a local home for some karaoke and snacks. Our final event was a huge dinner complete with a roasted pig at the home of a local Kiwanis member. For Jan this was definitely a birthday to remember and the rest of us are feeling very fortunate to have been able to join in the festivities. Thank you to our overseas partners and especially Dr. Ito for making this such a wonderful day!

Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: Tagaytay

Today we packed up and left Manilla, travelling south to the Tagaytay district for two distributions with a total of 650 bedkits.  Our first distribution was at Silang which is a school run by nuns. They grow an assortment of organic vegetables and raise goats, ducks and chickens to feed nutritious meals to their students.  Our team led a sing-along which both the children and adults enjoyed.

Our team has many jobs that we do for each distribution including interviewing some child recipients and his/her parent. Parents are asked about family life and sleeping habits. We have learned that many families sleep in one room on a concrete floor or a thin mat. During the rainy season, families often are forced to sleep on their rooftops. This information has shown us how important a bedkit can help an entire family.

Dr Ito heads the SCAW Philippine team. Today he was recognized with a donation of 50 bedkits at the Indang distribution. Both his team and the Canadian SCAW team work together closely to ensure that all distributions run smoothly.

Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: Bulacan

Today we were greeted by music from the school children as we entered the distribution site. Then we were entertained by a flower dance from the children. We were so touched by the children singing Oh Canada to us.

After the distribution was completed we toured 3 of the local houses of the children who received the bedkits. The joy on the children's faces and the welcome greetings of their families only confirmed that we had made a difference in their lives today as much as they had in ours. The next stop was to a local Philippine plant who had produced the back pack, an item in each bedkit. We were reassured that the working conditions in this plant appeared to meet the SCAW requirements. A rewarding time was spent by all.

Elaine and Kathy for Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: Off To Work!

After a relaxing day's rest from travelling , away we go. Our first task was a visit to the "warehouse" where the bed kits are assembled and stored.  From this location the bed kits are also  dispatched each day for a distribution.

Seemed a little strange as we disembarked from the van at the warehouse being in a residential area. The warehouse was Dr. Ito's house. The 5000 bed kits were all assembled at his house and filled almost every room of the house.

We were then fortunate to assemble the last 100 bed kits before we were off to

a distribution for the afternoon.

Our afternoon was a distribution of 300 bedkits at Vista Verde. It went very smoothly.

Before we returned home we visited one of the villages of recipients of today's distribution.

It was exciting to see the kids returning home with smiles on their faces eager to unpack the

kit.

Team Philippines 2017
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Philippines: The Team Has Arrived!

After a long journey, starting in Toronto, the seven members of team Philippines have arrived safely, luggage and all. We were excited to meet Jess from SCAW Philippines who was there to greet us.  As you can see we do not look too worse for wear after travelling for over 24 hours and experiencing a 12 hour time change.  Tomorrow will be a day of rest and recuperation to prepare for Monday, a day of factory visits, meeting with our overseas partners (SCAW Philippines), followed by our first distribution, Monday afternoon.  Be sure to follow our blog.  Lots more to come.

Team Philippines left to right:  Jan Gayman, Jim Miller, Kathy Westbrook,

 Cathy Bury, Elaine Higgins, Pat Toner, Beth Poad (team leader)

Team Philippines 2017
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Bangladesh: Our Final Day - in Dhaka!

This very unique distribution came to its highly successful conclusion with a final 250 bedkits delivered to the children of Dhaka.

Everyone involved thanks the 6,000 children of Bangladesh for waiting so patiently for their bedkits. Their smiles of delight show that the wait was well worth it.

These smiles were only matched by those of the dedicated members of the Rotary Club of Dhaka together with their volunteers who were on hand to see this distribution completed and witness the children’s happiness.

Sleeping Kits distribution at Kaliganj Karim Uddin Public Pilot High School.

Photo credit The Principal of the School Mr. Khurshiduzzaman Ahmed.

Many thanks to Mr. Khurshiduzzaman Ahmed for bringing these images to all in the SCAW family in Canada.

Bedkits distribution at T&T Ideal Girls High School at Mohakhali, Dhaka, on the last day of sleeping bekit distribution. Total bedkit distribution in Bangladesh was 6,000. Sleeping Children Around the World thanks our donors for making the children smile. Children came early morning in queues to receive the bedkits. It was a day for them of fun and excitement.

Our thanks to Masud Alam for these closing words and for his photos capturing the last day’s joy and delight.

Signing off for Team Bangladesh 2017,
Chris Hills,
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Bangladesh: Mathpur

The penultimate distribution was held today in Mathpur; with 350 bedkits it was quite a slow-down from the 1350 delivered yesterday.

These words from the Rotary Club of Dhaka

Day 8: 350 bedkit distribution at Madhpur Gulnahar Charitable children hospital Pabna. Children came from nearby areas. It was a day for joy and happiness for the kids

Tomorrow the team will travel on to their final destination where the last 250 Bangladeshi children will receive their bedkit gifts from Sleeping Children’s donors. The Rotary Club of Dhaka working with countless volunteers, have enriched the lives of 6,000 children with their warmth and generosity.  

Chris Hills; Team Leader for 
Team Bangladesh 2017
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