Philippines: 7000 Bedkits Delivered!

The last day of the distribution and our team is a little on the quiet side. We’re already missing the happy, shy, very well behaved children. We’ve all been touched by getting to know some of the people and seeing where they live. This has been a real eye opener to understanding extreme poverty. We’ve been treated like royalty. Children touching their forehead with our hand “Thank you Po!” Interviewing mothers who try to stretch $3.00/day for feed five people. Meeting very caring, hard working teachers and principals, and enjoying the kidding around, dedication and organization of the Philippine SCAW team and all of their volunteers. These people desperately want SCAW to return. We want everyone receiving a picture of a child and their bedkit to realize that this has made a huge difference in this child’s life! 

  

7000 Bedkits!

Cheers from all of us here in The Philppines!! 

Pamela Horricks

Team Philippines 2018
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Togo: The Value of Flip Flops

It is our first distribution day in Kpalme some 100km north east of Lome. My job today was handing out 500 backpacks containing school supplies, mosquito nets and sundry clothing items to the children. Included in the backpacks are a simple pair of flip flop sandals. As most of the time I was hunched over, eyes fixed downwards to place the back packs upon the happy recipients, I was afforded a wonderful vantage point to observe what these flip flops would be replacing. In some cases worn out sandals. In others, mismatched shoes - in one case two mismatched left shoes and no rights. In some cases, oversized sandals; in others cramped undersized ones. In several cases, children had no shoes at all. One child's worn out sandals finally flipped their last flop and actually gave out at the photo shoot. Happily, a few minutes later, she had a new pair when she received her back pack. At the end of our day at the site, I encountered a young girl going through her backpack and clutching with glee a new bright pink pair of flip flops as if it were Christmas morning and she had just received what she had always wished for - Simple Flip Flops. Just a very small part of what our donors contribute to our recipients. And, as is often discovered,  something that we take more than for granted at home is something that is much cherished here - and very much needed as well.

Stuart for Team Togo 2018

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Togo: The Team Is Well

I have received an email from Team Togo today who have arrived safely and are working hard. They have finally been able to connect to the internet and have completed 4 distributions!

More blogs to come soon!

Laurie - Blog administrator
for Team Togo 2018
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Philippines: Our Almost Last Day!

Left our lovely hotel where all the people on the front desk came outside before we departed to line up and say goodbye...so thoughtful.

The first site we arrived at in the morning appeared totally deserted....do we have the right place??? Seems we were at the wrong side of the building but things were happening out back!! Our volunteers and some SCAW team members had an impromptu dance fest which drew huge smiles from all the onlookers! Great fun. After the distribution we were taken to an outdoor holiday house owned by one of the  Filipino volunteers and fed a wonderful lunch.

Our second site in the afternoon was in a beautiful church, large, bright and airy. Luckily we had the perfect set up inside because the heavens opened up and it POURED! The distribution carried on flawlessly with no diversions. We sure have been lucky but then our team all work well together so there wouldn't be too much that we can't work around. Our days are numbered now as we approach the last double distribution tomorrow of a 1000 kits.

  

'The best view comes after the hardest climb'

Sharon Andrews

Team Philippines 2018
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Philippines: Teamwork, Fun & Smiling Kids!

Today was the hottest day of the trip and with the help of many amazing teams and a whole lot of water, we made it through the day with smiles on our faces. In the morning we were treated to wonderful dance performances and songs. After a delicious lunch that was prepared for us by our gracious hosts and volunteers from Kiwanis, we were set for the afternoon. The streets were sizzling with excitement as we arrived to the afternoon distribution, and we enjoyed taking some time to meet and chat with the parents who were waiting for their little ones. It was another successful day of teamwork, fun, and smiling children.

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Melissa Baker

Team Philippines 2018
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Philippines: Always An Adventure!

We are “on the road again “ for a five hour or “two pit stop” trip to our next destination.After about an hour of driving through tropical lowlands covered in rice fields we take the “zig-zag” road over the mountain through a Philippine National Park to the China Sea. We we re greeted with a tropical rain storm as we drove south along the coast through various oceanfront towns and villages. Suddenly a “blow out tire” and because of the excellent driving skills of our driver all are safe and sound. We arrive at our destination about an hour late but the 400 bedkit distribution goes off without a hitch and there is another 400 happy children and parents.

P.S. Here is our dedicated driver changing our 'blow out tire'.

Team Philippines 2018
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