Tanzania: 780 More Bedkits Distributed!

Today’s adventure started (not so) bright and early - up at 4:50 a.m. and on the road by 5:30 a.m. Everyone made wake-up call and we headed down into the southern coastal region. Even at this hour the streets are busy and there are people everywhere beginning their day.

We arrived at today’s school - Kilimahewa - by 7:45 a.m. The roads were less busy than anticipated which gave us extra time to spend with the children before beginning the distribution.

The children are fantastic all the time, but they have extra energy first thing in the morning and they love to help us get organized.

This is also the time when our team’s “child whisperer” starts her engagement with the children.

We had a special treat this morning as the children provided us with a half hour of songs, anthems and dance. A number of our group joined in the dancing and our team leader, Peggy, taught our new friends the hand jive to add to their repertoire!

I had the fun job of “mattress-giver” for the day. Always one of the best spots as you get to see the smiles on the children's faces as they receive their backpack and mattress.

The day progressed smoothly as the team delivered 780 bed kits in under 3 and a half hours - kudos to Mama, Benjamin and their team of volunteers who keep everything running like clockwork. Even the trip home was quicker than anticipated - all in all a great day.

James C. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: Another 760 Bedkits Distributed!!

For our distribution today, we travelled two hours into the coastal area of Tanzania. We left the dust and concrete of the large city for lush green mango trees and rich red soil!

We passed monkeys and houses made of red clay on our way to the village school.

The school itself teaches just under 200 students but they invited six other remote schools to join in on the distribution. The other schools arrived by bus. It was quite a sight to see all of the students, their parents, teachers and bedkits trying to fit onto the bus for the trip home!

We were lucky enough to have chance to meet a few Maasai tribes people. Some were now living amongst the villagers and sending their kids to school for an education.

 All in all it was another great day! In total, we handed out 760 bedkits to very enthusiastic kids and appreciative families.

Allison M. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: First Distribution!!

Our day began with a trip to Mama Wandoa's home. We arrived just in time to help load the truck with the backpacks and supplies

After a quick tour of Mama's home, we were shown upstairs to her cottage industry where the women and men sew the backpacks, bedding, and children's clothes.

Then it was on to the distribution. Today was a smaller group of children - 500! These bedkits were added on at the last minute. We were greeted by the parents with a warm welcome.

Backpacks and mattresses were organized, and then it was off to the races!

  

We knew it would be fun, we knew it would be rewarding, but not in our wildest dreams did we expect how much.

The day at school ends with the last child receiving his/her bedkit to the sound of ringing of the "tire-rim bell".

On our way home we stopped at the mattress factory that produces all the mattresses for all of the distributions in Tanzania – 7500 for this trip! We were shown the manufacturing of the mattresses from beginning to finished product. So many bright colours!

Louise W. & John M. 

for Team Tanzania 2019
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Tanzania: We Have Arrived And Ready To Go!!

After two long, but (thankfully), uneventful flights, Team Tanzania arrived in Dar es Salaam on Saturday evening. The walk across the blistering airport tarmac in Dubai, coupled with the wait on the stairs to board the connecting plane in 38+ degree heat, didn't cast a chill over our excitement! As we flew over Tanzania we spotted the tip of Mount Kilimanjaro poking out above the cloud cover to say, "Jambo" (hello)!

Some of us were surprised to find the sun setting before 7pm, as our Canadian summer days are still gloriously long. We were greeted right at the arrival gate by Mama Wandoa, her son, Benjamin, and our driver, Abbas. Mama Wandoa and her family have been SCAW partners since 2000 and we were honoured to meet her, and humbled that she and Benjamin took the time to personally escort us from the airport to our "home away from home". We promptly proceeded to overcome our jetlag with showers and sleep.

Sunday morning began with a team meeting, followed by a trip to the local plaza for water and a few provisions. Someone, not me, forgot their toothbrush! Team Leader, Peggy, treated us to gelato, which is just as refreshing and delicious here as it is pretty much anywhere in the world! Abbas (pictured below with Team Tanzania and the van which will be transporting us all over the country over the next two weeks) also gave us a quick tour of Coco Beach, where we dipped our toes into the Indian Ocean. 

Team Tanzania 2019: Irene S., James C., Louise W.,
 Abbas, Lynn B., Peggy M., Allison M., John M

We held another planning meeting in the evening, with Mama and Benjamin, to discuss particulars about the first distribution, including a factory visit, and upcoming home visits of former bedkit recipients. We were awed to learn that one of our Tanzanian partner volunteers, with whom we will be working alongside this week, received a bedkit when she was a child - full circle giving!

Monday morning, and our first distribution, can't come soon enough!

Off to the plaza (and gelato)!.

Irene S. for
Team Tanzania 2019
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Philippines: Signing Off!!

After wrapping up distributions a few days ago and having some time to see some sights and rest, we were back on official business today with two factory visits.  We were able to visit the backpack factory and the factory where the mattress, sheet, pillow and shirts were produced.  Both were small cottage industries.  The backpack production took place in a small building and also in the front room of the managers' house. The manager lived in the house rent free.  Two sewing machines were in operation when we visited at the front of the house.  

The mattress production took place in three rooms of a building which also housed several of the workers and their families.   No worries about getting to work on time when you live in the building where you work.  Also a flexible work schedule was available.

Both had hired workers on contract but the workers usually had steady employment as orders were good.  After the big order for our bedkits workers received a bonus and a bit of time off.  Both were paid by piece work and therefore overtime opportunities were welcomed. 

Some of our mattresses were piled up against a wall and these had been rejected due to flaws.  I was pleased to hear that the workers would receive these mattresses.  

There was a fan at each sewing machine and lighting seemed good.  

As this was our last official duty, Team Philippines is signing off.  Homeward bound soon.

Team Philippines 2019
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Philippines: 7000 More Bedkits Distributed!!

Today at our 2nd last distribution we had the honour of listening to 2 blind children who sang wonderful songs to us. 

The whole crew also took the opportunity to sing Happy Birthday to Irwin.

We had some special donations come thru. One was for the Kiwanis Club in Stratford. They had recently hosted a convention in Stratford Ontario and donated use of a booth for SCAW. As a thank you we donated 3 bedkits. It always brings a smile when Kiwanis labels come thru as we have many volunteers from Kiwanis help us thru the years.

We also took the opportunity to celebrate the ‘We the North’ fever on our team

After the distribution we took the opportunity to see the largest and oldest tree in the area. It was the biggest balete tree in Asia. It is 600 yrs old and 60m. Alternate name is the Millennium Tree

At our last distribution we gave out our 7000 bedkit.

Our mascot- lambchop- left us as she seems to enjoy being near the ocean where she can surf the waves.

We did some home visits afterwards. There are 9 children living in this home and the father is going blind. The mother works in Manila and visits every 6 months.

Team Philippines 2019
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Philippines: On The Road Again!!

We are on the road again. We stopped at a distribution and emptied our truck. 

We had a heavy rain during the distribution. 

We are traveling thru the mountains with switchbacks and S curves. It was a 4 hour drive. 

Arrived at our destination by the beach.   The town is known as a tourist destination for surfers.

Team Philippines 2019
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Philippines: Another 900 Bedkits Distributed!!

Another day, another 900 happy children who will sleep better tonight.  `Here is a picture of the last 10 children today.

After our morning distribution we visited several homes of recipients who had just received their bedkit.  This young lady is showing me how she will sleep on her new mattress.  The whole family shares one bed. This girl will now have her own mattress to sleep on.  With this gift she will sleep well and be better prepared for school the next day.

In another home we found a recipient was sharing her new bed with this little one.

The homes we visited today had one small room shared by the family but they were able to do their cooking outside. 

These houses were built beside a river which floods during the rainy season.  This picture shows levels of water.  If it is in the yellow section it means be careful.  In the orange section it means watch out and the red section means get out.  Looking at the level of water in the river right now it is hard to imagine it overflowing its banks. 

That's a wrap for today!

Team Philippines 2019
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Philippines: Always Grateful For Our Oversea's Volunteers!

Today we had 2 distributions giving 900 bedkits out. Both ran smoothly and were balanced. 

Following the morning distribution we went to visit a Church that was was affected by a volcano in 1995. The San Guillermo Parish Church floor is currently 24 Ft above the original floor. Lahar is the ash that covered the church and settled like cement. The Church windows had been high windows and are now below the floor level. We only see the tips of the windows now. Amazingly the church was not destroyed. The front windows became the doors. 

After the second distribution we took a tricycle ride to a mall and to return we took a Jeepney home.   Fortunately we had members of the oversees volunteers with us in each tricycle since we got separated at the mall. Thus we took two separate jeepneys home. We were all home safely with no real worries.  

Irwin Kelly for
Team Philippines 2019
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Uganda: We Did It!!

Well, we did it!  Even though the roads were bumpy and the days were long, we completed twelve consecutive distributions for a total of 7000 bedkits to the children of Uganda.   This would not be possible without the partnership of the Inner Wheel Club of Kampala and Sleeping Children Around the World. These ladies worked tirelessly alongside our wonderful team of seven to provide a better night's sleep to some of the poorest children.   It is our hope that we brought some happiness to 7000 families in Uganda.

Rosanne Waugh

Team Uganda 2019
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