SCAW Live Reports Blog

Belgaum: The team has landed

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:57:00 +0000

The Belgaum Team has landed safely in Mumbai (to bed at 2:00 a.m.!).

We will spend two days touring in Mumbai and getting our "sea legs" before heading south to Belgaum.

We are getting excited to see our Friends in The Rotary Club of Belgaum (our Overseas Volunteer Organization) and, of course, 4,500 children who will receive bedkits thanks to our donors and our Rotary friends.

The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Belgaum: Team ready to go

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:17:00 +0000

From Belgaum 2012

The Belgaum Team shown here at the airport -- (Left to right): Margaret Goodchild, Andrea Tynan, Duncan Macgregor (Team Leader), Bill Sergeant, Larry Kell, Anne Kell -- has cleared security and is patiently waiting in Toronto for our flight to Amsterdam and then Mumbai.

We will arrive in Mumbai in the early morning hours of Friday, February 10^th.

Until then, sleep well!

The 2012 Belgaum Team

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Pune: First Distribution

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:34:00 +0000

Yesterday was our first distribution at a local school in the heart of the city of Pune, India.

The students live primarily in the slums of the region. Life is hard for these children, living within the cycle of extreme poverty.

The teachers at the school do their best, providing the children with meals and an education, hoping to give the children more opportunities for their future.

We were happy to have this opportunity to work so locally and have the Rotarians make the connection to children within their immediate community.

Due to the disruption of municipal elections, today is a rest day. The Pune Rotarians have arranged for the Canadian team to tour the city and surrounding area.

Team Pune 2012

Pune 2012

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Click the graphic at right to see all the photos in the Pune 2012 Photo Album. When you're there, click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see all the photos in a larger size.

Chennai: Nellore

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:53:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

On February 6 we left the hotel at 6 am for a 3-hour drive to Nellore for our 6^th distribution.

We were welcomed at Zella Perishad #5 School by a 6-piece drum band who led us down a tree lined courtyard, while students and helpers festooned us with garlands and sprinkled flower petals over our heads and at our feet. What a beautiful entry!

After that, we conducted a perfect distribution of 500 bedkits.

From Chennai 2012

The sponsor for the distribution, Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, not only organized the distribution, but also provided a meal for all the bedkit recipients, their parents, teachers, helpers, and remaining school children -- totally over 1000 meals.

Many Thanks.

John Page
for Team Chennai 2012

Click either photo to see more in the Chennai 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

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Chennai: Kilpauk

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:54:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

Today our distribution was in Kilpauk.

Sunday is considered to be a day of rest when you are able to spend time with your family, so the streets were comparatively quiet and calm. We arrived at the Sindhi Model SR, SEC School, where the students, teachers, and parents gathered in the outdoor auditorium.

The school's courtyard is surrounded by large trees and plants and they have two basketball nets.

With the help of the Ambattur Rotary Club we were able to quickly set up and begin. While the children were being organized in their lines, we were able to get to know the children's names, and got some insight on their future aspirations.

When asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" a popular response was an engineer, a doctor, and a teacher.

We distributed 423 bedkits today and received a big smile in return with each one.

From Chennai 2012

Aniya Nandy for
Team Chennai 2012

Click either photo to see more in the Chennai 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

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Pune: The team has arrived

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:47:00 +0000

We got a message from the Pune 2012 Team:

Just wanted to let you know that the Pune team has all arrived safely.

We checked into our hotel and now are ready to go to help with the assembling of the bedkits.

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Chennai: Tiruvallur

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

After our early morning pickup, we travelled through heavy traffic for one and half hours arriving at our school site to begin our Tiruvallur distribution.

We were greeted by Girl Guides and Boy Scouts who then helped us set up for the day.

We happily gave 565 bedkits to the children with the help of the senior students volunteering on the site. (Picture at right shows Laurie-Beth with the girls who helped us.)

On the return trip we saw rice growing in the country side, cows and goats roaming freely on the street, and a wide variety of tiny shops as we approached the city.

From Chennai 2012

Being Saturday, there was an abundance of pedestrians sharing the roads and highways with the many trucks, car,s and motorbikes.

Tomorrow we look forward to our fifth distribution.

Laurie-Beth Page
for Team Chennai 2012

Click either photo to see more in the Chennai 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

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Chennai: Avadi

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

The venue for today's distribution was at a private school for 4,000 students age 3 to 16.

The founder A.N. Ramesh Babu told us this is the eleventh time this site has been used. Many senior students gave assistance and 601 happy children boarded their buses for home.

Team Chennai 2012

Click photo at right to see more in the Chennai 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

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Chennai: Vellore Again

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:59:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

A busy day in Vellore.

Starting early we left our hotel to return to the same site we did the distribution yesterday.

Today's challenge was working around the people preparing for a wedding in the hall where the Rotarians had been staging the kids.

From Chennai 2012

SCAW members working closely with the Rotarians (See pic of John Page discussing with Albin Rebello) simply had the kids assemble outside under shade.

At the end of the distribution day we had handed out 697 bedkits for a running total of 1,025.

Later a little fun was had by Aniya as she played with the kids trying to cram into an auto-rickshaw.

Team Chennai 2012

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Kolkata: Mission Accomplished

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:22:00 +0000

From Kolkata 2012

Day 10: The Kindness of Strangers

The final distribution day has been completed - 1200 today!

It could not have happened without the kindness of strangers ...

to the wonderful people around Canada and the world, who donate to this most worthwhile charity -- without you, none of this could happen
to our most warm and welcoming hosts -- the Rotary Club of Dum Dum -- for their fine tuned organizational skills, which kept us on track

From Kolkata 2012

to their wives and children who were also instrumental with the success of the distribution
to all of the Oversees Volunteer Organizations that assist us day-to-day over here with the cooking for the children, to the assistance at the distribution sites, with changing the children, setting up the photo sites, assisting with handing us the bedkits, and who ensured our safety
to the Rotarian Doctors who asked us daily about our health, and the hundreds of others who are too numerous to mention
and this wouldn't have happened without the beautiful children of India -- with their smiles and happy/shy disposition, who made our days so very enjoyable, and all the long days and hard work worthwhile

From Kolkata 2012

And today at the close of the distribution, all six of us walked with the last six children hand-in-hand, each giving them their bedkit, and then walked them to their waiting parent ... wishing them Namaste

Including the 6,500 bedkits delivered
in Kolkata this year, our total is
now 1,195,630 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.

That's all she wrote ... Thank you for joining us on this wonderful adventure ...

Team Kolkata 2012

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Belgaum: The Team Prepares

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:03:00 +0000

From Belgaum 2012

Another team met at 28 Pinehurst to prepare for their 2012 distribution of bedkits in Belgaum, India. Pictured above, the team is (Left to Right) Duncan Macgregor (Team Leader), Andrea Tynan, Bill Sergeant, Margaret Goodchild, Anne Kell, and Larry Kell.

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Chennai: Vellore

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:32:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

At 6 am sharp the SCAW team was up and travelling by van for their first distribution in Vellore.

We made a brief stop and enjoyed a South Asian breakfast of rice pancakes Idly with dal, savoury donuts Vadai, rice paste pongal, and tea. When we arrived at the distribution site the children were all dressed in their outfits - a dark brown skirt and white blouse for the girls and khaki shorts and a white shirt for the boys.

From Chennai 2012

After a brief greeting, in front of all of the children, we proceeded with our distribution of bedkits to 553 happy children.

We have heard that our luggage has been located and we will receive it tomorrow night when we return to Chennai.

Theodora Nandy
for Team Chennai 2012

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Belgaum: Post your comments here

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Belgaum Time and Weather
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Kolkata: Distribution 9, Tarakeswar

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:06:00 +0000

From Kolkata 2012

The Colours and Tastes of India

Today we had a smaller distribution about two hours away from Kolkata.

Venturing to the site we came across some wonderful sites and colours of India, which we would like to share with you ...

lime green newly-planted rice seedlings contrasted by the darker green potato plants and the bright yellow mustard seed plants
the beautiful rainbow of colours of the women in the fields wearing their saris
the bright yellow ambassador taxis, and the hot curry we eat each day (sometimes twice, sometimes thrice)
the black coal, goats, and cows
the turquoise-blue-hued kingfisher flying around the melon-sized multicoloured dalhias
the too many billboards

From Kolkata 2012

the delicous hot boiling tea
the red painted feet on a few of the village women
the children arriving in their fancy festival clothes
mango juice, spicy cashews, flavorful dates, and hot chilies (don't confuse these with green beans!)
burgandy hennas
the red dot on the forehead and line down the part of their hair to symbolize a married person

Can't believe it is Day 9 with only 1 distribution left...

till tomorrow...

Team Kolkata 2012

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Chennai: The team has arrived

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

From Chennai 2012

The Chennai 2012 team (our second team in India this year) has arrived safely, but light in luggage. Back Row, Left to Right: Aniya Nandy, John Page, Theodora Nandy. Front row: Laura Harper, Laurie-Beth Page (Team Leader), Iain Maciver.

In Toronto we were advised that the Brussels airport was on strike, and therefore we were being re-routed to Amsterdam and then on to Chennai.

Unfortunately, our luggage remained in Amsterdam. The Rotary club welcomed us at 5 am and are helping us sort out our luggage difficulties along with their many other responsibilities. Today was spent catching on our much needed sleep and preparing for our pre-distribution meeting with the Rotarians tonight.

Our day starts tomorrow at 6 am -- who needs sleep?? -- and we're off to Vellore for our
first distribution of 640 bedkits.

Team Chennai 2012

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Chennai: Leave your comments here

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Chennai Time and Weather
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Pune: The team prepares

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

From Pune 2012

Our third India team was at 28 Pinehurst last weekend preparing for their trip to Pune in February to distribute 5,000 bedkits. Shown above is the team: (Left to Right): Debbie Dryden, Elaine Higgins, Irene Carson, Sieg Will, Suzanne Andrew, Beth Poad, Anne Andrew.

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Kolkata: Distribution 8, Howrah Gangadharpur

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Click on the pix above to see the Kolkata 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

Did you know?

that it is unique to the Kolkata distributions to feed each child and one parent before they change into their new clothes and have their picture taken
that this could be up to 2,400 meals at one location
that their meal consists of a hard boiled egg, sweet chutney, rice, potato and cabbage, and dahl along with water
that most of the surrounding area is vegetarian, thus they have the egg for protein
that the SCAW team eats the same meal, with the exception of the egg, as they provide us a chicken dish, and sweet tea as well as a very sweet treat
that the SCAW team sings the Canadian National Anthem each day (sometimes in harmony)
that we only have two distributions left
that we are sad to be leaving our new friends

Till tomorrow's blog...

Team Kolkata 2012

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Pune: Leave your comments here

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:54:00 +0000

Pune Time and Weather
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Kolkata: Rest & Guskara

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:45:00 +0000

A Day of Rest ...

And on Day 7 the SCAW team rested ... we did some sightseeing ... Deb and Suman ventured early in the morning to the KALI Matha Temple on the banks of the Ganges River ... we went to see the Supreme Shiva. Yes, both Deb and Suman put their feet in the Ganges ... a holy blessing ... upon leaving Deb spied wild monkeys ...

Returning to town, they picked up the rest of the team and travelled to a school site where it was the day of celebration for the Godness of Knowledge, Sarawasdi. The school was preparing for a day of festivities, but had time to show us around.

The kids enjoyed receiving bouncy balls, Canadian pencils, and having their picture taken. We were also informed that at the school they train the parents in sewing -- so they have a skill for employment! A good thing!

We followed that with a small bit of souvenir-shopping before we journeyed northwest to the outskirts of nowhere .. a three-hour drive.

We stayed overnight at a government travel site and in the morning we did a quick side trip to the jungle to see where the King of years ago would hunt bears. He had tunnels from his castle leading out to his hunting grounds.

Pomp and Circumstance ...

From Kolkata 2012

Mid morning Sunday, we arrived at the girl's school in Guskara where the distribution would be held. We were greeted by the schoolgirls throwing marigold petals at us, while we were serenaded by a girl blowing a conch shell. As well, we each received a rose corsage. After singing 'O Canada' we were given Chai tea and then started our day's event.

Once again the children surprised us with their beauty and their smiles, the distribution flowed smoothly and on the drive back we realized we only have three more days before we come home ... we are sad at the thought of leaving.

'till tomorrow

Team Kolkata 2012

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Kolkata: Chandra's Garden

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:31:00 +0000

Distribution 6 -- Day 6

Hello folks at home and at 28 Pinehurst in Toronto.

So far we have distributed 4,000 bedkits with today's distribution to Chandra's Garden and village. It was a four-hour journey to and from, but well worth it!

Along the way we passed by Ramkrishna Mission, solar energy education centre, a landfill site which eventually will be used to fertilize the land for vegetables.

Chandra's Garden is a beautiful site with flowers and garden -- an oasis. Children and their parents were so happy to receive the bedkits at this beautiful location. Rotarians and their wives were pleased to know that children and grandchildren from Canada donated money from their piggy banks to purchase these gifts for the children of India.

Kolkata is a very populated city of ten million people (and six Canadian SCAW volunteers!) and full of people with manual rickshaws, cars, trucks, and taxis with loud horn sounds in the traffic.

It is a unique experience for me to see Kolkata city after thirty-five years of living in Canada.

We also saw the homes of many world-renowned dignataries like Vivekanand, Ramkrisha, and Tagore ... to whom I salute with high respect.

Regards

Suman Patal,
on behalf of Team Kolkata 2012

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Kolkata: Friday pictures

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:12:00 +0000

Click on the pix above to see the Kolkata 2012 Photo Album. Then click on SLIDESHOW at upper left to see them all in large size.

Team Kolkata 2012

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Kolkata: Fifth Distribution - Kakdwip

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

From Kolkata 2012

Apprehension/Appreciation

Having to travel three hours to the site to distribute 1040 bedkits, we were certainly apprehensive about the day.

From Kolkata 2012

Upon arrival, we were pleased to see the site, large and ready for set-up. As we toured the facility we were impressed to see 600 recipients and guardians eating their welcome meals.

From Kolkata 2012

Incredibly, we had finished handing out the 1040 bedkits by 4:15 pm. This was accomplished due to the great effort and co-ordination by the volunteers. We were able to work well together as a team -- a well oiled machine!

Click above to see all
Kolkata 2012 photos
Then click on SLIDESHOW

Our appreciation to the wonderful helpers!

Team Kolkata 2012

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Kolkata: Fourth Distribution

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:43:00 +0000

From Kolkata 2012

Apologies for the delay of Distribution 4. We were out till midnight and then had to be up and on the road by 6 am ... had a three-hour drive this morning to the site and then a four-and-a-half hour drive home. Traffic was horrific because it is Republic Day. So here we go for Day 4:

Kids are kids - where ever you go ...

We had a joyful day today with the children at the distribution. They loved that we sang songs with them -- like "If you are Happy and You Know It" and "The Hokey Pokey" -- and they tried to join in as much as they could between the fits of laughter.

From Kolkata 2012

We blew bubbles together, taught them how to "high five," and were rewarded with more smiles when they were permitted to say their own name on the microphone so their parent could come and help them with their bedkit.

Smiles continued as they gratefully ate their lunches, prepared by volunteers, and given to them on a banana leaf plate.

As they looked into their backpacks to see their treasures, it was like Christmas morning to us. The children's eyes lit up ... then when they saw, and had to lift, the bedkit ... the smiles got larger ... Wow!!

From Kolkata 2012

As the children loaded the buses and started to leave for home, we had waves and cheers to their new "aunties" ... truly rewarding!

Another day tomorrow...

Team Kolkata 2012

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Kolkata: Third Distribution

noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +0000

Our language skills are improving!

"Esso, Bosso, Hasso, Jow ..." (Phonetically correct) After saying these words hundreds of times a day the words sound like lyrics to a song ...

"Come, sit, smile, go ..." -- "Get your bedkit and have a good night's sleep."

We were grateful to the children and parents today. Each child and parent shook our hands and thanked us when they were given their gift of a bedkit. A number of bedkits were given to children with special needs. It is wonderful that even in a remote rural area there is a school available for these children.

Some families travelled over 100 km today so they could join us. We are so glad that we are able to assist them in this small way.

Looking forward to another wonderful day tomorrow.

Team Kolkata 2012

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