tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:04:07 +0000http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)Blogger876125http://feeds.feedburner.com/ScawLiveReports?format=skinhttp://www.scaw.orghttp://www.scaw.org/bgfx/pin144.gifScawLiveReportshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-4212282535562889584Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:12:00 +00002012-01-28T00:15:59.295-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="560" width="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-scjsIQTTTdo/TyODf6tFikI/AAAAAAAAfBQ/zbcAxHOT4N4/s400/friday.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <i>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.</i> <br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-4212282535562889584?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/ICYIJIvdTEE" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/ICYIJIvdTEE/kolkata-friday-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-friday-pictures.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-9129569097791683740Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +00002012-01-26T22:28:43.338-05:00<table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aFFpUdRlux1vxtKWKzdUoOIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_4-X0wbHn2Y/TyIT_f6VYEI/AAAAAAAAe-c/0rDKgtUEy-M/s288/kolkatacandids2012%2520141.jpg" height="97" width="144" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><b>Apprehension/Appreciation</b><br /> <br /> Having to travel three hours to the site to distribute 1040 bedkits, we were certainly apprehensive about the day.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/l1Q91DMrkqD61114LiDptOIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-59iBW21ZS5I/TyIT-PjhQ6I/AAAAAAAAe-M/SM9NzySOgTk/s144/kolkatacandids2012%2520080.jpg" height="97" width="144" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table>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.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UHvN9gnWv4Vt8vbfJSBWKuIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Rfb5LPnnD1o/TyIUDb98PhI/AAAAAAAAe_E/PSQC8IgS2cA/s144/kolkatacandids2012%2520291.jpg" height="97" width="144" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><br /> 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!<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:194px;"><tr><td align="center" style="height:194px;background:url(https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/transparent_album_background.gif) no-repeat left"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ROOLat0TPGA/Txy-7UlkQUE/AAAAAAAAe_E/KAKKg0ylLtE/s160-c/Kolkata2012.jpg" width="160" height="160" style="margin:1px 0 0 4px;"></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="text-align:center;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:11px"><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite" style="color:#4D4D4D;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:none;">Click above to see all<br /> Kolkata 2012 photos<br /> Then click on SLIDESHOW</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Our appreciation to the wonderful helpers!<br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-9129569097791683740?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/hfzdnP9MMGw" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/hfzdnP9MMGw/kolkata-day-5-kakdwip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-day-5-kakdwip.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-3752734935284377995Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:43:00 +00002012-01-26T22:12:12.983-05:00<table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jj3s_-vYkXWIcEcGhmOlO-IY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mgWgUXhMu2Y/TyIUCszKO8I/AAAAAAAAe-8/X8Zcdv-NIac/s288/kolkatacandids2012%2520102.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><div style="margin:20px; background-color: #ffffcc; border: thin dotted black; padding: 10px;">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:</div>Kids are kids - where ever you go ...<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vXtzKHWqE5FGvdvdABIEa-IY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FihkLtmcwSI/TyIUBOZfn0I/AAAAAAAAe-s/q1o2M8EW6t0/s288/kolkatacandids2012%2520097.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr></table>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.<br /> <br /> Smiles continued as they gratefully ate their lunches, prepared by volunteers, and given to them on a banana leaf plate.<br /> <br /> 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!!<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G23lihivSttJ0eVWtCmDseIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9-Gsnf12bvU/TyIUAT7ArII/AAAAAAAAe-k/XT8XbIWz1Zc/s288/kolkatacandids2012%2520222.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr></table>As the children loaded the buses and started to leave for home, we had waves and cheers to their new "aunties" ... truly rewarding!<br /> <br /> Another day tomorrow...<br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-3752734935284377995?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/7xm10BqQf5s" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/7xm10BqQf5s/kolkata-fourth-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-fourth-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-8279201004422094396Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +00002012-01-25T11:34:50.574-05:00<div style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5701602022667963313%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJTtxJSk0obf0QE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></div>Our language skills are improving!<br /> <br /> "<i>Esso</i>, <i>Bosso</i>, <i>Hasso</i>, <i>Jow</i> ..." (Phonetically correct) After saying these words hundreds of times a day the words sound like lyrics to a song ...<br /> <br /> "Come, sit, smile, go ..." -- "Get your bedkit and have a good night's sleep."<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> 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.<br /> <br /> Looking forward to another wonderful day tomorrow.<br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /> <br /> <hr /><a href="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=718902"><img border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039048887383795650" style="float:left; margin:0px 5px 0px 0px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_BPH6zIlTgwU/Re5MQ9pWp8I/AAAAAAAABt4/r1E9WyRSlFU/s400/email-tiny.gif" /></a><i>You can also <a href="http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=ScawLiveReports">submit your email address</a> and then you<br /> will be notified each time there is a new Live Report.</i><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-8279201004422094396?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/dV2bEcI2Xlg" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/dV2bEcI2Xlg/kolkata-third-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-third-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-1965620825458232856Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:59:00 +00002012-01-25T10:57:40.657-05:00<table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HHzzmxIVkfcBSKpNFPsijeIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IPJDPKr1hjg/Tx2WCq1ZT4I/AAAAAAAAe6M/FK2zQqMg-w0/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520003.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><br /> <div style="background-color:#ccffff;font:times;margin:10px;border:1px dotted black;padding: 20px;">Team Kolkata 2012: (<i>Left to right, back</i>) Linda Lesage, Debra Sywak, Martina Keogh. (<i>Front</i>) Warren Wagstaff (<i>Team Leader</i>), Sumantray Patel, Lita Fearon. <i>Click for a larger version.</i></div><br /> Bollywood - here we come.<br /> <br /> After a two-hour ride we arrived in Basirhat, 90 km from hotel. We travelled through many villages, too many to count, each displaying their market wares whatever they were: fresh fish (gills still breathing), colourful vegetables, fresh chickens, etc. We arrived at our destination to a school site lined with parents and children who cheered our arrival.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U066izi0PCN-jYH2l_LpEeIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hmesgt-ezE8/Tx2WDIJ7ZmI/AAAAAAAAe6U/bukWkz7iQjw/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520004.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Our OVO picked a beautiful site for today's bedkit distribution. The changing tents were spacious and colourful. The elder students from the school volunteered to assist us for the day and were of great help. They showed great consideration and caring for the children.<br /> <br /> They and the children practiced their English skills with us and at the end of the day treated us like rock stars: swarming us, taking our photos, and asking for our autographs!<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AzI8IGK7RvRXbYtpCn3DoOIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9LN_SPeG_0I/Tx2WD3AYHWI/AAAAAAAAe6c/kP5Vdu4rFbo/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520005.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We're not all that special but, truth be known, not too many foreigners travel this way -- so that's why we all felt extra special today. <br /> <br /> Stay tuned for tomorrow's report ...<br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-1965620825458232856?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/PTkqDqXK0Jg" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/PTkqDqXK0Jg/kolkata-second-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-second-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-2120758206637772513Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +00002012-01-24T11:55:10.824-05:00<div style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;"><span style="display: block !important; width: 320px; text-align: center; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=zmw:00000.1.42809&bannertypeclick=wu_clean2day" title="Kolkata, India Weather Forecast"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/cgi-bin/banner/ban/wxBanner?bannertype=wu_clean2day_metric_cond&airportcode=VECC&ForcedCity=Kolkata&ForcedState=&wmo=42809&language=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Kolkata, IN" width="300" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.wunderground.com" title="Get latest Weather Forecast updates" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12px">Click for weather forecast</a></span></div>Our first distribution day consisted of two sites: one at the site of the VIP Rotary Club of DumDum and the second at Barrackpore. (The city centre and the outskirts of town)<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1MNDgTdDLLvYX4sbmxBSvuIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IwcKDE9G1YM/Txy-9RopwII/AAAAAAAAe54/o-FHlJ8zTOc/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520281.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table>Deb and Martine, being new to the team, were thrilled to hand out the first bedkits of the distribution. The children, all dressed in their new clothes, were most grateful to receive the donors' generous gifts. Their eyes were wide with excitement and happiness as they walked to their parents with this big bag of goodies. The sun shone on over 700 families ...<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZrB2KtOFatg5Bpv4aZ57DuIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K7Pao23VA2g/Txy-901Y3kI/AAAAAAAAe6A/Zin9VoweQRU/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520267.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table>We were very happy to accompany a lovely little girl who received a bedkit to her home tonight. The family was proud and pleased to show us their home and, after discussions with the mother on how the bedkit would change their lives, we were informed that three school-aged children will share the mattress and everything in the bedkit would be very useful. <br /> <br /> This is what makes this experience most gratifying.<br /> <br /> Until tomorrow ...<br /> <br /> <b>Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-2120758206637772513?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/d4C74Xh05xE" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/d4C74Xh05xE/kolkata-day-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-day-3.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-808745177421224765Sat, 21 Jan 2012 18:44:00 +00002012-01-22T21:02:36.285-05:00Our Indian adventures have begun ...<br /> <br /> <div style="float:right;"><iframe src="http://free.timeanddate.com/clock/i2y56xld/n54/szw110/szh110/hoced1c24/hbw10/cf100/hgr0/fiv0/fas34/fdi72/mqv0/mhc000/mhs3/mhl20/mhw1/mhd84/mmv0/hhs1/hms1/hsc000/hss1" frameborder="0" width="112" height="112"></iframe><br /> </div>After a lengthy flight we exited the airport to meet our team leader and several Rotarians who anointed and blessed us with a traditional Indian greeting: incense, candles, and beautiful flower garlands. Truly a warm welcome.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/44C0EWAVNi8swbdvEMHEheIY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Hsw8JUayZu0/Txy-8PQyPXI/AAAAAAAAe5o/PR0n9TqmO98/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520070.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr> </table>After a night of rest, we awakened to the sounds of the City of Joy: horns blowing, dogs barking, calls to prayers ... We all met at the rooftop terrace for our first daytime view of Kolkata ... WOW!<br /> <br /> Later in the day we travelled to see the home of Mother Theresa ... a very moving experience for us all. We followed up with a visit to the orphanage, which is currently home to 68 toddlers who would otherwise be on the streets with an unknown future.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mtitmPGnzwyoP380ikp-A-IY0dLrKWQTAbtBBYZNnQE?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B6DN4mLOHxQ/Txy-8jW9QWI/AAAAAAAAe5w/AKGAYSG189U/s288/kolkatacandids2012%252520216.jpg" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Kolkata2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCPel2t-Hl-zbtQE&feat=embedwebsite">Kolkata 2012</a></td></tr></table>Our evening ended after a reception hosted by the Rotary Club of Dum Dum - who welcomed us with open arms, warmth, and friendship.<br /> <br /> We look forward to the next ten days of bedkit distributions with our new friends.<br /> <br /> <b>The 3 <i>"Dhost"</i> (friends) from Ontario<br /> for Team Kolkata 2012</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-808745177421224765?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/bcj6zRbrCJY" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/bcj6zRbrCJY/kolkata-city-of-joy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-city-of-joy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-2423200010579800632Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:17:00 +00002012-01-21T13:46:10.172-05:00<i>This message was received at the SCAW Office on Friday.</i><br /> <div style="background-color:#ccffff;font:times;margin:10px;border:1px dotted black;padding: 20px;">We have all arrived here in Kolkata and everyone is well but a little tired. Our ladies from Ontario made it here after a few delays late this evening, while our other team members arrived earlier today without any issues.<br /> <br /> We were greeted with garlands and prayers from our Overseas Voluntary Organization [OVO], the Rotarians of Dum Dum and their wives.<br /> <br /> After a warm and caring greeting we braved the late nite traffic that is ... well so totally Indian: fast, noisy, cramped, and scary ... and, yes, we arrived at our hotel in one piece.<br /> <br /> After a few laughs and stories we headed to sleep with a big day ahead tomorow as we get ready to start the distribution. <br /> <br /> <b>Warren Wagstaff<br /> for Team Kolkata 2012</b></div><br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.html">Click to leave your comments.</a></i><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-2423200010579800632?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/ye8uEfW0g6I" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/ye8uEfW0g6I/kolkata-team-has-arrived.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-team-has-arrived.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-3447344969823451451Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:16:00 +00002012-01-23T12:40:12.846-05:00<div style="float:right;width:160px;border: thin dotted #660000;margin:0px 0px 0px 20px;padding:5px;text-align:center;color:#968a0a;font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:75%"><b>Kolkata Time and Weather</b><br /> <i>Click for forecast.</i><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/42809.html?bannertypeclick=gizmotimetemp"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp_both/language/www/global/stations/42809.gif" alt="Click for Kolkata, India Forecast" border="0" height="41" width="127" /></a></div>As a matter of courtesy, please include your name at the end of your comment.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-3447344969823451451?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/v8tpXpoe6Ik" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/v8tpXpoe6Ik/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)32http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2012/01/kolkata-leave-your-comments-here.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-1366942211095191755Tue, 01 Nov 2011 23:54:00 +00002011-11-03T17:28:32.211-05:00Our work is done.<br /> <br /> The final distribution of 476 bedkits was done in the rural community of Rio Hondo. It was a significant venue for us as we had the opportunity to visit the home of one of last year's bedkit recipients.<br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IE4Iwxn0-9RnYKBLc0Ty49GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1UOrHoYfWQU/TrHYoO2nhqI/AAAAAAAAeew/DKmo2OIDzG4/s288/033.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> It was a wonder to find that the home, which barely seemed to have weathered the extremes of the hurricane season last year, was still standing as Honduras has once again been hit with severe storms in the last month. We were graciously received in the home that provides minimal space and light for the family. When asked, the young girl replied without hesitation, that the best part of the bedkit was the mattress for now she no longer had to sleep on the hardened dirt floor. We have heard so many similar stories of the value of the bedkit.<br /> <br /> Each of you who have donated to SCAW has made a profound difference to a child and our team has also been rewarded with the beautiful, happy smiles of 5,000 children. We have touched each other's lives, shared moments never to be forgotten.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3VPwPFDy9QHvXPWdNKLZd9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Vi5_EXiiXTU/TrHYnU8agmI/AAAAAAAAeeo/YsqQVxSaNCI/s288/029.JPG" height="288" width="193" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> This last day has been one of celebration as our work has been completed. But it has also been a somewhat melancholy one, knowing that many more children could use our assistance. It was also sad to say goodbye to all our daily volunteers, the Rotarians and their wives and all those who have contibuted to our successful venture. <br /> <br /> The gracious hospitality of our Overseas Partners, the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa, overwhelmed us with a final banquet in the evening and a plea to ensure that we return again next year. Their commitment to improve children's lives extended beyond the borders of Honduras as they gave SCAW a surprise donation for bedkits. Their sense of duty to assist all children reinforces the passion and dream that drove Murray Dryden to found Sleeping Children Around the World.<br /> <br /> <div style="float:right;background-color:#ccffff;margin:20px 0px 20px 50px;font:times;border:1px dotted black;padding: 10px;">Including the 5,000 bedkits delivered <br /> in Honduras this year, our total is <br /> now 1,189,130 bedkits since <br /> Sleeping Children began in 1970.</div><br /> <i>Muy gusto Honduras</i>.<br /> <br /> <b>Irene Harrison<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <i><center><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a>.</center></i><br /> <br /> Slideshow below.<br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5670555251926125121%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCIP7rqi9yZ7NUA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-1366942211095191755?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/mFc2YWIemcE" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/mFc2YWIemcE/honduras-mission-accomplished.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/11/honduras-mission-accomplished.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-3068247851677824653Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:40:00 +00002011-11-02T05:22:49.509-05:00<b>Day 7</b><br /> <br /> Today there was a chill in the air and grey skies, but it is not the 4°C temperature that I heard Toronto has had in the last little while. We have been spoilt with glorious days of sunshine.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0Fra3ORQcubqvpoD2cw579GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EYXIpMnIZuI/TrEZHeiPjKI/AAAAAAAAedo/EImCiwwteMY/s288/7%252520001.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> A young woman helping from the First Lady's Healthy Schools programme today wore layers and gloves. We wondered how she would handle a Canadian February.<br /> <br /> We spent today's distribution of 680 bedkits at the Escuela Cerro Grande not too far away. Twenty-five schools came through for this second last day of our distribution. We are close to our target of 5,000 having reached 4,526.<br /> <br /> The days have literally whizzed by. Donald, one of our Rotarian partners, is a wealth of information. A day hasn't gone by when I haven't learned something new.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jaj8vjCZCuaJ6TyamLppudGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cZJfK5HVyRQ/TrEZILL8SlI/AAAAAAAAedw/Aq1wbKdFK70/s288/7%252520002.JPG" height="288" width="193" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> Apparently Cerro Grande is a model school of 800 students being that it includes a computer lab and a well-established garden that also has 300 tyres used for growing vegetables. Tables were stacked with cabbages and carrots for sale at the entrance.<br /> <br /> The school in the morning -- from 7:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. -- is an elementary one. In the afternoon -- from 12:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. -- it is used as a High School. It is always a pleasure to meet our Rotarian partners each day and have the opportunity to get to know them more, what they do, and find out about their lives. There are some great cooks among the women as evidenced by the lovely lunches provided this past while.<br /> <br /> We've all gotten into a smooth pattern of working in the varied areas involved in a distribution. I was pulling labels of our donors after children were photographed for these 680 bedkits. I especially love mingling, playing, and having great fun with the children. They are like little sponges. Their giggles, joyfulness, and sense of humour is contagious.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FwYND_Lv5d_6EK2DVGOUS9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vqcpYsFMPdU/TrEZGsSBmBI/AAAAAAAAedg/NUb7ZwLSAT4/s288/7%252520015.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> They do so like being entertained with high fives, puppets, bubbles, balls, and plain old silliness. The spontaneity is a breath of fresh air. We tidy up hair that needs it, straighten out clothes, tuck in sleeves, and draw out <i>sonrias</i> (smiles) for the camera shoot. It is great to have a serious looking child break out in a smile.<br /> <br /> Mid morning Irene and I were briefly interviewed for Channel 42 news. My question was centred around what a bedkit means for the child and family. A brief response was that this simple gift can make life a little easier and give some relief for them in what is otherwise difficult and challenging living conditions. A mother told us of how her boy had never received a gift, and the thrill of receiving this.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1ojmhXsX4a1YH-aPl2gg4dGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--wdvmHH14E0/TrEZIkG0GvI/AAAAAAAAed4/c8T0SsURc-A/s288/7%252520007.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> Mid afternoon Ramon, the president of our Rotary group, drove us to buy Honduran souvenirs to the <i>Valle de Angeles</i> (Valley of Angels) about an hour in rush hour from the city. The area is full of artisan shops, but being a Monday it was not busy.<br /> <br /> We had an evening meeting with the Rotarian Committee members for a post-distribution assessment, and suggestions. Each of our team had the opportunity to speak on a specific angle pertaining to the distribution - a summary of the parent interviews, the importance of home visits and the mattress factory tour, and special thanks to every one of the parties involved in the distributions. The evening concluded with another scrumptuous meal hosted by one of our great Rotarian members and his wife.<br /> <br /> <b>Jan Fine<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <i><center><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></center></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-3068247851677824653?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/KMG-A5aDeX8" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/KMG-A5aDeX8/honduras-model-school.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-model-school.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-1224023914155101503Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:45:00 +00002011-10-30T08:26:14.339-05:00<b>Site 10 Dhaka “Final Distribution Day”</b><br /> <br /> We began our day with breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel. then headed out to a tea garden where we visited Bisamil village located in M.R. Khan Tea Estate where twenty children from yesterday's distribution live.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KsE4yGGMXNo585FpJVM2HEEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OzKv6CPZ0qo/Tq1JchV-xUI/AAAAAAAAeWg/IqWIFwmSUQs/s288/Bedkit%252520kids%252520in%252520their%252520village.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> They were waiting for us with wonderful smiles and expressed thanks for a good night’s sleep on a new ground sheet and thick blanket. Their colourful shirts and dresses made for more good pictures. <br /> <br /> We took a team photo with them as a reminder of our shared experiences.<br /> <br /> Then it was back on the bus to drive to our last distribution. However, while leaving the tea estate, we had to disembark to lighten the load so that the bus could take a run through a river bed with a very soft muddy bottom. <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5DTvR6tWdkm4nHFw9rDlLkEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R1VnuxHZ-yI/Tq1Jb7HlNnI/AAAAAAAAeWY/OXOBtqHtNZo/s288/Bus%252520in%252520mud%252520hole.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Sally Jo took a side route which ended with one very wet and muddy shoe. The children who were following laughed wildly and one offered to fetch water to clean her shoe. But the bus had to leave so the shoe never did get clean. (Good thing she had a spare pair of shoes for the afternoon.)<br /> <br /> We arrived at a textile mill where the final distribution took place. Again the 154 children were dressed and ready for us thanks to the preparations of the Rotaractors who are junior members of the Rotary club of Dhaka. These three young men have been with us for the past ten days and their help has been invaluable in organizing the children for dressing and photo line-ups. <br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pEH1JgJ0JGd1rpf7tkA0EEEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3znmd6YbIEw/Tq1JeVWq02I/AAAAAAAAeW4/VNB_9snPrNQ/s288/Sleeping%252520Children%252520%252526%252520Rotary%252520Team%252520with%2525206000th%252520bedkit.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We were excited to present the final bedkit to a young boy who was # 6,000 for this 2011 Bangladesh distribution. A final photo with all the team members and Rotarians will be a special reminder of the experiences we have shared.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqXAEK4_ydg/Tq1PlScmtMI/AAAAAAAAeZ4/3vdkb1fIWvw/s1600/final%2Bmap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="200" width="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LqXAEK4_ydg/Tq1PlScmtMI/AAAAAAAAeZ4/3vdkb1fIWvw/s200/final%2Bmap.png" /></a></div><br /> We are thankful to the Rotarians, the Sleeping Children volunteers and all the donors whose contributions together will allow these children to enjoy the comfort of a good night’s sleep.<br /> <br /> <i>ARAME GHUMAU! </i> (Sleep Well!)<br /> <div style="float:right;background-color:#ccffff;margin:20px 0px 20px 50px;font:times;border:1px dotted black;padding: 10px;">Including the 6,000 bedkits delivered <br /> in Bangladesh this year, our total is <br /> now 1,184,130 bedkits since <br /> Sleeping Children began in 1970.</div><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>The Bangladesh 2011 Team</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a> | Click map to see larger version. | Slideshow below.</i></center><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5669268613433321137%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCIfzg9zWyemyjAE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-1224023914155101503?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/P70StM_EEQ4" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/P70StM_EEQ4/bangladesh-dhaka-final-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-dhaka-final-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-4820473575361745559Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:45:00 +00002011-11-01T19:39:34.452-05:00Ater seven straight days of distributions, we were able to enjoy a day off to rejunevate and reflect on the wonderful week we have had working with the children.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZEiHIgkG2sk7Y9XW-Ks2QNGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XFdpKGpgNXk/Tq6K0kGp4NI/AAAAAAAAebM/0sNY_lZdWYo/s288/029.JPG" height="288" width="193" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We were hosted by Fidel Velasquez, the current chairman of the SCAW project for the Rotary|Club of Teguicalpa who led us through the wondrous mountainous terrain and countryside.<br /> <br /> We stopped at a variety of places, notably the agricultural university of Zamona which has a unique program for international students from eighteen countries. Combining half days of study with half days of working on the agricultural farms. they are well prepared for choosing specialties within their fields. Produce from vegetables to meat are sold at the campus store and we took advantage of buying refreshing ice cream, piquante Honduras sauces, and Honduras coffee.<br /> <br /> We continued to a country farm where we were able to stroll through paths aside a variety of tropical plants of trees that allowed us to taste cilantro, munch on cinammon leaves, and see our first hummingbird nest and other wildlife.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/P0oLLGOmx7d0L9EhZL7vE9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nl48wM9AXKg/Tq6K10w7xDI/AAAAAAAAebc/vwufDAy0Xk0/s288/022.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We were then guests of Umberto and Wilma in their country home where once again we were fed a grand luncheon of typical Honduran food and exotic fruit drinks. Ramon, present President of the Rotary Club, entertained us with an array of Spanish music often accompanied by his wife and other guests -- a great fiesta for us all.<br /> <br /> This hospitality has been continous throughout our stay in Honduras, as we have been entertained by a varity of our Overseas Volunteer Organization [OVO] members. It provides a great opportunity to cement our fellowship with our OVOs, learn and appreciate the customs of Honduras, as well as making us aware of the challenges of preparing for a successful SCAW distribution.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZQHcCTu1LrIp49DYh1xJIdGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EFs8PeuEMEg/Tq6KyOAHtyI/AAAAAAAAea0/ea3szdgeuYo/s288/053.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Although most of us came to Honduras as strangers, we will leave with many friendships, cemented by a fellowship that continues to assist the beautiful children of Hhonduras.<br /> <br /> <br /> Murray Dryden's dream is alive and well.<br /> <br /> <br /> <b>Irene Harrison<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <i><center><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></center><br /> <br /> Slideshow below</i><br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5669621879308602353%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCMm-ttD1j6bVCg%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-4820473575361745559?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/kBd-C3dQbI4" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/kBd-C3dQbI4/honduras-reflecting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-reflecting.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-5823789934418487090Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:27:00 +00002011-10-29T19:05:17.127-05:00It's a grey, drizzly morning as we start out for an inner city distribution. As we arrive at the Escuela Urbana Francisca Reyes in Colonia El Jazmin, the children and parents are already lined up at the gates. It's 7:15 am.<br /> <br /> I mentioned in an earlier blog that the children's joy reminded me of kids at Christmas. Well I also realize that these distributions truly makes me feel like Santa Claus.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XRqz1XsYPZe2Jp9O0F_Y0NGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lI0Tc8BxRc0/TqyATLQOi7I/AAAAAAAAeS8/oQdPFYn00cY/s288/DSC_5233.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> We go through our pre-distribution ritual. Irene, our team leader, sights the best location for the pictures, Jim and I find anything we can to stand on to hang and proudly display the Canadian flag. Valerie, Linda, and Janet ready the bedkit for the photo and map out the logistics of the children's staging area. Fortunately today, with the rain, there is a large covered courtyard where we stage the children and take the pics. Today's distribution is 652 bedkits and as if being impoverished is not enough of a hardship, some of the children are HIV positive.<br /> <br /> It's also a day in which we conduct interviews with the caregivers of five randomly selected children.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KMNzEigv38iXPRiG3OS4W9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9ovZN76OPEI/TqyATp1ubzI/AAAAAAAAeTE/eDDeD-8w-ts/s288/DSC_5235.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> This is an exercise that takes the meaning of what Sleeping Children is doing to a whole new level. The first thing you recognize is how deeply grateful the recipients' families are. Then you realize just how dire their family circumstances are and how this token, small by North American standards, has such a profound impact on the quality of that family's life. Finally you see that even though SCAW's efforts have a wonderful impact, there is so much more that can be done.<br /> <br /> Today's interviews reveal a heartbreaking story of a young recipient, whose father was murdered, whose mother abandoned her at the age of two months, who has become paralyzed from the waist down as the result of a bad surgical procedure and whose principle caregiver is her 72-year-old grandmother who wheels her two kilometres daily to and from school. <br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vr5jdqqcTtFOYDX-m10wOdGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XEzpSae6K1M/TqyAR2L2K5I/AAAAAAAAeSw/-FoDasD18RA/s288/el%252520jasmin%252520023.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> Although the girl did not start school until the age of eight, the grandmother is very proud of her granddaughter as she is a very good student. She hopes that she will be able to complete the sixth grade and has dreams that she can continue to go on to senior school. It is obvious that the basic necessities of life are not met in this family. She wishes that the bedkit had come with food in it as well. In spite of all of the hardships she and her granddaughter face, she is extremely grateful and thanks God and the SCAW donors for thinking of her granddaughter. <br /> <br /> It is truly amazing the impact $35 can have.<br /> <br /> <b>Ken and Valerie Teslia<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><center><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></center><br /> <br /> Slideshow below</i><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5669047487035358593%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNmYi_Gp6Zm25gE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-5823789934418487090?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/a3JBJPoiU7k" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/a3JBJPoiU7k/honduras-el-jasmin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-el-jasmin.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-2161713130769507213Sat, 29 Oct 2011 21:53:00 +00002011-10-30T06:50:19.945-05:00Well, we had another action-packed day with an early start walking through the Lawachara eco-forest in the tea plantation area of Srimangal, which is in the northeast corner of Bangladesh.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tqke0npLZJZJ8QcbrHtyEkEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NlLmTnHwS-M/TqxCHqVsRxI/AAAAAAAAeKc/wWRLRvN-hqQ/s288/Home%252520visit.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> The walk ended in the tribal village of Khasia Prinji with a home visit to two families whose kids had received bedkits last year. This village has about 130 people whose main source of income is the harvesting of the Beetle leaf (<i>pan</i>), which grows wild in the forest.<br /> <br /> The first family lived in a mud hut with a bed for the mother, father, and newborn baby while the boy who received the bedkit and his younger brother slept on a groundsheet on the floor. <br /> <br /> The second family lived in a very crooked wood-clad home. The girl who had received the bedkit was there with her five siblings. Their parents were away working. All the bedkit items that we saw were being well used and have remained quite functional.<br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/L91uxHq1h83tibY0SWB7qkEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hq5Whe4btLU/TqxyunieuxI/AAAAAAAAeMQ/-6cPnV7CpoM/s288/Doug%252520with%252520last%252527s%252520year%252527s%252520bedkit%252520boy.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> We had breakfast in the village and then visited the school where about thirty students treated us to a songfest. There were no shrinking violets in the group – boy, could they belt out a song!<br /> <br /> On the way back through the eco-forest we went to the next village of Dolugram Tipperah. This village has a population of about 150 people and is primarily Hindu. They are part of a weaving initiative driven by one of the Rotarians and aimed at diversifying their income – and it is working. The product is sold in Dhaka markets and on-site with this attracting some Bangladeshi tourist trade.<br /> <br /> We also saw our first pig in Bangladesh … quite a specimen. Isn't it? Then we<br /> ran into what must have been the village medicine man who was smoking a large pipe and was immensely pleased to have a crowd gather – and of course Mike tried the pipe on for size. Check out the photos below!<br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xhtSIdqGx26uU-afC07a-UEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wS9xcd0f0qQ/Tqxywq8T3RI/AAAAAAAAeMw/i41TLOYskq8/s288/School%252520kids%252520belting%252520out%252520the%252520song.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr></table><br /> Kids are kids – we found three boys playing in their makeshift ‘fort’ and having a great time taunting us from the safety of it!<br /> <br /> The girl who received the bedkit in this village had a home that was also built from mud and she was making good use of the items. Her mother told us that all the items were essential – and gave us a big thank you.<br /> <br /> We then did the Srimangal distribution of 451, played lots with the kids, and had a wonderful barbeque dinner in the hotel courtyard as we were entertained by a tribal troupe of dancers.<br /> <br /> We still have a small final distribution tomorrow and a long day of travel so I am off to bed.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D83GnU0HF5w/Tqx0PzanV2I/AAAAAAAAePE/YRoEc023OQw/s1600/Srimangal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D83GnU0HF5w/Tqx0PzanV2I/AAAAAAAAePE/YRoEc023OQw/s320/Srimangal.png" /></a></div><br /> We will blog tomorrow on our final distribution day and completion of 6,000 bedkits to 6,000 wonderful children of Bangladesh.<br /> <br /> <b>Doug MacDougald<br /> for Bangladesh Team 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a><br /> <br /> Click map for larger view.<br /> <br /> Slideshow below.</i></center><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5669032710825335649%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCIXuwaCfs7eAOA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-2161713130769507213?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/Pb6WZrAexPs" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/Pb6WZrAexPs/bangladesh-home-visit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-home-visit.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-8436166990438940696Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:13:00 +00002011-10-29T06:39:53.343-05:00Today, we completed our fifth day of distributions successfully yet again. There are many factors that contribute to a satisfying distribution making every one involved happy after a hard days work.<ul><li>A perfect sunny day and blue sky (despite predictions of rain).</li> <li>A perfectly co-ordinated SCAW Team.</li> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/i0uI7ef0Z41BZqfvqEoZz9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xLwOeWDMEHo/TquQeoFCj3I/AAAAAAAAeJo/ngn7bVnzpYY/s288/distribution%2525205%252520131.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><li>Dedicated Rotarians and their spouses especially Fidel, the SCAW Project leader, who are with us every day.</li> <li>A group of young people who belong to the First Lady's Team for the betterment of the Honduras community under the leadership of Miguel who is simply wonderful with the children.</li> <li>Today, a group of students from the College of Dentistry (<i>Pictured above.</i>) some of whom helped us communicate with the children better.</li> <li>The military in their full regalia to control the crowd so as not to disrupt the procedures.</li> <li>The teachers on site, with their silent admiration for the SCAW dream.</li> <li>Our driver, Ceasar, who patiently and skillfully delivered us to the different sites on time.</li> </ul><table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MlKRC5Ta9VbVESHlCL5B4dGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yERln3IgZN8/TqtFxFVSZnI/AAAAAAAAeH8/cyBCAtV6s-k/s800/IMG_0239.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> The distribution site was located in the Francisco Morazan elementary school, about 35 km from the city. We gave out 636 bedkits to children from seventeen different schools. The children were brought in trucks, buses, bicycles, etc. from as far away as 25 km. The children were beautiful and shy but delighted as they received their bedkits. (<i>Click graphic to see video.</i>)<br /> <br /> As our team went about the whole procedure of distribution to each and every child listed, we were very much aware of the opportunity to serve these children with love. <br /> <br /> Thank you donors.<br /> <br /> <b>Linda Taiabjee<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><center><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></center><br /> <br /> Slideshow below</i><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5668768868978063361%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCKzVkbqL1JqHGw%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-8436166990438940696?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/0ibN9PenfMM" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/0ibN9PenfMM/honduras-day-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-day-5.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-5626652405401455887Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:52:00 +00002011-10-28T18:00:27.764-05:00Well, as promised, today was special with the bedkits in memoriam of Mari Peterson giving us an opportunity for the kids to have different poses for their photos.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lTLG4081Ee06RtqRuGrlj0EZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8e7rqpxLrrI/TqsxufbwPUI/AAAAAAAAeGE/wnVgKS1gwOc/s288/Child%252520with%252520Mari%252520Peterson%252527s%252520picture.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> They clapped, gave thumbs up, blew kisses, clapped, and opened their arms wide as they shouted “Mari” – everyone had fun with an emotional day!<br /> <br /> We also continued to have fun with the all 861 kids gathered at this ancestral home of Gulru with the kids all seeing and participating in the bubbles, Frisbees and the excitement of the photo area.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/oBnYULDW4aHduKjHmJczpUEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HP5J39KlaA4/TqsxxBCnd_I/AAAAAAAAeGk/4FCuDPZb9mQ/s144/Bedkits%252520in%252520memoriam%252520for%252520%252520Mari%252520Peterson.jpg" height="96" width="144" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> The children receiving the bedkits are all sponsored by local Rotarians who are responsible for selecting the boys and girls according to Sleeping Children guidelines. They arrange transportation to the distribution site as well as food and water since some of the children travel some distance over poor roads from their home villages. Today’s group included some from the local village plus many more from an orphanage funded by one of the Rotarians and his extended family. These children may have a parent but the house conditions are so poor they cannot be fed or go to school.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swerA4anh_c/Tqsw3uqv8NI/AAAAAAAAeFc/f8xzyyG0EoE/s1600/habiganj.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swerA4anh_c/Tqsw3uqv8NI/AAAAAAAAeFc/f8xzyyG0EoE/s320/habiganj.png" /></a></div><br /> Tomorrow we do some home visits to families that received bedkits last year – always a special time for the team.<br /> <br /> Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog on these visits.<br /> <br /> <b>Team Bangladesh 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a><br /> <br /> Click map for larger view.<br /> <br /> Slideshow below.</i></center><br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5668680364567415857%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNGi0cirkMnQwgE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-5626652405401455887?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/cM-L7piIe7g" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/cM-L7piIe7g/bangladesh-special-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-special-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-1391770253207556933Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:13:00 +00002011-10-27T20:14:06.218-05:00We rise early to prepare for our journey to Colonia Santa Eduviges and a distribution of 870 bedkits at Escuela Alfonso Guillen Zelaya.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rlIek0-MWxzRl_KA-vaku9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VlWJkM_7HY0/TqoBLE0lYnI/AAAAAAAAeEg/VPol7bxlZ9A/s288/DSC_5154.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We collect in the hotel Lobby at 6:30 a.m. We board our ride and begin our thirty-minute journey to the outskirts of Tegucigalpa and the waiting children.<br /> <br /> Every morning starts out somewhat similarly. We roll into the vehicles that will carry us to our ultimate destination -- where we experience a tremendously uplifting feeling -- a feeling that one experiences watching pure joy envelope the young children that we distribute the bedkits to. It reminds me so much of watching our daughters on Christmas morning, when they still believed in Santa Claus. <br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z3SU2EYBFkSSyif0WYAtnNGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3NF-IwLA5ac/TqoBL0T3WRI/AAAAAAAAeEo/q47xnsVJDs4/s288/DSC_5184.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Our ride is filled with banter from the previous days experience: What was the most striking and heart wrenching story from the previous day? Was it the class of young students that had to begin their journey at 1 a.m. to arrive for an 8 a.m. distribution? On the ride home they were totally giddy after an excruciatingly long day because they would not have to sleep in cardboard boxes that night<br /> .<br /> Santa Eduviges today was so much more of the same: the smiles and laughter of young children and the anticipation of receiving a gift of something that they have never had before in their lives. It warms your heart and makes you wish that you could do so much more.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ROllwWRqtxKEB2aLEf9bLdGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1HjxnPuiYoQ/TqoBMgLCGJI/AAAAAAAAeEw/BCEwrrDwgw8/s288/IMG_2575.jpg" height="288" width="216" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> As always, the Rotarians and the First Lady's troupe of assistants are there to make, what seems like an overwhelming task for six people, very organized and efficient. Most importantly it allows us to spend more face time with the children, really enjoying the fruits of the generosity of all of the donors to SCAW.<br /> <br /> <b>Ken Teslia<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a><br /> <br /> View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-1391770253207556933?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/Ku1tOayasqM" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/Ku1tOayasqM/honduras-colonia-santa-eduviges.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-colonia-santa-eduviges.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-7219716200410840524Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:21:00 +00002011-10-27T12:25:44.007-05:00Today’s distribution in Dhaka for 1,000 children was at the bedkit warehouse site that was used for the first time last week at our first distribution for a smaller group and which did not work very well. The Rotarians and Sleeping Children team made several changes to ensure this day went smoothly – and it worked perfectly!<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Sjw1S92G-jDBhqu8UU1K0UEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-piAl_FxWyX4/TqmTMKYoCjI/AAAAAAAAeBM/PhpkRg701lY/s288/Doug%252520%252526%252520Forhad%252520leading%252520the%252520kids%252520to%252520distribution.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> 700 children came by bus from as far away as 100 km; a journey that took four hours crowded in very old busses. They were organized at a park two blocks away and then marched to this warehouse distribution site with the help of uniformed officials who blocked traffic for their safety.<br /> <br /> We marvel at the Rotarians’ ability to make arrangements as needed to fulfill the promise to donors that we will deliver 100% of their generosity for the children.<br /> <br /> All of the boys and girls were excited to receive their gifts and today’s experiences will bring lasting memories for them and their families – and, of course, it was accompanied by playing, bubbles galore, and lots of fun as the kids had their pictures taken.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QGyhslAZDfNZQcBYZrY7c0EZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q6PHpJj4XOQ/TqmTQ8MJctI/AAAAAAAAeCU/FZEB5nwUfR8/s288/tired%252520boy.jpg" height="288" width="192" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Tomorrow’s distribution will be highlighted by the sharing of “in memoriam” bedkits for Mari Peterson who along with her husband Rein were to be part of the Bangladesh 2009 team. Her subsequent illness prevented that from happening.<br /> <br /> Rein has donated bedkits with the wish they will be given to children from one area and we are having this special distribution tomorrow at one of the Rotarian’s ancestral homes. Tomorrow’s distribution will be very special.<br /> <br /> <b>Team Bangladesh 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a> | Slideshow Below</i></center><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5668224287027990513%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCK2J46-oqPO16AE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-7219716200410840524?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/Kmh3GQveHpA" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/Kmh3GQveHpA/bangladesh-great-day-and-special.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-great-day-and-special.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-6479234935937643799Wed, 26 Oct 2011 23:36:00 +00002011-10-26T18:43:07.597-05:00Today is Wed Oct 26^th and we travelled forty-five minutes out of Tegucigalpa into the rural region of Zambrano.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2IXcxO03MoQEp5iygRKX9dGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-23N7QV1JTtU/TqhzOoxpt_I/AAAAAAAAd1I/34qHt1Ja1Oc/s288/DSC_3016.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> We had a very successful morning distributing 494 bedkits. Most of the children came by bus from as far as fifty kilometers away.<br /> <br /> After the distribution we travelled a short distance for two home visits, that were organized by the local Rotary Club. The road was very difficult to traverse — uneven, many pot holes and back in Canada you would think of it as impassable. The first home we visited consisted of three rooms, each approximately nine square meters, at most. A family of six lives in this small area. The home was made of concrete blocks with no windows and a single light bulb hanging in the main room.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DTDvAOC_wIQKRv_Jhg0gX9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-v6k0AlypFzg/TqiZ1W3D4tI/AAAAAAAAd4g/mlA_1lD8efo/s288/DSC_5126.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> One room was for sleeping, one as a living room (at night it is used for sleeping), and the third was a eating/kitchen area. The home also had an outdoor oven and a small garden. One of the little girls who lived in the home received a bedkit in the morning. She will now have a mattress, pillow, bed sheet, and blanket to sleep on tonight. It is overwhelming to see the conditions these lovely people live in and how much the bedkits are needed.<br /> <br /> We then visited another home that was a little larger, having two extra bedrooms, but nine people shared this home. Very similar to the first home, very tidy, mostly because there is no furniture or fixtures and still only one light bulb per room and concrete floors.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y0sV_9eD6OErit30BQJYbNGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B5p72F6hxkM/TqiZzEO_KiI/AAAAAAAAd4A/GNSuM5fOAzs/s288/DSC_5132.JPG" height="191" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> As we were about to leave, we saw a boy and his father struggling up this torturous road on their way home. Attached to the rear of the father's bicycle was the boys bedkit from this morning. I have included this scene as one of our pics from today ... big smiles from the boy and father!!<br /> <br /> Tonight we will be attending a Rotary Club meeting where SCAW will be the focus of the meeting. I am looking forward to meeting their oldest active member who is 101!<br /> <br /> <b>Valerie Teslia<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | View all the photos in <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">our photo album</a></i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-6479234935937643799?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/m6Fv3MswBBs" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/m6Fv3MswBBs/honduras-zambrano.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-zambrano.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-7170903433989664437Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:18:00 +00002011-10-26T18:28:34.041-05:00After an eighteen-hour drive yesterday which included a successful distribution of 1,139 bedkits and a late night ferry ride, we arrived back at the hotel for a well deserved sleep.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NiWBL7AuBoG8CN4kzJzdS0EZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NAfP30kOORI/TqiWJ5f3qEI/AAAAAAAAd28/j9wIo37xmjA/s288/George%25252C%252520Sally%252520Jo.%252520Gulru%252520our%252520Rotarian%252520host%252520for%252520the%252520day%25252C%252520Else%25252C%252520Michael%252520-%252520University.jpg" height="216" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> So today, on our day of leisure, we decided to tour Dhaka and experience more chaotic traffic. Thanks to Gulru our wonderful tour guide, to his wife, and to Rowly the Rotary chair of the Sleeping Children committee we had a wonderful time.<br /> <br /> The modern parliament buildings contrast with the university building, Curson Hall, established in 1904. The Old Fort begun by Mogul invaders in the 17^th century has a serene garden and there we enjoyed having our photos taken by school kids on a field trip. Our fair skins attract a lot of attention so we smiled happily for their cell phones, knowing that “ha so” means to smile.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/raehzZU9O8b8Kr_dEKPMukEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wC-inentGA0/TqiWMnP8UYI/AAAAAAAAd3c/tko_-A1D9Ac/s288/George%252520sampling%252520sugar%252520cane.jpg" height="216" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> A visit to the New Market -- actually quite old -- helped us buy a few souvenirs and that was followed by a delicious lunch in an air conditioned Indian restaurant.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtjQCoMF1DQ/TqiXc7XO4FI/AAAAAAAAd3w/zsj8-e_2XHw/s1600/Dhaka.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DtjQCoMF1DQ/TqiXc7XO4FI/AAAAAAAAd3w/zsj8-e_2XHw/s320/Dhaka.png" /></a></div><br /> <br /> <br /> And so ended our “restful” day as we now prepare to meet another crowd of happy children tomorrow.<br /> <br /> <b>Sally Jo Martin<br /> for Bangladesh Team 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a> <br /> <br /> Click map for larger view.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=directlink">Enjoy our Photo Album</a></i></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-7170903433989664437?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/d-S0necfXWc" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/d-S0necfXWc/bangladesh-day-off-in-dhaka.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-day-off-in-dhaka.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-4147814853458464312Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:29:00 +00002011-10-26T16:03:14.000-05:00The weather co-operated. Yes, blue skies, a perfect day for the 650 bedkits distributed in La Travesia (Colonia San Miguel) neighbourhood at the Juan Ramon Molina Escuela where children were bused in from a wide area range. Both the team of young people working on the First Lady's "Healthy Schools" project pictured below, and the our most helpful host Rotarian partners were there bright and early.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/t4PgXbevPiM_IqqKCHZKgdGFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v8tKpPoMrZY/TqgUlFsaEgI/AAAAAAAAd0Q/SLl2NoAfyMM/s288/DSC_2911.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> I learned from a young man that Lempira, the Honduran currency is named after their national hero fromm 1502. We were soon on a roll, and things moved smoothly with the distribution.<br /> <br /> I had the good fortune of handing out bedkits to the smiling, and beaming children, and just having some fun with them. It was so touching to see those faces light up from sheer joy to disbelief at being actually able to point and choose their own bedkit. Wide-eyed children showered me with hugs -- another gift in abundance -- and such gratitude is, indeed a rare gem. SO,we've established without a doubt that Spiderman bedkits rock! They elicited great thrills and enthusiasm by the boys -- not so much, and least popular were the yellow/flowery ones.<br /> <br /> After a scrumptious lunch, compliments of Rotarian Roberto's wife, we headed off for an afternoon visit organized by Roberto who is in charge of procurement for SCAW's bedkits to the Inmeca Mattress company, the only mattress company in central Honduras. There's one more further afield in San Pedro.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3PA2rykovMuYzJUqFzbcY9GFUxNdYHeFdMvsFOUcoII?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kmTSj9MW2Jw/TqgUkOPZQsI/AAAAAAAAd0A/a75vAq8Jhzw/s288/DSC_2910.JPG" height="193" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=embedwebsite">Honduras 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> The Canadian travelling team, pictured here are (<i>Left to right</i>) Ken Teslia, Valerie Teslia, Linda Taiabjee, Irene Harrison (<i>Team Leader</i>), Jan Fine, Jim Gibson.<br /> <br /> On the way, we sampled some tortillas being made in a little roadside shop. And, we even got a taste of what a Tegucigalpa traffic jam was like. At the thirty year old factory, Javier the manager gave us an excellent tour of how the mattresses are produced not only for SCAW, but also for the general community. Our pillows are also made here from foam. Cheaper raw materials are imported from Pakistan and China. Today, they were expecting the chemical to arrive that treats the foam. They couldn't keep up with the demand because of the recent rains that caused mildew damage to a few hundred mattresses. It's a rudimentary type of industry. The factory covers one acre of land. <br /> <h2>FACTS:</h2><ul><li>On good days, the average of 1,000 mattresses for Sleeping Children are produced.</li> <li>October-March is the busy time</li> <li>45 employees earning 6,500 lempiras a month (approximately 19-$1) are equally paid</li> <li>The work day is 7:15-4:15 with an hour for lunch, plus they get paid for overtime</li> <li>They do receive benefits which is insurance for government, i.e. dental,and health paid between the owner and helper</li> <li>Vacation time is between 10 days(one year) to 20 days(5 years) a year</li> <li>No material is wasted, scraps being used to say tie bundles</li> <li>Also springs are made here too (metal imported from Brazil) for all sizes single to king</li> <li>For anyone interested in purchasing a mattress you are going to pay for a full (double) one between 2,200-5,000 lempiras.</li> </ul><br /> <b>Janet Fine<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">Our photo album</a> | Slideshow below </i><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5667909151311900849%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNLCyNObuKbmoAE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-4147814853458464312?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/R-TMT6uwiVg" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/R-TMT6uwiVg/honduras-day-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-day-2.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-2912180612018641237Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:08:00 +00002011-10-26T09:42:46.653-05:00<b>Site 5: Gaurnadi, Barisal</b><br /> <br /> With an early start before breakfast, we had an impromptu stop to watch the preparation and baking of tandoori bread. This led to a prolonged stop that included a delicious griddle-fried omelet, tandoori bread, and tea. Our breakfast arrangements were solved. (<i>See photos in our <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=directlink">photo album</a> or in the slide show at the bottom of this post.</i>)<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nVDFaSOnjBSORCxfiB_lykEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XqUZZXDk12w/TqbdPjxf5rI/AAAAAAAAdwk/mIiuG8VCM_M/s288/Michael%252520playing%252520%2525EF%252580%2525A0Quacker%2525EF%252580%2525A0.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Two hours later we arrived for the largest distribution of our road trip: 1,139 bedkits. Some children had travelled five hours to come -- 70 kilometres!<br /> <br /> Our location today was at a school dating back from 1893. What a joy it was to be greeted by hundreds of children when we arrived -- children who were cheering, waving, and brimming with anticipation for the day. Later in the day a group arrived adorned in paper hats inscribed with reference to Sleeping Children and the Rotary Club.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP246AX4TZc/TqbbzG8xykI/AAAAAAAAdu0/IGhY6k4Z7U8/s1600/barisal.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="289" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tP246AX4TZc/TqbbzG8xykI/AAAAAAAAdu0/IGhY6k4Z7U8/s320/barisal.png" /></a></div><br /> What a blast to play with a group this size by throwing frisbees and blowing bubbles. Hard to imagine the group dynamics of hundreds of children laughing and having such a great time.<br /> <br /> After a flawless distribution and a delicious late lunch served at the school we went for a stroll in the village accompanied by several child guides.<br /> <br /> Who could ask for a better day?<br /> <br /> <b>Michael Graves<br /> for Bangladesh Team 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a> | Click map for larger view. | Slideshow below</i></center><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5667461484494229457%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCJCzssHl_cj27wE%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-2912180612018641237?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/sqYJgGbCcbs" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/sqYJgGbCcbs/bangladesh-1139-bedkits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-1139-bedkits.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-1567189739766442201Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:27:00 +00002011-10-26T09:39:21.626-05:00Today's distribution took place in the Kennedy neighbourhood of Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.<br /> <br /> Before we began, we were seranaded by a small choir of young children who sang a couple of songs with help from their teacher. A great start to the day.<br /> <br /> Over 600 bedkits were distributed to children bussed in from several school districts. The distribution ran very smoothly and we were helped by enthusiastic volunteers from the Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa and volunteers from the Healthy Schools project (a department of the government headed by the First Lady of Honduras).<br /> <br /> Very recently Honduras has been hit by very heavy rains (it is the rainy season) which has caused severe flooding and damage to many homes and roads. The bedkits were certainly welcomed.<br /> <br /> Today, however, we were very fortunate as it was warm and sunny during the dictribution. The Hondurean children have beautiful dark eyes and hair and wonderful white smiles.<br /> <br /> Today was a great beginning on our Hondurean journey to help deserving children get a good night's sleep.<br /> <br /> <b>Jim Gibson<br /> for the Honduras 2011 Travelling Team</b><br /> <br /> <i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-post-comments-here.html">Post comments here.</a> | <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Honduras2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJTQnqTKgMijxwE&feat=directlink">Our photo album</a> </i><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-1567189739766442201?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/0rTmIbuQ0YA" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/0rTmIbuQ0YA/honduras-first-distribution.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/honduras-first-distribution.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1402417227567639868.post-8936638486781627156Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:01:00 +00002011-10-26T09:43:17.122-05:00Today we were in the Pabna District in the local village of Madhpur. The distribution site was located at a Dhaka Rotarian’s ancestral home where the family also operates a hospital for the local people.<br /> <br /> We arrived to a huge celebration. It seemed like the whole village had turned out for the festivities.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:right;margin:0px 0px 20px 20px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bziD1s0Tb_Or1izpCjPc30EZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_23EfZ2-m7Y/TqWjB8GpcdI/AAAAAAAAdo8/mNf6RBsuOFk/s288/Sally%252520jo%252520leading%252520the%252520kids%252520in%2525201-2-3.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> The site was decorated with gala banners that might not be out of place at a wedding festival. It was like a sea of blazing colours. We had so many people looking over the walls and visiting the area to see what was happening as we prepared for the bedkit distribution.<br /> <br /> We eventually got our bedkit and location set when a workman accidently struck a plastic water line buried three inches underground and flooded the photo area. We picked up the bedkit and moved to higher ground until a solution could be found.<br /> <br /> <table style="float:left;margin:0px 20px 20px 0px;width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M_xfAm4iq1cDuXWY0DZ77EEZ0IM_sNaXpErxdAQmMrM?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d0typnwGORg/TqWjAQP9F1I/AAAAAAAAdo0/XpKwHbL7bI0/s288/Kids%252520playing%2525201-2-3.jpg" height="192" width="288" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/scawweb/Bangladesh2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOLl8Mmbl5L4eA&feat=embedwebsite">Bangladesh 2011</a></td></tr> </table><br /> Meanwhile, Sally Jo Martin, Sleeping Children’s resident pied piper, entertained the children in the sweltering heat. Eventually we got underway and moved the 700 children through the process and out to their homes.<br /> <br /> The children were smiling happily although they must have felt they had waited hours. After a reception and greetings from the local dignitaries, we had a light Bangladeshi lunch of rice and chicken and then we were on our way for a three-hour drive for a night’s stay before tomorrow’s distribution.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCSb_b-IxsA/TqWhyV6OxTI/AAAAAAAAdos/b2Hr_vd68JE/s1600/pabna.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QCSb_b-IxsA/TqWhyV6OxTI/AAAAAAAAdos/b2Hr_vd68JE/s320/pabna.png" /></a></div><br /> Tomorrow we will pass the halfway point in our trip and will have handed out over 3,000 bedkits.<br /> <br /> <b>George Foster<br /> for Bangladesh Team 2011</b><br /> <br /> <center><i><a href="http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-post-commets-here.html">Click to post comments.</a> | Click map for larger view. | Slideshow below</i></center><br /> <br /> <embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscawweb%2Falbumid%2F5667117180304569713%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCMqKq4zdx6zCEQ%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1402417227567639868-8936638486781627156?l=scawlivereports.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~4/jaOErhl1QJA" height="1" width="1"/>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ScawLiveReports/~3/jaOErhl1QJA/bangladesh-madhpur-pabna.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (SCAW Webmaster)http://scawlivereports.blogspot.com/2011/10/bangladesh-madhpur-pabna.html