Friday 30 September 2011

Nicaragua: Chiquilistagua

Today our distribution of 542 bedkits took place at Mino Jesus de Praga school.

From Nicaragua 2011

It was very hot and humid but everyone worked well together.

Three young girls, having discovered that we were from Canada, handed me a note to be delivered to Justin Bieber. The translated note said “We ask you to say hi to Justin and tell him we are his fans.” Who would have guessed that in this far away land in an inner city school that our Justin would be recognized?

From Nicaragua 2011

They also said on the same note. “Thank you for all your help you are giving us today. God Bless you.” Signed by ten young girls from Jesus de Praga school.

Jean Bennett
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Nicaragua: Las Mercedes

A 6:45 a.m. departure got us to our destination of Las Mercedes by 8 a.m. where we distributed bedkits to children from Las Mercedes School and two neighboring schools. Las Mercedes is an independent school near the airport for the children of workers of the duty free industries who manufacture items that are exported and are not for sale in Nicaragua.

From Nicaragua 2011

Workers in this industry get paid between $6 and $7 per day and the school is funded mostly by the duty free industries themselves.

From Nicaragua 2011
The distribution today was particularly well organized thanks to Rodrigo from the Rotary Club and Candida, the Director of the school who were in charge. Many of the parents chipped in to help as volunteers making sure the children were dressed, assembled and taken through the picture-taking process.

All the children received a sandwich and a drink before the left for home with their bedkits.

All the SCAW volunteers today were busy exchanging high fives with the children and sharing different forms of the five-part handshake with them as they proceeded through the process. At the end, two of the girls presented Mike with a piece of paper in their own handwriting complete with hearts, which read:
From Nicaragua 2011
Para Ti Queremos
Ti de Nicaragua
Signed by Julisa and Andrea, which I am told translates to read:
“We love you
From Nicaragua”
At the end of the distribution we were all feted by the school to a delicious lunch of home made cannelloni, rice, and a salad of avocadoes, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and peppers.
From Nicaragua 2011
Today we distributed 651 bedkits, the highest number to date, and were back to the hotel by 3:45 in plenty of time for a highly anticipated dip in the pool before dinner.
All the photos are in the
Nicaragua 2011 Photo Album

All is still well!

Greg O’Neill
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Sri Lanka: Final Day

Mission accomplished ~ four thousand bedkits presented!

Traveling into remote north/north central villages, it was our privilege, on behalf of the donors, to help change the lives of four thousand very beautiful children.

Along the way we have visited small village homes; interviewed parents, grandparents, and bedkit recipients; trekked through the jungle to see the somewhat elusive elephants; enjoyed children of different cultures performing traditional dances; were honoured to participate in the friendship oil lamp lighting ceremony each morning; tried many varieties of Sri Lankan food and were truly humbled as we entered each distribution site behind a marching band.
Including the 4,000 bedkits delivered
in Sri Lanka this year, our total is
now 1,173,130 bedkits since
Sleeping Children began in 1970.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Kelaniya Team Sri Lanka has once again played a small part in helping to fulfill the Drydens’ dream.

Changing our hats now to ‘tourists,’ we will spend the next few days exploring Sri Lanka before we are back to Colombo for meetings with Rotarians and a final evening together before flying home.

Another amazing adventure!!

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Nicaragua: Colegio Cristiano de Padul

Change is the main constant on SCAW distributions.

Day 8 was no exception in this regard. Judy and Maria and Rodriguo were busy making the adjustments necessary to maintain our on-site effectiveness.

From Nicaragua 2011

Our schedule this day involved making our way to Colegio Cristiano de Padul (private school) for a distribution of 250 bedkits arranged by Maria of Managua (Rotary) with the school principal, Rosemary. The staff and children were delightful.

From Nicaragua 2011

From Nicaragua 2011

We were even entertained by a brother and sister dance duo, as well as an older female foursome.

The school and its teachers are doing an excellent job; as witnessed by the attitude of the kids: they were cheerful, playful, gregarious and most of all, very appreciative.

From Nicaragua 2011

One of the highlights was meeting a pair of teachers who had come from New Hampshire. Sponsored by their church they had been teaching in the school for several years.

Fluently bilingual it was wonderful to meet such dedicated people who obviously got great satisfaction out of helping the children too!

Mike Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Nicaragua: Leon

A very early start this morning ... 5.45 a.m. ... with a stop in a typical rural finca/farm restaurant after we left the city ... with onions on a tortilla with a creamy cheese sauce ... a common breakfast for many people in Nicaragua.

From Nicaragua 2011
We drove to the city of Leon, the second largest city in this country with the large and beautiful cathedral in the centre which was constructed in 1749.

From Nicaragua 2011

Our distribution was in a combined orphanage and school. There are forty children living full time in the orphanage, and many many more attending the school itself — from little ones to high school students ... ready to go onwards.

When we arrived some of the children were at a chapel service. We heard them singing several songs in tunes that we know ... including a bit, I think, of Leonard Cohen's Alleluia.
From Nicaragua 2011

After more than four hundred children received bedkits, we headed for lunch in the mid afternoon after a short drive to the Pacific Ocean to a very pleasant seaside restaurant where the waves crashed into the sands immediately beside the dining tables. One rogue wave, in fact, washed right up around the diners' feet but the food was still very good.

From Nicaragua 2011

So many children with new bedkits ... and we had a good day too ... with a final stop to look inside the big cathedral.

All the photos are in the
Nicaragua 2011 Photo Album

Click any photo to see a larger version.

Bev White
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.


Sunday 25 September 2011

Sri Lanka: Day 6

Today's distribution was half an hour from our hotel. The sun was already blazing in the sky when we arrived.

The school was a much smaller than yesterday and the one-storey pale pink buildings were spread out around a huge reddish brown sandy, grassless field.

The children and parents were gathered in a small narrow auditorium at the beginning. Each day during the welcome exercises it has been delightful to listen to young people deliver a speech in English welcoming us. By 10:30 we had found our photo site. Not in a dark hall this time but out in the barren open play area.There was a bit of shade at the front of the classrooms tto shelter the waiting children. The was now blazing hot and the temperatures were in the mid 40's when we started. Water bottles were constantly being replenished . The water was so hot we could have added a tea bag to it.

We moved quickly to take the photos and get the children out of the sun. More than one child did not look up at Ted for the photo as their eyes were fixated on the bedkit in front of them.Others grabbed our hands and repeatedly said thank you in English.

One child had tears rolling down her cheeks. 603 children filed patiently through the process today. 603 little voices said carefully in their only words of English THANK YOU. IT was worth every bit of sun a,sweat and heat to see them so happy.

I'm rushing this as the hydro keeps going off.

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Saturday 24 September 2011

Sri Lanka: Day 5

Today's distribution began on the third floor of a very large school with a student population of over 800 children.

From Sri Lanka 2011
Our welcome began with the presentation of lovely floral leis, followed by six young Tamil girls doing a typical national dance.

After welcome speeches, the SCAW team humorously demonstrated the contents of the bedkit with Ron playing the child in his new bed and Chris as a mosquito trying to get him through the net. The children and parents loved it and we had smiles from the children when picture-taking time arrived.

On seeing the last of the 589 children off, we were treated to a Sri Lankan lunch before we boarded our bus.

From Sri Lanka 2011
The army personnel helping us today were eager to show us more of Sri Lanka. We passed areas were they have been aiding displaced citizens to resettle and then on through a jungle area to a steep rock area -- the Nandi Mithra Rock which is 500 feet high.

We climbed the steep rock face and were rewarded with a fabulous view of the jungle and lake area that was near our distribution site. Off in the distance as the sun began to set, we could see a small herd of elephants having a drink at the waters edge. They looked like little dots from our hilltop.

What more could one ask for the end of a great distribution day. We gave bedkits to 589 wonderful children and somehow we too were given a wonderful gift in return.

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Nicaragua: Day 7 -- "Pay it Forward"

This morning we toured the various factories to witness the production of the bedkit items. First stop, was the mattress factory.
From Nicaragua 2011

There were 5000 mattresses produced in an area about 300 square feet -- 100 of those were consumed with the stuffing, 100 out in the open air with a sewing machine to seam the bags and the third 100 square feet held a table to assemble the bag.

First, the bag is stuffed with 22 lb. of new, clean remnant material pieces. I was most impressed with the dexterity of the young man who tufted the mattress by stitching through both sides and then knotting the tuft into place. His hands moved with machine-like precision.

We saw the production of the T-shirts and shorts at another stop.
From Nicaragua 2011

Some 900 T-shirts are produced in a day and I counted seven people working on the production line. We watched the process of neck ribbing, sleeve making, attaching the sleeves and label, trimming the threads, and then folding and packaging ready for delivery.

From Nicaragua 2011
We also visited the place where the pillow slips, sheets, and towels were produced. It was here we met Marta, the establishment owner. We discovered that Marta uses the money that Sleeping Children pays her to work with a local parish priest, and she pays for a breakfast for 700 needy children on the 24th of December.

Such a wonderful story to end our day of factory visits.
Have a look at our photo album.
Nicaragua 2011

Marg Garrett
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Friday 23 September 2011

Nicaragua: Day 5 -- Granada

Play time!

Today’s distribution was in the beautiful town of Granada. The site was a former school, now a senior citizens’ residence. The Rotarians of Managua and Granada worked together to keep the distribution running smoothly.
From Nicaragua 2011

The children’s arrival schedule was staggered to prevent long line-ups. As a result, we were able to spend more time playing with the children. Out came the bubble containers. Puppets “Tortuga” the turtle and “Shredder” the hamster were pressed into service, and Marg led the waiting children in a rousing version of “If You’re Happy And You Know It.”
From Nicaragua 2011

It was hard to tell who had more fun -- the children or the SCAW team.

After the distribution we had some time for sightseeing with the company of our Rotary partners.
Have a look at our photo album.
Nicaragua 2011

Judy Dryden
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Nicaragua: Slideshow Day 5

Thursday 22 September 2011

Nicaragua: Day 4 -- Los Cedros

We started out much later today and drove about an hour to the town of Los Cedros.

From Nicaragua 2011
It was very hot and humid but Mike liked being warm as we all did and the children were so happy when they saw what their gift was … all for them.

The volunteers were wonderful and made everything go so well.

500 more children will sleep much better. Our contribution today was at a school where 1000 children attend, some in the morning and some in the afternoon.

Much Love ... Sleep well — children of Nicaragua

Jean Bennett
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.


Sri Lanka: Day 4

Day 4 included the following:
  • the traditional Sri Lankan welcome with a marching band and flag-raising
  • From Sri Lanka 2011
  • a Rotarian who asked us to help give Canadians a picture of the Sri Lanka that is healing and moving forward
  • beautiful young women in the Sri Lankan army who have worked with the team each day and are such a wonderful help with the children
  • the shy smiles and large dark eyes of the kids being photographed
  • walking into a small rural community to visit the home of a bedkit recipient
  • From Sri Lanka 2011
  • drinking cool milk from a king coconut at the home of a local teacher
  • being very grateful for the priviledge of travelling with SCAW

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Sri Lanka: Day 2

How can you express in words a day like no other: from our culture to theirs, of total acceptance, the laughing and sparkling eyes, the pearly white smiles.

A bedkit from Sleeping Children that brings so much pleasure from people so far away who care about them.

“How can that be?” they ask.

There was so much joy and happiness. The day ended with an impromptu dance, with all joining in, children, volunteers and teachers alike. Dazzling and brilliantly coloured saris whirling around the floor.

Spontaneous and utterly joyful!!

Sadly we had to leave, with hugs all around, and ecstatic waves goodbye.

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Nicaragua: Day 3 -- Esteli

We were out of the gate at 7:00 am this morning with our faithful Rotary companions Maria and Rodrigo.

Our trusted driver Freddy headed for Esteli, a three-hour drive due north of our hotel after skirting around the east side of Lago de Managua.

As we neared our destination of San Pedro School, which is about 800 meters above sea level and therefore cooler than steamy Managua, we picked up a young local volunteer named Cesar who spoke very good English which he acquired watching American television. In his day job he works for a company called “Movistar” which in itself made us feel we had our own personal Nicaraguan celebrity in our midst all day who did a Superman’s job on site with the other twenty or so local volunteers keeping everything running very smoothly.

Once again, on arrival, we were greeted by yet another 500 smiling children’s faces, had the pleasure of being officially welcomed by a young girl and were entranced by another two young ladies who performed local dances for us which set us all in an excellent mood for our task at hand.

Most of today’s children came from about 4 or 5 other surrounding schools many of which took three hours or more to get to the distribution site by what ever means were available, meaning that a number of them were up with their families by 2 a.m. to get to the site on time. At the end of the distribution, we gathered our things and headed with ravenous appetites straight for an excellent steak restaurant, still accompanied by our own personal Movistar.

Somehow each successive day seems to progress more smoothly than the last and judging by the lively banter in the vehicle back to our hotel, the team is becoming more and more cohesive and effective.

By the beginning of next week we should be nothing short of invincible.

Life is good.

Greg O’Neill
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Nicaragua: Day 2 -- La Concha

Today's distribution was in a town called La Concha where we arrived after an hour's drive through beautiful lush countryside. We were greeted by three marching bands and a large crowd of more than 500 children, parents, teachers, local officials, and a good number of volunteers.
From Nicaragua 2011
Many of the volunteers were enthusiastic teenagers ... as you can see in our photo.

One young lady named Daniela did an outstanding job of helping the youngsters reclaim the clothing they wore to the event which had been carefully placed in see-through plastic bags. Some of the kids are like ours at home ... they had difficulty recognizing their own belongings! Daniela never lost her cool for a moment.

From Nicaragua 2011
An older local volunteer had the responsibility of holding a Nicaraguan flag all through the welcoming ceremonies and performances of traditional dances ... she also danced with a member of the SCAW team, big Mike ... as you can see in the photo at left andother photos in our photo album.

We were fortunate to have good weather today ... that is ... it did not rain, as it has every other day so far ... the rainy season lasts until November ... and it is responsible for the lush growth we are seeing everywhere.

Bev White
for Team Nicaragua 2011


Leave comments here.

Sri Lanka: Day 1 -- Minhital & Walpola

After an unusually early rising at 1 a.m, we finally set off on the six-hour drive north from Colombo to our destination at Minhital, following the coast road for 100 kilometres before heading east into the interior of the island. We had the first of many superb lunches of Sri Lankan cuisine at the Hotel Minhital then headed out for our first distribution of 4,000 bedkits at the Walpola School.

The work we had come here to do in Sri Lanka was made immeasurably easier by the preparatory work and planning that had gone on in the weeks and months prior to our arrival. Members of the Rotary Club of Kelaniya, especially Diya, Sarath, Melroy, and Ravi have gone far and above what we had expected of them. Colonel Gamani of the Sri Lankan army personally visited the schools to ensure they were where Sleeping Children could offer most help. He, together with men and women in his command, continued to offer help in every way to make the days run smoothly.

On arriving at Walpola I have never in my life felt so humbled and honoured as I did when a six-year-old student knelt at my feet offering me a friendship gift of betel leaves in her upturned palms.

The school band led a procession of Canadian and Sri Lankan SCAW volunteers into the school past a waiting and welcoming throng of parents and children lining the road. A ceremony of raising the national, regional, and school flags, with the singing of the very moving national anthem preceded the official speeches of welcome from the school principal and local dignitaries inside one of the classrooms. Two older students made speeches, one in Sinhalese and the other in excellent English.

After six young ladies performed a traditional Sri Lankan dance for us, we swung into “full bedkit” mode bringing joy and happiness to students and parents alike as they received their gift of a sleeping-mat, mosquito net, two T-shirts, shorts or skirts, pajamas, school-books, a back-pack, a pillow, pillow cases, towels, sheets and a pair of flip-flops.

I truly hope the photo you receive showing the smiling face of the child you have helped gives you some sense of the gratitude these children feel for the people on the far side of the world who care enough to help them.

Although the photo shows a child proudly wearing their brand new Sleeping Children clothes, please remember that several hours earlier this same child arrived with threadbare clothing, ragged undergarments, and no shoes.

To exemplify how vastly different the way of life here is: at one distribution fifty students received their bedkits early in the day because “They have to return home early before the elephants start crossing the road.”

Team Sri Lanka 2011

Sri Lanka: In the country

The Sri Lanka team is travelling in the country far from Internet access for the next few days. They say all is well and will send reports when they are "back on the grid."

Leave comments here.

Monday 19 September 2011

Nicaragua: First Distribution -- El Sauce

Managua, Nicaragua

From Nicaragua 2011
Led by Judy Dryden, the day started early. All of us were ready and “chomping at the bit” at 6:45 am. We were minus one of our team, Bev, due to an unfriendly stomach, but nonetheless, Freddy (our driver) had us rolling down the road enroute to our first distribution in a small town called El Sauce (later known as “hot” Sauce to some of us). After about 3.5 hours and a few slowdowns for cattle crossings, we arrived.

What an unbelievable sight – the road was jammed with children, parents, grandparents and all manner of transportation, but mostly horses.

From Nicaragua 2011
The school where we were doing the distribution welcomed “the Canadians” with a big sign. In the school yard were over 500 children with their teachers; and outside the fence were all the parents and other observers, curious as to what was going to happen when the Canadians arrived. We were welcome by Roger the community leader, and also a pastor, with a very nice speech. The kids sang their national anthem and we sang ours.

Then the real work began. Our sponsors, the Rotary Club of Managua were fantastic. Maria and Rodrigo coordinated everything with the large group (24) of local volunteers. With badges on, they did most of the leg work throughout the day.

From Nicaragua 2011
Judy, after directing the set- ‐up, started things moving. She thought of herself as the “gringa loca” when she was trying to get the kids to smile for their picture.

The day was overcast, but didn’t rain until later in the afternoon, Maria worried that too much rain would affect our return trip -- thankfully it didn’t.

Greg was impressed with the departure proceedings. One large group of kids left on a truck loaded high with bedkits. Horses left loaded up too – one with a grandmother, bedkits stacked in front of her and two kids holding on behind. Mostly it all worked. Jean found a label with her donation on it. Freddy, our rotund driver missed his lunch but enjoyed a great soup (sopa de Albondiga) made for us by the local volunteers when we were finished our work.

From Nicaragua 2011
The volunteers did an impressive amount, not only the food, but providing security for the storage area over the two days preceding the distribution.

On our return trip, we saw many of the families returning home flashing smiles at us as we passed by in the van, holding on to their bedkits. It didn’t seem to matter to them that it was raining ...

Mike Garrett
reporting after his very first distribution day
for Team Nicaragua, 2011


Leave comments here.
.

Sri Lanka: The team has arrived

From Sri Lanka 2011
The team has arrived safely after an eighteen-hour flight. At 4:30 in the morning the temperature was a lovely 20 degrees. Our hosts were waiting for us and quickly zipped us off to our hotel.

The streets were dark and quiet as we travelled through the sleeping city. Our hotel is quite comfortable. After a short sleep, we had our first peek at Sri Lanka from our hotel.

Today we will meet with the Rotarians, see the bedkit, and then prepare to travel off tomorrow to our first distribution.

In our photo album are three photos taken on arrival in Colombo, Sri Lanka airport with our Rotarian hosts.


Team Sri Lanka 2011

Leave comments here.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Saturday 17 September 2011

Nicaragua: The team has arrived

From Nicaragua 2011
We arrived safe and sound today, September 17 in Managua, Nicaragua.

Our Rotarians hosts met with us for happy hour and shared their experiences in their participation with Sleeping Children. Their enthusiasm is contagious.

Shown in the photo are the Nicaragua 2011 travelling team. (Left to right) Bev White, Jean Bennett, Mike Garrett, Marg Garrett, Judy Dryden (Team Leader), Greg O'Neill.

Tomorrow will be an introduction of procedures for our new team members, Mike and Bev, Judy will run them through their paces then we will all be ready to go on Monday.

Marg Garrett
for the Nicaragua 2011 Team


Leave comments here.

Friday 16 September 2011

Thursday 15 September 2011

Tanzania: The reports are on the web

Tanzania Report

The donor newsletter for the Tanzania bedkit distribution has gone to print and can be downloaded from the Sleeping Children Website.
Tanzania 2011
Photos are available in the Tanzania

2011 Photo Album
. You can view them by clicking the link above.

If you would like to read the reports on the web, you can read them in their entirety here.

Here is a download link for the PDF version of the newsletter.