As published in
The Indian Express
Monday, March 2, 2009
Click photo to see larger version
Pranav Kulkarni
Sleeping children Around the World (SCAW), a Canada based non-profit organisation that has been distributing bed kits to children across the globe gave out their one millionth kit near Pune last week
A peaceful night sleep might be the reflection of satisfaction, contentment and happiness. But what about the scores of under privileged who are deprived of this very basic right?
With a motive to provide a peaceful sleep to children from rural and economically backward villages, Sleeping children Around the World (SCAW), a Canada based non-profit organisation, in collaboration with Rotary Club of Pune, Cantonment had organised a bed kit distribution drive at five remote villages- Sarolepathar, Javalebaleshwar, Gunjalwadi, Gondhalwadi and Nandur around Pune between February 22 and 26. Dave Dryden, volunteer, SCAW, explains, “It was my father who started this project 39 years ago. His philosophy was that it is a peaceful sleep that gives rise to hope and acts as a dynamo generating energy to fight the odds in life. I however have a personal motive as well and that is- when I leave this world, all those on whose faces I brought smile, will remember me.”
Having started by Murrey Dryden with the first bed kit distribution at Saint Crispin’s Home in Pune in the year 1970, SCAW distributed their one-millionth kit this year on February 26. According to Shailesh Gandhi, president, Rotary Club of Pune, Cantonment, who have been associated with SCAW for the past 13 years, “Our job was to locate the villages and evaluate their authenticity. There are a number of organisations that work for children in Pune. But the reason behind selecting these villages was the scarcity of natural resources and adverse living conditions in these villages, despite which the parents have been extremely supportive in continuing with their children’s education.”
Veena Chawla, president elect adds, “ Rather than keeping the drive limited to one kit, we distributed 3000 bed kits to children between standard one to four, from nearly 63 schools in these villages. The response was overwhelming and we are planning to increase the number of kits to 4000 next year.”
With a core team of 14 members and countless volunteers, SCAW has been working selflessly for children across globe in countries such as Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Togo, Honduras and so on. Having mentioned that it is the smile on the faces of these children that brings him back to India every year, Dryden points out, “We look at India as a superpower in making, and we are often questioned that does India really need the donations? And my answer is, at the moment - yes. But I am certainly looking forward to an India that is independent and self-sufficient, so that some years down the lane, we stop coming here and instead, we along with India can help other nationals who need our help to live a happy life and for the same - get a good night sleep.”
And indeed it is this ‘good night sleep’, that if provided to the children from economically backward areas, can show them a better morning and bring a sunrise of hope in their lives.
