As posted in The Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin, January 21, 2011
By ISABEL GRIFFIN
SCAW STILL CARRIES ON: SCAW began is work 41 years ago.
What is SCAW and what does it do?
"Sleeping Children Around the World" is a Canadian organization recognized for its efforts to make life better for children in other parts of the world.
How did it come into being?
If you're an older Canadian citizen, you will recognize the name 'Dryden'. And if you're a hockey fan, you'll also recall the names Ken and Dave Dryden.
What made the Drydens start this work?
When Murray Dryden finished school, times were hard and he had trouble finding a job. He knew what it was like to be cold, hungry and have no place to sleep. Eventually, the economy changed. He got a good job, married, had a family, and, finally, had time to do some travelling. On one occasion when he and his wife, Margaret, were walking along a street, overseas, they saw what looked like a heap of rags on the sidewalk ahead of them. It was, indeed, a heap of rags -but, under them was a child trying to sleep. The Drydens felt something had to be done. SCAW was the result of this incident.
In 1970 they came up with the idea of providing bedkits for needy children in other lands. Their aim was to improve living conditions for poor children -one million of them! And Sleeping Children Around the World was the result. SCAW became a registered Canadian charity. It took 39 years to reach their objective. Unfortunately, neither Margaret or Murray were still living to celebrate this accomplishment.
However, the charity hopes to help another million over the next 10 years, and Dave Dryden is involved. Four countries and five places in India are on the current list. SCAW sends out a newsletter to donors, in which the bedkit distributors describe their experiences. Schools, churches, and individuals make their work possible.
Even Collingwood has some contributors. A friend gave me a copy of a recent newsletter describing a visit to Honduras.
Where possible, the items in the bedkits are made in the country where they will be used. Items vary according to their destination. For example, the Honduras kits had: mattress, pillow, pillow case, bed sheet, towel, pair of shorts, t-shirt, blanket, pen, pencil, eraser, pencil sharpener, coloured pencil set, two notebooks, and a mosquito net. In some areas the latter is very important.
SCAW is 'run' from Canada. It has a board of five directors, plus an executive director, and a committee of 11 members. The head office, in Toronto, is the former Dryden home.
Destinations overseas have a local Rotary Club. It has the task of finding the most needy children, and arranging the distribution of the bedkits in its area.
The Honduras newsletter contained reports by volunteers from Caledon, Cobourg, Kingston, and Milton. Volunteers pay their own expenses.
Homes are made from whatever materials are available, and all have dirt floors. Cooking is done in a clay oven outside the living quarters. Generally, 'outhouses' are shared among families.
Marilyn, from Cobourg, talked with three children, ages 11, 10 and seven. The 11-and seven-year-old girls would like to become doctors, while the 10-year-old, who's good in mathematics, wants to be an accountant.
Said Marilyn, "I gave each child a cookie. The boy broke off a small piece and wrapped the rest in a serviette. Both girls also wrapped up their treats. Their mothers don't have the means to make cookies and certainly couldn't afford to buy them."
As Greg from Caledon said, "I understand why Murray Dryden did what he did. I'm glad to help."
If you, or someone you know, would also like to help, send your cheque for $35 to Sleeping Children Around the World, 28 Pinehurst Cres., Toronto, Ont., Canada, M9A 3A5.
