Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves!

The Impact of Your Gift

On October 26th I travelled to Nicaragua with Sleeping Children Around the World.  In 10 days we visited 10 different communities and gave out 5,000 bedkits to needy children between the ages of 6 -12.  I also travelled with this wonderful organization two years ago to Honduras.  As a team member, we are asked to write an article for the newsletter that will be sent to every person who sponsored a bedkit for a child on that distribution. ( a bedkit sponsor costs $35.00 of which 100% goes to buying the bedkit)   Here is a little taste of what I experienced there!

We anticipated a very long and full day as we prepared for a lengthy travel to a small community close to the border between Honduras and Nicaragua. We were travelling to a town that 602 children from 39 rural schools would congregate in, to receive their bedkits.

It was a notable distribution, where one mother told us how her child could not sleep all night from the excitement of knowing she was getting her bedkit today. Another child passed a hand written letter to one of our team, while offering a thank you hug. The note shared a little of her home life and the difference the bedkit will make for her and her family.

When we had completed our joy-filled work, all the volunteers received a plate of beans with some cheese. I sat beside Arnold Salgado, a young man who was the community worker for the area. He lovingly shared thoughts and concerns about the people of his village and the community activities.

He described how most homes consist of one room with no furniture or only a wooden bed frame or a mattress. Some members of the family sleep on the bed-frame lined with material or plastic. Others sleep on the floor. Winter nights are cold. A mattress to separate their body from the cold, damp ground will make a distinct difference in their health and happiness. Most cook on an open fire, which can be dangerous for both the home and the children. Our team was invited into two homes and saw first-hand the reality of these living conditions.

In the discussion with Arnold, someone stated that of the 601 children only one had a pair of glasses. It wasn’t hard to notice the many children with decayed teeth. These noticeable concerns spoke to the lack of funds available for health-related issues.

There are many child-headed families in this area. Mothers often travel to the city to find work to gain an income to support their families.

Arnold shared this with us to emphasize the immense importance of SCAW’s presence to these people, then went on to speak of the way the community works together for the betterment of all.

He oversees an eco-friendly project where local volunteers clean the community and plant trees. He was very proud as he spoke of the enthusiastic involvement in many sports activities. They have very little equipment but this does not stop them from coming together, creating teams for various sports, and having fun.

It is easy to underestimate how a small act of kindness can impact a person or even a community. The appreciation for a gift that by Canadian standards is fairly small, impacts these families in a tremendous way. It comes infused with hope, which can ignite people to feel and believe in their own worthiness, and lead them to become people of hope for the future.

You can get more information on Sleeping Children Around The World on their website at www.scaw.org

Posted in Newsletter |

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