In sub-Saharan Africa grandmothers have become the unsung heroines for as many as thirteen million children who became vulnerable or orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
The women care for their own ailing children, bury them, and have no time to grieve. Many of advanced age have their own personal health problems. Though they may have barely enough shelter and food for their own survival, they attempt to feed, clothe, and comfort their grandchildren.
Fundraising Events
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign was launched on the eve of International Women's Day in 2006. Its members are endeavouring to build solidarity, gain support, and raise awareness of the plight of stricken families.
In Canada, more than two hundred groups are involved in the action to help give healthy futures to these children and to bring hope to their grandmothers.
Fundraising events have raised more than $4 million. With that money, community-level organizations in fifteen sub-Saharan African countries actively support groups of grandmothers who are raising grandchildren by provision of food supplies and housing grants. Coffins are provided so that there can be dignified burial of loved ones, and grief counselling is available. Other forms of assistance include payment of fees for schooling and uniforms and income-generating projects.
The Gathering
In August 2006, African grandmothers, project facilitators, and Canadian grandmothers who recognize the horrible situation, gathered in Toronto. The three-day constructive, informative, and emotionally-charged session was hosted by The Stephen Lewis Foundation. A result was 'The Toronto Statement' that was, at the close of The Gathering, presented to representatives of the XVI International AIDS Conference and UNAIDS.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation
From 1995 to 1999 Canadian Stephen Lewis was Deputy Director of UNICEF. He worked as United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa from 2001 until 2006. From that position he worked to draw attention to the pandemic and to convince world leaders and the general public that they have a responsibility to respond. He does not hesitate when it comes to criticizing unhelpful policies.
Stephen Lewis heads the charitable foundation that bears his name. It was established in 2003 in response to Canadians' strong support for the campaign of awareness about the horrors of the HIV/AIDS crisis. It is a strong response to the question of how to get money directly to grassroots groups in Africa.
There is strong commitment to ensuring that 90% of the contributions go directly to the people at the grassroots level in Africa who need it most. Administrative costs are kept as low as possible.
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