In March of this year I was 1 of 22 Grandmothers across Canada who visited Africa with the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. We had the opportunity to visit projects in Ethiopia, South Africa and Rwanda. We divided into 4 groups each visiting different projects. As a member of group 3, Developing Families Together in Debra Sina, Ethiopia was the first project I visited. We received a warm welcome from 75 grandmothers, children and community members with singing and dancing and then joined in a march down main street.
Major Projects of Developing Families Together
- HIV/AIDS Prevention
- Grandmother and Children Support
- Women Empowerment
- Environment protection,water and sanitation
- Promotion of social facilities at community level
On day two of the visit the Canadian Grandmothers sat down with about 25 African Grandmothers to chat. Many of them shared their stories of AIDS, poverty, and loss of family members. Some spoke on the stigma of aids and how the person with aids and all their family members were outcasts in the community. They spoke of hope for the future and how grateful they are to the Canadian Grandmothers.