The Following is from the Grandmothers-to-Grandmothers web site.

As grandmothers from Africa and Canada, we were drawn together by our similarities: our deep love and undying devotion to our children and grandchildren; our profound concern about the havoc that HIV/AIDS has inflicted on the continent of Africa, and in particular on its women and its children; and our understanding that we have within us everything needed to surmount seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

— Excerpt from the Toronto Statement, August 2006

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF AFRICA

Africa has become a continent of orphans — as many as 11.6 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. Grandmothers bury their own adult children and step into the breach, caring for the orphaned children left behind. They have no time to grieve their losses, little to no financial resources, deteriorating health, and limited support to bridge the generation gap and help their grandchildren work through the trauma of losing their parents. Despite these hardships, these courageous women have become the heart of the response to AIDS in Africa.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) launched the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign in March 2006 to raise awareness, build solidarity and mobilize funds for Africa’s grandmothers and the orphans in their care. It has since evolved into a national movement of more than 200 grandmother groups – over 5,000 women – who support African grandmothers through SLF.

SUPPORT FOR GRANDMOTHERS

Through the Grandmothers Campaign, the SLF strives to provide dignity in the present and hope for the future for African grandmothers. Support includes food, transportation, home visits, medical care, adequate housing and bedding,school fees and uniforms for orphans as wellas coffins to allow for the dignified burial of a loved one. The Campaign also provides grandmothers with HIV awareness training, counselling and testing, parenting and business skills workshops, micro-credit grants, bereavement counselling and support groups.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

• Join a grandmother group or start your own • Invite a speaker to talk about the Campaign • Hold a fundraising event in your community • Screen one of SLF’s films or public service

announcements • Network with other groups and learn more

at:www.grandmotherscampaign.org

QUESTIONS? Visit our website or contact campaign@stephenlewisfoundation.org or 416.533.9292 ext.230 or 1.888.203.9990 ext.230.

Photo: © Maurice Henri  Photos: © Gillian Mathurin and Margaret Wright

TURNING THE TIDE OF AIDS IN AFRICA

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) supports community-based organizations working to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since 2003, we have funded more than 300 projects in 15 countries.

These grassroots groups are the lifeline for their communities: they provide counselling and education about HIV prevention, care and treatment; distribute food, medication and other necessities; reach the sick and vulnerable through home-based health care; help orphans and vulnerable children access education and work through their grief; and support grandmothers caring for their orphaned grandchildren.

OUR APPROACH

We’ve worked to create a new way of funding that is sensitive, responsive and flexible - one that avoids bureaucratic red-tape and ensures that the money goes where it’s most needed.

We see a potential for major change around the pandemic. Our challenge is clear: we must help effective projects to scale up, fund more innovative initiatives, and support the tremendous people who are working determinedly to turn the tide of AIDS right across the continent.

Donate Today! Together, we can help turn the tide of AIDS in Africa.

YOUR SUPPORT WOULD MEAN COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMED:

• Hundreds of thousands more children would be able to attend school, access proper nutrition, and receive the counselling they need to cope with the loss of their parents. Last year alone, SLF supported more than 200,000 orphans and vulnerable children.

• More community health workers would be trained to travel from house to house to distribute medication, counsel families and nurse people too sick to leave home.

• A network of thousands of local leaders and people living with HIV and AIDS would be able to speak out against stigma and discrimination in their communities.

• Women who are victims of sexual violence would receive emergency reconstructive surgeries, HIV testing and care, counselling and vital psychological support.

STEPHEN LEWIS FOUNDATION

260 Spadina Ave, Suite 501, Toronto, ON M5T 2E4 tel: 416.533.9292 • fax: 416.850.4910 toll free: 1.888.203.9990 info@stephenlewisfoundation.org www.stephenlewisfoundation.org