Maclaren Art Centre

Wednesday December 2, 2009 - The Barrie Examiner

Grandmothers lead charge against AIDS

Joanne O'Shea has never visited the AIDS-and HIV-ravaged countries of Africa. But she knows she has to do something to help the millions of people suffering from the diseases. O'Shea, and her fellow Grandmothers and GrandOthers of Barrie, took part in World AIDS Day events at the MacLaren Art Centre last night.The 100-strong local chapter of Grandmothers and GrandOthers -- with more than 100 members -- is one of more than 200 similar organizations across Canada which are part of Grandmothers to Grandmothers, created by the Stephen Lewis Foundation in 2006.

Together, the groups have raised $7 million for the foundation, which supports community-based organizations working to eradicate HIV/AIDS in Africa. Since 2003, it has funded more than 300 projects in 15 countries. 
 

"It's important for people to care because the aim of the foundation is to turn the tide on HIV and AIDS in Africa," O'Shea said, adding that as many as 13 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, leaving the job of raising them to their grandmothers."
 

Sheila Nazerali, of Grandmothers and GrandOthers, has visited Africa many times and has witnessed the desperation and poverty first-hand.
 

"You don't see a lot of young adults about but you do see many children and older people. There are a lot of child-headed households because parents, aunts and uncles have all died of AIDS," she said. "It's a social disaster. They don't have any adults to pass on the knowledge to run a society."
 

Nazerali said the Stephen Lewis Foundation is funding at the grassroots level, without the middlemen.
 

"The foundation guarantees that their overhead is less than 10%. Money given (to the foundation) is in the hands of an African grandmother within two weeks of the donation being made," she said.
 

O'Shea said the donations are making a difference in the lives of grandmothers and the orphans in their care. "Grandmothers and GrandOthers want to raise awareness and funds to make a difference," she said. "We feel privileged to be a part of it."
 

Nazerali said she enjoys helping other grandmothers half a world away with support for food, opportunities to earn a living, school fees, books and uniforms.
 

"It's incredibly rewarding. It's fun and there's a huge need," she said. "The Barrie group is a really dynamic group of older people with many talents."
 

Stephen Lewis Foundation director of operations, Margaret White, praised the efforts of the group and other members of the national organization.
 

The group meets the first Wednesday of the month at 9:30 a. m. at Woods Park Care Centre, 110 Lillian Cres.

imcinroy@thebarrieexaminer. co