Sharon Henderson was selected as one of twenty Canadian grandmothers to represent the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign on an educational trip to sub-Saharan Africa organized by the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
The trip took place in March 2014 and was a unique opportunity for dedicated members of the Grandmothers Campaign to express solidarity with African grandmothers, and enhance and deepen their understanding and ability to raise critical funds and awareness – by witnessing first-hand the resilience and ingenuity of African grandmothers in the face of HIV and AIDS. Sharon is spending this year post-trip speaking to grandmothers groups, community groups, churches, schools, media and others about their experiences and the transformative work at the grassroots that is turning the tide of the AIDS pandemic.
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign was launched in March 2006 in response to the emerging crisis faced by African grandmothers as they struggled to care for millions of children orphaned by AIDS. What began with a few committed Canadian grandmothers has since evolved into a dynamic and responsive movement of more than 250 grandmothers groups across the country, working to mobilize support and funds in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers. In just seven short years, Canadian grandmothers have raised an astonishing $21 million for African grandmothers through the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign! $170,000 has come from Nelson alone. It is staggering and has made a tremendous difference at the grassroots, and yet it is still a scratch on the surface compared to the urgent needs across the continent.
The Foundation has brought African grandmothers on several occasions to Canada to speak as experts about their plight and the responses they are leading at the grassroots, and have sent two previous groups of Canadian grandmothers to visit grandmothers in Africa. This exchange has been terrifically important and effective in ensuring that the voices of African women are heard directly and continue to drive the agenda of the Grandmothers’ Movement.
On this trip, Sharon visited projects in Ethiopia and South Africa, culminating at Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in Durban, South Africa to participate in the third annual Gogolympics. For South African grandmothers, the Gogolympics is an exhilarating event in which teams of grandmothers ‘compete’ in netball, soccer, skipping, and other games. It is an opportunity to shine a light on grandmothers and the pressing issues affecting them and the children in their care. It is also a rare opportunity for these indomitable caregivers who bear so much of the brunt of the pandemic, to experience play. This year, the event attracted over 1,000 grandmothers and community members!
The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Sharon and the nineteen other Canadian grandmothers selected.
To find out more about the Stephen Lewis Foundation, or the Grandmothers o Grandmothers Campaign, please visit: www.grandmotherscampaign.org/
The trip took place in March 2014 and was a unique opportunity for dedicated members of the Grandmothers Campaign to express solidarity with African grandmothers, and enhance and deepen their understanding and ability to raise critical funds and awareness – by witnessing first-hand the resilience and ingenuity of African grandmothers in the face of HIV and AIDS. Sharon is spending this year post-trip speaking to grandmothers groups, community groups, churches, schools, media and others about their experiences and the transformative work at the grassroots that is turning the tide of the AIDS pandemic.
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign was launched in March 2006 in response to the emerging crisis faced by African grandmothers as they struggled to care for millions of children orphaned by AIDS. What began with a few committed Canadian grandmothers has since evolved into a dynamic and responsive movement of more than 250 grandmothers groups across the country, working to mobilize support and funds in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers. In just seven short years, Canadian grandmothers have raised an astonishing $21 million for African grandmothers through the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign! $170,000 has come from Nelson alone. It is staggering and has made a tremendous difference at the grassroots, and yet it is still a scratch on the surface compared to the urgent needs across the continent.
The Foundation has brought African grandmothers on several occasions to Canada to speak as experts about their plight and the responses they are leading at the grassroots, and have sent two previous groups of Canadian grandmothers to visit grandmothers in Africa. This exchange has been terrifically important and effective in ensuring that the voices of African women are heard directly and continue to drive the agenda of the Grandmothers’ Movement.
On this trip, Sharon visited projects in Ethiopia and South Africa, culminating at Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust in Durban, South Africa to participate in the third annual Gogolympics. For South African grandmothers, the Gogolympics is an exhilarating event in which teams of grandmothers ‘compete’ in netball, soccer, skipping, and other games. It is an opportunity to shine a light on grandmothers and the pressing issues affecting them and the children in their care. It is also a rare opportunity for these indomitable caregivers who bear so much of the brunt of the pandemic, to experience play. This year, the event attracted over 1,000 grandmothers and community members!
The trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Sharon and the nineteen other Canadian grandmothers selected.
To find out more about the Stephen Lewis Foundation, or the Grandmothers o Grandmothers Campaign, please visit: www.grandmotherscampaign.org/