Oliver Grandmothers for Africa are presenting a “Spring Bling” sale of new and used jewellery and accessories on Saturday, April 12th from 9 am to 2 pm at the Oliver United Church. All proceeds are donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers’ Campaign to support African grandmothers raising children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
African grandmothers are leaders in their communities and faced with huge demands on their physical and emotional energies. They are primary caregivers for their immediate families and also contribute to the health and welfare of their larger communities. African grandmothers work valiantly to fight the stigma of HIV/AIDS, raise awareness about the virus and provide vital care to people living with it. Experts in the work to overcome the pandemic, they are on the frontlines as agents of change. In spite of the heartache and hardships, there are signs everywhere that the tide of AIDS is beginning to turn at the community level.
African grandmothers are heroic women who meet adversity head-on as they raise their voices in song, move their bodies in rhythm and heal themselves and their communities. We celebrate them. In sub-Saharan Africa 14.8 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. The lucky ones are in the care of their grandmothers. These women emerged, almost miraculously, one solid wall of protection, a wall so strong it couldn’t be penetrated. Stephen Lewis says, “It stands today as a protective embrace for the orphan children of the continent.”
Grandmothers have provided food, provided shelter, provided parenting, provided love and provided education, anything a child needs, despite all the difficulties. They do it with courage and resilience and many now have become leaders in community organizations. Stephen Lewis believes we must get funds directly into the hands of these grassroots organizations. They know exactly what to do and how to do it. They simply need the funds to make it happen.
So come to the Spring Bling, have some fun and know that the proceeds will help show African grandmothers that we are determined to be with them every step of the way!