By Audrey Woodward

The Grandmothers to Grandmothers’ Campaign is an expression of grassroots support for the work of grandmothers in fourteen sub-Saharan African countries who have taken on the responsibility of raising children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic. When the Stephen Lewis Foundation first launched the Campaign eighteen months ago there were just a few support groups across Canada, but now there are more than 150 grandmothers groups raising funds which go directly towards food, school fees, uniforms and supplies, income-generating projects, counselling and burial expenses.

During October Victoria was one of the B.C. cities hosting a visit from several of the African grandmothers. During their four days here, Phelda Kayola and Matilda Mwenda, both of Zambia, had a very full schedule of events in Sidney and Greater Victoria, providing opportunities for many people to gain a much larger appreciation for the warmth and strength of the women who are sustaining millions of families in their homelands. The largest audience attended the meeting at Alix Goolden Hall where Stephen Lewis was the keynote speaker, followed by words from the two Grandmothers and music by the Gettin' Higher Choir and the Pearson College One World Ensemble.

To follow up on these events, the Capital Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of James Bay is sponsoring the screening of two films created by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, on Saturday, December 1, 3:00 p.m., at the James Bay New Horizons on Menzies Street. The first is called Grandmothers to Grandmothers: The Dawn of a New Movement, tracing the history of the movement, and the second, a shorter documentary entitled A Generation of Orphans, gives voice to six AIDS orphans and some of the groups working on their behalf. We will be very fortunate to have Peggy Frank on hand to introduce the films. Peggy is a local artist who has been personally involved in the AIDS campaign, both here and in Africa, for over twenty years. Admission will be by suggested donation, with all proceeds going to the Grandmothers’ Campaign.