In This Issue You Will Read
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January 2014 – issue In this issue you will read: After the African Grandmothers Pg 2 Exciting News: Five Grandmothers Pg 6 Tribunal to Africa Standing with the African Pg 3 Grandmother Groups’ Reports Pg 7 Grandmothers, by Mia Overduin Dynamic Linda Pg 12 Report on the Atlantic Pg 4 Book review of “Americanah” by Pg 13 Grandmothers Gathering Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Visit of Ida Nambeya and Pg 5 Opportunity for fundraising; “38 Pg14 Yasmin Mussa Ways to Entertain Your Grandparents……” Photo by Cathie Archbould The African Grandmothers Tribunal took place on September 7th , 2013 in the CHAN Centre in Vancouver, B.C. This issue of Shore to Shore opens with comments of Stephen Lewis and Ilana Landsberg-Lewis on this historic event. 1 After the African Grandmothers Tribunal The “People’s Tribunal” was an astonishing exploration of the way in which African grandmothers contend– both poignantly and courageously—with their beleaguered lives. It was, of course, a logical extension to the Grandmothers’ Gatherings in both Canada and Africa, as well as the frequent trips, back and forth, of African grandmothers to Canada and Canadian grandmothers to Africa. It’s no exaggeration to say that an international Grandmothers’ movement has been created. We don’t pretend that this is some supernatural achievement on the part of the Foundation. But we would argue that recognition of the struggles of grandmothers, and their collective embrace of orphans, is unique in the annals of the HIV and AIDS pandemic. What’s more it’s indispensable. Let us explain why. The current mantra in dealing with AIDS is “zero deaths,” “zero new infections.” It’s a strategy promoted by UNAIDS with the support of the scientific and political establishments. And it’s entirely admirable except for one fatal flaw: it leaves out whole categories of people who are adversely affected by the virus. Two of those categories are grandmothers and orphans. Incredibly enough, in the latest issue of the comprehensive UNAIDS update on the pandemic, 2013, published just a few weeks ago, grandmothers and orphans are written out of the text. They nowhere appear! Where grandmothers are concerned, this could be seen as a willful slap to the face of gender equality; where orphans are concerned, it could be seen as a gross violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Taken together it’s an astonishing gap in the response. But ours is not to take issue…ours is to demonstrate why the Tribunal was so profoundly important. Somewhere, some organization—and in this case, we proudly say it’s the Foundation—must give profile to the grandmothers of Africa and the staggering demands they face in raising orphan grandchildren. In several countries, the grandmothers, many who are themselves HIV- positive, look after between 40 and 60 per cent of the orphans, and there are some 15 to 16 million orphans. In the face of this intense human predicament, we could become insensate with rage at the injustice of it all. But that’s not our choice. Our choice is to honour the grandmothers, enfold the orphans in our arms, and support them to make all of their lives whole again. Stephen Lewis Ilana Landsberg-Lewis Chair of the Board & Co-Founder Executive Director & Co-Founder Stephen Lewis Foundation Stephen Lewis Foundation For summaries of all speeches we recommend reading Grassroots , Fall 2013 issue , a Special edition on the African Grandmothers Tribunal. This is also available on the website: http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/news-resources/grassroots-newsletter The full report is on www.africangrandmotherstribunal.org 2 Excerpt from “STANDING WITH THE AFRICAN GRANDMOTHERS « by a grandmother: Mia Overduin, Ottawa Citizen, September 18, 2013 Since the start of the crisis, African grandmothers have evolved as experts and leaders of their communities, bringing hope by building better futures and sharing their meagre resources. Importantly, they are increasingly acknowledged by governments and international NGOs. On September 7, 2013, the SLF hosted the African Grandmothers Tribunal to shine a public light on the denial of their human rights, and to stand with African grandmothers and their organizations. Held at the CHAN Centre of the UBC in Vancouver, the Tribunal amplified the voices of the grandmothers and sent out a clarion call for change: to promote, protect and respect their rights to property, bodily integrity, income security, freedom from violence, and quality of health care. Six African grandmothers and two expert witness representatives from grassroots organizations supporting the grandmothers and the vulnerable children in their care, spoke to the need for change through improved laws, policies, funding priorities, consultation, positive, cultural practices and greater access to justice. They highlighted the threat of discrimination grandmothers face at the frontlines of the pandemic, based on sex, age, and HIV status. The Tribunal judges: Gloria Steinem, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Joy Phumaphi, and Theo Sowa responded by addressing the remedies to be secured as urgent priorities for the grandmothers at the local, national and international levels. As we heard the stories of the grandmothers’ shattered lives, tears flowed. What was most striking about these women was their staunchness, their regal presence commanding attention. Dressed in radiance, star-like and warrior-like, they drew us in. Are these the women we tend to see as victims of their devastating circumstances, their lives ravaged by AIDS, loss of their children, husbands, care for their grandchildren and other orphans? What is it like to lose your children to AIDS, to have your land and home ripped from you by your in-laws? How do you soothe the anguish of your grandchildren bereft of the love and security of their parents? Where are the resources, the community supports, the government and its social networks? Who are these warrior women who stand before us telling their heart-rending tales of loss? Where did they get their spirit, their resolve, their resilience and their staunch solidarity? Ever so powerful they conveyed their indomitable will to mobilize and stand together to rebuild communities of hope and support. What came to life on this global stage in the rawness of the women’s stories was their unanimous fervor to continue their relentless, passionate work – to advocate not only for themselves and their families but also for their peers and the sanctity of life in their communities. 3 Is it not our responsibility as global citizens to respond to those sacred rights – their human rights of dignity, protection, freedom from violence, income security, quality health care, and access to justice? Let this be a call to all of us Canadians to get involved and stand in solidarity with African grandmothers as transformers of change, to ensure the funds they need to turn the tide of AIDS. REPORT ON THE ATLANTIC GRANDMOTHERS GATHERING, a report by Grandmothers Helping Grandmothers, Fredericton, N.B. The Gathering took place on September 20 & 21 in Summersidee, P.E.I. There were 63 registered participants including Kay Matthews who flew in from Newfoundland for the day. The Gathering and hotel rooms were all in one central area of the Quality Inn and lunch and dinner were in the restaurant next door . Joining us from the Stephen Lewis Foundation were Alexis MacDonald and Yasmin Mussa - vibrant, committed and very interesting young women. Anne McEwen, Helen MacDonald, Nancy Yasmin provided some facts on fundraising including McFarlane the fact that the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Photo : Aexis MacDonald Campaign has raised $19,000,000 so far (since 2006) and the Atlantic region has raised $764,562.00! Alexis gave the Keynote address: she presented a Yasmin Mussa, Alexis MacDonald slide show of her photographs of African women and stressed that her purpose is to show that the women are many faceted – there were expressions of happiness, sadness, anger, dismay, hope and hopelessness. Too often we see just one side of the person: e.g. the emaciated African child. She gave us insight into all aspects of the grandmothers’ lives. The focus of the campaign is to give the grandmothers what they need to do the work that needs to be done. They are the decision makers – we provide the funds and collaborate when asked. Both women mentioned the Tribunal that was held in Vancouver. Six African grandmothers and two expert witnesses presented their stories to 4 judges, followed by a call to action. The warm reception of these 8 women by the Canadian grandmothers and the process they went through validated their stories and helped them understand that their cause 4 is important to Canadian Grandmothers. A DVD is available through the SLF – and soon PBS will broadcast a report on the Tribunal. In the workshop on “Keeping The Drive Alive Through Youth” , Linda Wills and Ruth Anne Sutherland asked us to discuss why it is important to keep youth involved in the G to G Campaign and concluded that (1)Youth bring a different perspective and (2) have more energy. (3) We need to have someone to pass on the commitment as well as (4) to establish the will to help. Janet Boswell, Marilyn Sceles Ruth Anne Sutherland and Linda Wills Linda and Ruth Anne from Halifax enacted a school visit and talked about the red shoelace campaign – a red shoelace is sold for $2 and the students wear them in their shoes, hair, on their wrists etc. - which gives the opportunity to introduce the G2G Campaign as well as the SLF. There is a handout available to give to a teacher who might ask you into a classroom so that the teacher can prepare the class for your visit (available by e- mail from the Speakers Bureau: Ruth Anne Sutherland at [email protected] ).