Return from The Grandmothers Gathering in Swaziland; The Stephen Lewis Foundation {toronto photographer}

Posted on May 20, 2010

I was one of many who returned last Wednesday from Jo’burg and Swaziland from the Grandmothers Gathering which was sponsored by the Stephen Lewis Foundation. It was truly incredible to witness 500 African Grandmothers and 42 Canadian grandmothers gather in solidarity for the purpose of support, learning and sharing in their relentless mission to, as the 2010 Manzini Statement reflects, Turn The Tides of Aids in Africa.

I’ve been asked by many friends and family to see the pictures I took in Africa and inquire about the gallery I’ll eventually post for everyone. On a practical note let me say that I have booked off the next 4 days to get my images edited and hand them off to The Stephen Lewis Foundation. From that point, because there are privacy issues concerning public figures and sensitive issues that we need to respect on behalf of the grannies, only after the foundation gives me the go-ahead will I post the images that are mutually agreed upon. As soon as the gallery is up I will notify you all and be happy to answer any questions regarding my experience or refer you to the support work of the The Stephen Lewis Foundation and the African Grandmothers are doing as caregivers, activists and experts dealing with issues such as gender based violence, pensions and security from their governments, education, health care, financial management, and housing to name just a FEW!!!

From an emotional perspective, its important for me to be honest with you and confess that as a mother I was particularly hit hard upon my return to Canada being swept back into kids schedule with school drop off, making lunches, bath time and dance class etc. I came to the full realization with a huge dose of sadness, exhaustion and a bit of defeat that in order for me to “work” and take the pictures I had unconsciously detached myself from some of the emotionally harder truths to face. Such as meeting wonderfully happy and very much loved orphaned/HIV positive children living at an amazing community run agency Cotlands . One dynamic and playful 3 year old boy laughed joyously and giggled relentlessly when I showed him a picture of himself in the back of my camera and then looked at me inquisitively, as in a fact finding mission to validate his own experience in life, asked boldly and cheekily “Where is your Mama?”. It was a question and a statement and the same time and I was left without words. Another experience that has left me profoundly changed as a person and mother was the meeting of two children between the ages of 4-12 that had been molested and were now HIV positive and living with their granny who housed 8 family members in her two room “house”. Yet while I was there, yes there was sadness in telling of the very deep, personal and painful stories the grannies were so strong and brave to share with us, but mostly I witnessed the resilience and unwavering love the African grannies have for their grandchildren and their determination to protect and nurture their families. The totality of the burden that has been placed on them hit me hard as I looked around in my community and thought, hell, we as Canadians could NEVER EVER survive in the way the Africans have. The Africans group together in song and dance in celebration, in sorrow, in mourning and in ACTION !!! We simply have human rights and privileges that protect us from that kind of grief and hardship. What I’m left with is the absolute understanding, for all of us in 1st world countries, our duty and social responsibility to support children and families all over the world who need support to feed, educate, medicate and advocate!!!

My thanks and appreciation to all of the awe inspiring team members of The Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Canadian Granny’s for their unwavering devotion to Turn the Tides of AIDS in Africa and allowing me this life changing experience. I also want to mention the contribution and commitment Aeroplan, (see Areoplan in Africa by Christa Poole via Strategyonline.ca), and its members made by donating more than seven million miles to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to fly 42 Canadian grandmothers to the African Grandmothers Gathering in Manzini, Swaziland. (Aeroplan’s Beyond Miles program invites members to join Aeroplan in supporting eight Canadian charitable organizations through the donation of Aeroplan Miles including The Stephen Lewis Foundation). I mention it because you can continue to contribute on an on going basis to Aeroplan’s Beyond Miles Program to support the incredibly meaningful work being done by the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Stay tuned as I post more pictures and information surrounding the incredible Canadian Grannies and the work they do!! Cheers to you all!!

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