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Posted on June 26, 2010
On Thursday May 27th, I had the privillage of photographing the 16th annual Mike Glazer Golf Classic. Thanks to all the contributors at ORT Toronto for creating such a wonderful event on such a beautiful day for such a worthy cause. I appreciate you me letting me be a part of your tournament. You were all so wonderful to photograph and work with.
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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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Posted on April 27, 2010
With only two days left before I hop on a plane to South Africa to volunteer at the Grandmothers Gathering in Swaziland, I wanted to remind you all that there are only 4 dates remaining to to take advantage of this fundraising promotion.
PHOTO FUNDRAISING EVENT!!!
Occurring on May 22 & 29, June 5th & 12th
We suggest a minimum donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation of $50
At our event you are welcome to come for a tour of my new studio space & have a chat as well as a
1/2 Hour Photo Session with up to 5 people.
Within two weeks I will send you an on line gallery of your images
At the studio event I’m offering two incredible deals to help fund my travel expenses to Africa.
Prints and products purchased instead of or in addition to packages are offered at %15 off!!
PACKAGE A
(1) DVD Video Montage of your session
(1) 11×14 print
(1) 8×10 Print
(1) 5×7
(1) 8 Wallets
That’s $290 of product for just $199
Which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
PACKAGE B
(1) DVD Video Montage of your session
(1) 8×10
(2) 5×7
(1) 8 wallets
That’s $190 of product for just $99
Which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
The savings of this promotion are fantastic. Although I will be doing more fundraising for the foundation by donating a portion of the proceeds from sessions to the SLF, this kind of offer is a rare and special event!! Keep in mind you may want to get your family photos done before July 1st!!!
We have an 8% tax hike on services coming July 1, 2010. Lucky us!! Currently photo sessions are taxed only 5% because it is a service that has no tangible product. Starting July 1st, that will change. You will have the added 8% tax on your photo session which of course goes straight to the government coffers. There will be no additional taxes on prints, canvases and albums that have been taxed the 5% + 8% for a total of 13%, they will continue to be taxed the same.
So you have until 3 pm this Thursday May 29th to reach me by phone to book a session, after that I will be checking e-mail every few days while in Africa and get back to you within 3-5 days. If you are looking to buy a Gift Certificate for a friend or family this is the perfect time to purchase and beat the 8% tax increase on your session.
Thanks everyone for all your support and I look forward to posting pictures upon my return from this exciting and historical event. Below is a message from The Stephen Lewis Foundation web site with links to additional information:
On May 7th and 8th 2010, a truly historic event will take place in Africa. Five hundred grandmothers from across sub-Saharan Africa will come together in Swaziland for the first international Grandmothers’ Gathering on the continent. On May 8th, up to 2,000 grandmothers will hold a solidarity march in the city of Manzini. They will call for action the world over to support them as they struggle at the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic to create a hopeful future for their families.
Meet Mary Balendemu, a grandmother from Uganda who will be a delegate at the Gathering.We are also thrilled to announce that forty-four Canadian Delegates from the grandmothers’ movement here will be travelling to Swaziland to join the Gathering!! They will be attending workshops, sharing stories and returning to Canada with the messages of their African peers.
Meet Donna Anthony, a grandmother from Victoria, BC, who will be a delegate at the Gathering.
Help us raise 6.5 million Aeroplan Reward Miles for the Gathering
Since 2006, Aeroplan and its members have contributed nearly 35 million miles to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
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Posted on March 17, 2010
WOW!! I’ve has such an amazing response for the portrait sessions created for the purpose of raising money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and The Grandmothers Gathering in Swaziland this May!!!! What a happy coincidence that I have two full studio dates reserved just in time for Mothers Day!
Fundraising Portrait Party Dates
April 10th & April 17th
Call Now To Book Your Studio Session!!
The Story Of Hope and AIDS in Africa
Photo Project for The Stephen Lewis Foundation
This May I will be volunteering at The Swaziland Grandmothers Gathering which will, for the first time, bring together hundreds of African Grandmothers and 40 Canadian Grandmothers in solidarity. As well, I am participating in an on-going, creative, meaningful documentation project that will bring artistry, social justice work, and the courageous work of human survival in the face of the pandemic, together with the dignity, integrity and beauty that is at the heart of the grassroots work being done around the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Since the launch of The Grandmother To Grandmother Campaign, more than 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action and the campaign has raised over $7 million. SLF directs these funds to community-level organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries that provide grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counseling.
I feel hugely grateful for this opportunity and it gives me great purpose and meaning to be documenting this historic event as well as working long term with the SLF to give families healing, hope and validation through photographic documentation and visual connection for the generations still standing in the face of this pandemic.
We Have Two Great Ways To Contribute To The Photo Project Launching This May At The Swazi Grandmother Gathering
Portrait Party Photo Fundraising Event
Occurring on specific dates from April 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010
We suggest a minimum donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation of $65
At our event you are welcome to come for a tour of my new studio space, have a chat, some refreshments and enjoy a
1/2 Photo Session with up to 5 people.
Within two weeks I will send you an on line gallery of our time together.
At the studio event I’m offering two incredible deals to help fund my travel expenses to Africa. Prints and products purchased after the event are offered at %15 off
PACKAGE A
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 11×14 print
(1) 8×10 Print
That’s $250 of product for just $199 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
PACKAGE B
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 8×10
That’s $130 of product for just $30 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
To proceed just click the following link and make a donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation and make notation to them that its for my fundraising efforts for the “Grandmothers Gathering in Swaziland”.
Posted on March 11, 2010
Just an update for those of you who saw my original release of the fund raising event for Africa. Due to legalities of fund raising I’ve have had to make minor changes to the event. The good news is I’ve tossed in another great savings offer for an additional print package!!! Check it out!!
We Have Two NEW Great Ways To Contribute
To The Photo Project Launching This May At The Swazi Grandmother Gathering
ONE
Portrait Party Photo Fundraising Event
Occurring on specific dates from March 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010
We suggest a minimum donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation of $65
At our event you are welcome to come for a tour of my new studio space, have a chat, some refreshments and enjoy a
1/2 Photo Session with up to 5 people.
Within two weeks I will send you an on line gallery of our time together.
At the studio event I’m offering two incredible deals to help fund my travel expenses to Africa. Prints and products purchased after the event are offered at %15 off
PACKAGE A
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 11×14 print
(1) 8×10 Print
That’s $250 of product for just $199 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
PACKAGE B
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 8×10
That’s $130 of product for just $30 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
TWO
Help Us Raise Funds For This Exciting And Wonderfully Meaningful Project While Getting Something You Need!!
Durable, Waterproof, Weatherproof, Scuff Resistant, Dishwasher and Microwave Safe Labels For:
CAMP
SCHOOL
DAYCARE
THE GYM
WORK
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Posted on March 9, 2010
Hi All,
Before you all head out for March break to spend quality time with your nearest and dearest, I wanted to get you the latest and greatest. In seven weeks I’m heading out to Africa with The Stephen Lewis Foundation . Check out the information and promotion I’m launching today. Keep in mind portrait photos make great Mothers Day and Father’s Day gifts!!! What I really encourage you to do is make this a family affair. Include grandparents in your family portrait. Create a legacy !!!!
The Story Of Hope and AIDS in Africa
Photo Project for The Stephen Lewis Foundation
This May I will be volunteering at The Swaziland Grandmothers Gathering which will, for the first time, bring together hundreds of African Grandmothers and 40 Canadian Grandmothers in solidarity. As well, I am participating in an on-going, creative, meaningful documentation project that will bring artistry, social justice work, and the courageous work of human survival in the face of the pandemic, together with the dignity, integrity and beauty that is at the heart of the grassroots work being done around the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Since the launch of The Grandmother To Grandmother Campaign, more than 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action and the campaign has raised over $7 million. SLF directs these funds to community-level organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries that provide grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counseling.
I feel hugely grateful for this opportunity and it gives me great purpose and meaning to be documenting this historic event as well as working long term with the SLF to give families healing, hope and validation through photographic documentation and visual connection for the generations still standing in the face of this pandemic.
We Have Two Great Ways To Contribute To The Photo Project Launching This May At The Swazi Grandmother Gathering
ONE
Portrait Party Photo Fundraising Event
Occurring on specific dates from March 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010
We suggest a minimum donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation of $65
At our event you are welcome to come for a tour of my new studio space, have a chat, some refreshments and enjoy a
1/2 Photo Session with up to 5 people.
Within two weeks I will send you an on line gallery of our time together.
At the studio event I’m offering two incredible deals to help fund my travel expenses to Africa. Prints and products purchased after the event are offered at %15 off
PACKAGE A
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 11×14 print
(1) 8×10 Print
That’s $250 of product for just $199 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
PACKAGE B
(1) DVD Video Montage of your sesssion
(1) 8×10
That’s $130 of product for just $30 which will go towards my travel expenses to Africa
TWO
Help Us Raise Funds For This Exciting And Wonderfully Meaningful Project While Getting Something You Need!!
Durable, Waterproof, Weatherproof, Scuff Resistant, Dishwasher and Microwave Safe Labels For:
CAMP
SCHOOL
DAYCARE
THE GYM
WORK
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Posted on May 27, 2009