There are about a dozen local grandmothers taking their grannying to a global level as they reach out to grandmothers in Africa to offer both emotional and financial support.
As the HIV/AIDS pandemic has virtually wiped out an entire generation, African grandmothers are left to raise millions of orphaned children.
In some areas where there aren't enough grandmothers to go around, a community initiative has been created where groups of grandmothers come together to raise dozens of children.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation started the initiative Grandmothers to Grandmothers in March 2006 to raise awareness and support in Canada for grandmothers in Africa.
Over the last decade, more than 240 Canadian granny groups, including Grandmothers to Grandmothers PG, have rallied around grassroots organizations that support the African grandmothers' immediate needs for the children like healthy food, health care, adequate housing and bedding, school fees, transportation as well as long term needs for themselves including parenting skills development, HIV/AIDS education and testing, bereavement counseling for their lost loved ones, and grandmother support groups.
At the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library, Grandmothers to Grandmothers will be presented this Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. with guest speakers Ida Nambeya, African consultant for the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign and Immaculate Nakyanzi a grandmother from Kitovu Mobile and Dan Kintu, support worker for the grandmothers from Kitovu Mobile in Uganda that help those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Nambeya is a field representative that helps build the grassroots organizations of sub-Saharan Africa. Nambeya is a widowed mother who counseled HIV-positive pregnant women on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission and provided support to HIV positive people. While working as an AIDS counselor in 2003, Nambeya tested HIV-positive, which inspired her to be a more passionate activist for those living with HIV/AIDS.
During the event at the library, Kintu will act as translator for Nakyanzi, who does not speak English. The Kitovu Mobile, where Nakyanzi and Kintu work, helps those with HIV/AIDS while coordinating with more than 750 volunteer community workers who go into rural areas to offer programs to support those in need.
The Grandmothers to Grandmothers group in Prince George started last year after a representative of the campaign in Quesnel volunteered to provide information to those interested here.
"Lots of us were blown away after the meeting," said Maggee Spicer, co-chair of the local group. "We were shown a video of grandmothers in Africa and us grandmas in the audience are sitting there thinking 'could we raise our grandchildren and the neighbour's grandchildren and cope with the death of our families?' These women are heroes in their country and we need to support them."
Here the role of a grandmother is very different.
"When I have my five-year-old grandchild come for a visit we have a wonderful time and I love spending time with him and after two hours he goes home and I have a nap," said Spicer.
"Here the role of a grandmother is one of delight. We don't have to worry about what school they're going to, we don't have to worry about fees, we don't have to worry about the dentist or the discipline - we don't have to worry about anything - we just get to enjoy and play with that grandchild."
After the information meeting about Grandmothers to Grandmothers was held in Prince George a list was created of those interested in starting a group - but only if someone else organized it, laughed Spicer.
Last fall she got the follow up call and soon the group was formed.
"We got together, a group of about 12 women, a wonderful group and within a few minutes we're talking about how to fundraise and we're going to have this kind of sale and then one woman said she could organize a golf tournament and soon there's three of us at the meeting that thought we'd just sit quietly and listen who were now the chairs of the committee," said Spicer.
The group immediately held a fundraiser called the Bring and Buy where they used the fundraiser as a reason to downsize their houses by donating items to the cause. They raised $1,700 and promptly donated it to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.
"It was like a glorified garage sale but even better because it had a tea party and music and people ended up with lovely treasures," said Spicer about their first fundraiser.
The golf tournament will be held June 12 at Alder Hills Golf Course with a shot gun start at 1:30 p.m. This is a best ball fun, family tournament. To participate it's $60 per person, including dinner, and if people just want to attend dinner that's also an option.
Anyone wanting more information about the local Grandmothers to Grandmothers or any of their fundraising efforts can email Spicer at [email protected] or call 250-562-4671.
