WELCOME
We are a group of friends living in the National Capital Region supporting the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

WHY ARE WE INVOLVED?
As the number of AIDS orphans in Africa continues to rise, responsibility for orphan care is shifting to grandmothers, who are emerging as the unsung heroes of Africa.

As grandmothers we have the wisdom and experience that comes with age; we are well aware of the challenges raising children here in Canada. 

In Africa, those challenges are monumental.  Many of the African grandmothers are HIV+ from caring for their dying adult children.  Too many suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression.  We want to help these amazing women who are resilient and brave in their struggle.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
There are many ways you can help support the Grassroot Grannies in our efforts to help African grannies and their orphaned grandchildren.  You can make a donation to the Grassroot Grannies, assist in our fundraising events, purchase our cards, jewellery and other items and spread the word about the Grandmothers Campaign.
What is the
Stephen Lewis Foundation?




The Stephen Lewis Foundation is a non profit charitable organization supporting community-level organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. They provide care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS.  Since 2003, they have funded more than 300 projects in 15 countries. To find out more on the Foundation click here

Why have we decided to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation?
We are connecting with the Foundation because we feel confident that our help reaches the grandmothers and children most in need. The Foundation helps grandmothers to provide school fees for their grandchildren, to secure food, to provide opportunities to earn a living and to assist them with counseling and much needed social and health care support. 
WHAT IS THE GRANDMOTHERS CAMPAIGN?

Canadian grannies helping
African grannies
WHAT DO WE DO?
Our mission is to support African grandmothers and their orphaned grandchildren.  We raise awareness, show solidarity, advocate for change and raise funds through various activities and events.









The Grassroot Grannies, launched in 2006, is part of the grandmother movement sweeping Canada. There are currently over 240 similar granny groups across Canada involving more than 10,000 people. To date over $14M has been raised through the Grandmothers Campaign.

BREAKING NEWS

2012 was a very successful year for the Grassrooot Grannies.  We raised a total of $56,964.00. 
But that's not all - since 2007 we have raised over $188,500, all of which has been donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation
in support of the
Grandmothers Campaign.
We are looking forward to another very active and successful year in 2013.

DID YOU KNOW?
There are 33.4 million people living with HIV worldwide - 2/3 (22.4 million) live in sub-Saharan Africa.  More statistics click here. 

To read the most recent (2009) AIDS Epidemic Update from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS  click here
Ottawa-Gatineau Region Grandmothers Network (O-GRGN)

The O-GRGN is a a loosely formed network of  27 granny groups in the Ottawa - Gatineau region spreading out from as far west as Sharbot Lake and Perth, north to Deep River and Pembroke, south to Morrisburg and Metcalfe and Quebec in the towns of Aylmer and Wakefield.  The O-GRGN convenes meetings of key leaders in the regional granny groups, hosts the Granny Fest, a learning and sharing one day conference every 18 months and organizes from time to time advocacy and awareness events.

Since 2006, when the Grandmothers Campaign started, the O-GRGN has raised over $1 million for the Foundation.  In 2011 alone, the region raised $244,482 - that's close to a quarter of all funds raised in the region since inception of the Campaign.
The Campaign's website provides lots of useful information.  
  • Stay informed of issues, activities and events
  • Search for a particular granny group in Canada
  • If you want to start your own granny group there is information on how to do this
  • Find out what products and services are offered by the various granny groups
  • You can donate to the Campaign.
A grandmother is a person with silver in her hair but gold in her heart.
(Anonymous)