Julie Druker | Jan 06, 2016


Adele Colby, chair of Grandmothers-by-the-Lake, the local chapter of the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, recently returned from a trip to Entebbe, Uganda where she attended a conference for the Ugandan grandmothers who have been supporting and caring for the thousands of Ugandan children orphaned as a result of Africa's HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Colby said the trip has further strengthened her resolve as she and her group continue to fundraise for the cause they have been supporting for years.

Stephen Lewis began the campaign as a way for Canadians to support the thousands of African grandmothers caring for millions of orphaned African children. The gathering was sponsored by five different organizations including the Stephen Lewis Foundation along with four Ugandan organizations.

It was Colby's second trip to Africa. Her first trip was in 2010 to Swaziland for a gathering of grandmothers from all over Sub-Saharan Africa. For this second trip Colby was one of 20 Canadian grandmothers along with two others from the UK, whose roles were as observers. She said she was struck by the headway that the Ugandan grandmothers are making and how the conference, which was the first official gathering of Ugandan grandmothers since the campaign began a decade ago, was aimed at addressing the specific issues that the Ugandan grandmothers are currently facing. These issues include health care, children's education, pensions, violence and inheritances. “It's obvious just from being there and seeing the evolution that has taken place that the issues facing these women are changing. Whereas a number of the basic and major issues have been addressed since 2006, these women now are striving to gain more independence and the gathering focused on finding ways to support their constitutional rights, many of which exist in the Ugandan constitution but sadly are not being enforced.”

In illustrating the progress the women have made, Colby said, “When I was in Swaziland in 2010, it was rare to see women speaking out in the workshops whereas at this gathering, women were lining up to speak. A number of them are even running for political office, which was absolutely amazing to see.” She cited other major changes that have taken place, including community banking.

Still, she said, much work needs to be done. “These women are not asking for anything that they are not entitled to, but just want things like their basic human rights.”

The Stephen Lewis Foundation learned much from the first Swaziland gathering and Colby said that future gatherings will be held in specific single African countries in an effort to address each country's unique issues. This recent change means that each conference's agenda can be geared to address the specific action plans of the various African grandmothers. “I feel that this conference was a real turning point in Africa in that these women have an urgency now that they are getting older. They now have enough confidence to speak out and the focus that I took away is that these women want to make sure that the children are educated so they can successfully launch themselves into society”.

During the trip all the grandmothers joined forces and completed a three-kilometre walk where they passed by the Ugandan prime minister's office. Colby said their presence was well received by residents in the city. “I really had a sense during this trip that things are out in the open, and that nothing is hidden any more.”

The fact that there are still 260,000 new cases of HIV/AIDS every year across the African continent means that there is still much work to do; however Colby also believes that the role of the Canadian grandmothers is slowly changing as well. “You really get a sense that it is African women who will save Africa and our dream is that one day we will no longer be needed.”

Colby said that her group is planning a number of fundraisers for 2016. Green thumbs will be thrilled to know that gardening guru Ed Lawrence will be back by popular demand on Saturday, May 7 to speak and answer gardening questions at a venue to be announced. Tickets are $20. Also coming up is the group's annual bake and plant sale, which will take place at St. Paul's United Church in Harrowsmith on Saturday, May 28.

As well, participants taking part in the annual national grandmothers' walk will be looking for pledges. For more information about the Grandmothers-by-the-Lake group and/or to join, contact Marni Pedersen at 613-374-9929. Adele Colby is also available to speak to groups and organizations about the Grandmothers-by-the-Lake group, the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the amazing work that these African grandmothers have been doing. She can be contacted at 613-375-8845.

Support local
independant journalism by becoming a patron of the Frontenac News.