Curling, one of the area’s oldest traditions, is working to become much more.
March 10 marked the second annual Grandmothers of the Grand bonspiel, raising awareness and funds to help others.
Laurie Black Rooney, of Grandmothers of the Grand, explained that the group is an organization of women committed to raising money, awareness and education for the grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa who are left to raise their orphan grandchildren and are in such need of food and resources.
“They have become the lynchpin for the survival of their communities in the midst of the African AIDS [Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome] pandemic. This is our second annual bonspiel, which is in conjunction with International Women’s Day [March 8].
“It is a chance to recognize the achievements of women world wide.”
Black Rooney added, “It is also to recognize there is still such a long way to go. There is so much inequality and gender-based violence throughout the world where women do not enjoy the same basic human rights.”
“It is a chance to celebrate International Women’s Day and raise a bit of awareness and money for Grandmothers of the Grand for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
As Black Rooney welcomed the curlers that morning, she said International Women’s Day was not just about celebrating achievements and accomplishments, “but the long struggle all over the world that women still have to endure. They do not enjoy the same human rights that we enjoy.”
She called Sam Harrop to the forefront because of his help. Also called up was piper Sue Baker in the celebration of women.
Black Rooney then offered a toast to the pipers and to the curlers as the games began.
Stephen Lewis Foundation
The Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign encouraged Canadians to share their stories of how grandmothers inspire them in conjunction with International Women’s Day.
These powerful stories will be collected through Facebook, Twitter (hashtag #granspiration) and featured on the SLF’s blog. This year also marked six years of mobilizing support for Africa’s grandmothers.
“Grandmothers are no longer invisible or romanticized as sweet little grannies,” said Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, co-founder and executive director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
“They have created a new social movement in Canada.”
Individuals are also encouraged to create a 90 second video tribute to their grandmother for the SLF’s YouTube channel.
Through those stories, Canadians demonstrate their solidarity with African grandmothers who care for their orphaned children and hold their communities together.
Some 14 million children have lost one or both parents to HIV (the human immuno-deficient virus) and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Today, there are more than 240 grandmothers’ groups across Canada. They are at the heart of the foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, which has raised more than $13.5 million since 2006 for African grandmothers and the children in their care.
The foundation works with community organizations to provide African grandmothers with needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counselling.
