In communities most affected by the AIDS pandemic, grandmothers support groups formed to bring women together, to find comfort in one another, and to navigate the depths of their grief.

Stigma and discrimination related to HIV and AIDS threatened to deny grandmothers the support they need and deserve as caregivers to children living with the trauma of losing their parents, and to process their own grief.

In support groups, grandmothers share experiences and develop deep, trusting relationships and establish networks of mutual care.

Support groups have been a place for grandmothers across sub-Saharan Africa to organize and mobilize against stigma, and to seek social, income and healthcare support from local governments, to ensure the children in their care can stay healthy and thrive.

Community-based organizations support grandmothers to form savings and loans groups and run income-generating activities. The idea is simple, reliable and very effective: women come together in groups to consolidate their individual savings and collectively act as ‘the bank.’ They are accountable to each other, meetings are structured, records are detailed, and activities are transparent.

Grandmothers engage in many income-generating activities – crafting, carpentry, making jewellery, clothes and soap, running small restaurants, bakeries and snack stands, and more.

Grandmothers engage in many income-generating activities – crafting, carpentry, making jewellery, clothes and soap, running small restaurants, bakeries and snack stands, and more.

Grandmothers engage in many income-generating activities – crafting, carpentry, making jewellery, clothes and soap, running small restaurants, bakeries and snack stands, and more.

Grandmothers engage in many income-generating activities – crafting, carpentry, making jewellery, clothes and soap, running small restaurants, bakeries and snack stands, and more.

Food security and gardening are integral to well-being for grandmother-headed households.

In 10 of the 15 countries where the SLF’s community-based partners work, only one doctor is available for every 10,000 people. Home-based care workers, most of them women – including grandmothers who volunteer their time, skills and leadership – are filling the gaps and consistently providing care in their communities. They visit countless homes each day, and the trust and healing they generate is immeasurable.

Home-based care visits are opportunities to support well-being for families who may experience barriers to access to quality healthcare and social supports. Families are offered support related to nutrition, sexual and reproductive health and rights and HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.

Grandmothers are emerging as leaders in their communities, and mobilizing across the African continent. Supported by strong and expanding networks, grandmothers hold positions on local land councils, educate community members about HIV and AIDS, and press elected officials to prioritize older person’s rights.

To date, national-level grandmothers gatherings have been held in Uganda, South Africa and Tanzania. Gatherings are organized by grandmothers and staff from community-based organizations, to shine a spotlight on grandmothers’ strength and power, and bring them together to connect, strategize and mobilize to claim their rights.

National grandmothers gatherings feature workshops designed and facilitated by grandmothers and their community-based organizations, based on needs they identify through their grassroots work. Workshop topics have included, inheritance and property rights, parenting skills and generation gaps, income-generating activities, stigma across age groups, nutrition, self care and stress management, and access to government resources for grandmothers.

During national grandmothers gatherings, international delegates from the Grandmothers Campaign bear witness to African grandmothers’ accounts of their lived experiences, challenges and human rights violations as well as their strategies and responses to the impacts of HIV and AIDS.

Each national grandmothers gathering closes with a public march and collective statement. Thousands of grandmothers have boldly taken to the streets to advocate for their rights and the rights of their grandchildren. Grandmothers Campaign delegates march in solidarity with them.

Each national grandmothers gathering closes with a public march and collective statement. Thousands of grandmothers have boldly taken to the streets to advocate for their rights and the rights of their grandchildren. Grandmothers Campaign delegates march in solidarity with them.

At each march, a public statement and call to action representing grandmothers’ collective demands is delivered by a representative of the national gathering committee.

Grandmothers are taking collective action to raise awareness about the support and resources they need for themselves, and for the children in their care. Their voices are calling attention to the critical role older women hold in the community, and they are pushing local, regional and national governments to enact policies that will improve the lives and livelihoods of grandmothers.

When the Grandmothers Campaign was launched in 2006, Canadian grandmothers declared, “We will not rest until they can rest.” This statement continues to motivate and inspire grandmothers and grandothers to engage in meaningful acts of solidarity. Grandmothers groups have taken their skills and passions, and turned activities they love into fundraisers – from group cycle rides to walking clubs, yoga to mental health and well-being workshops, personal fitness challenges, and everything in between and beyond.

The first ‘Stride to Turn the Tide’ walk was organized in June 2009. It has become a popular annual activity during which grandmothers, grandothers and their family and friends walk together to raise awareness and funds. Grandmothers groups have taken this event online, by counting daily steps and converting various activities into equivalent numbers of steps, and collecting pledges.

Stride to Turn the Tide is an annual activity during which grandmothers, grandothers and their family and friends walk together to raise awareness and funds. Grandmothers groups have taken this event online, by counting daily steps and converting various activities into equivalent numbers of steps, and collecting pledges.

Stride to Turn the Tide is an annual activity during which grandmothers, grandothers and their family and friends walk together to raise awareness and funds. Grandmothers groups have taken this event online, by counting daily steps and converting various activities into equivalent numbers of steps, and collecting pledges.

Every year, grandmothers groups gear up for annual cycle rides. After training together for months, grandmothers and grandothers of all ages cycle to raise awareness and funds in support of African grandmothers. In some regions, grandmothers ride over 270 kilometres over multiple days.

Grandmothers groups are community builders. They invite people of all ages to make their own contributions to the grandmothers movement. Food-based fundraisers are a chance to gather as a community to share a meal, build connections and fortify the Grandmothers Campaign. Dinner parties, mac ‘n’ cheese luncheons, wine tastings, soup competitions, and rhubarb rallies are some of the ways grandmothers groups combine fundraising and food.

Grandmothers groups are community builders. They invite people of all ages to make their own contributions to the grandmothers movement. Food-based fundraisers are a chance to gather as a community to share a meal, build connections and fortify the Grandmothers Campaign. Dinner parties, mac ‘n’ cheese luncheons, wine tastings, soup competitions, and rhubarb rallies are some of the ways grandmothers groups combine fundraising and food.

A popular event across the Campaign is, Art from the Attic. Groups collect donated pieces of art for re-sale and there are always treasures to be discovered and re-homed.

One ingenious way groups raise funds is through fabric sales. Grandmothers groups collect unused, surplus fabrics to upcycle, rather than go to the landfills. These events are community favourites and often have long queues of eager crafters waiting to enter.

One ingenious way groups raise funds is through fabric sales. Grandmothers groups collect unused, surplus fabrics to upcycle, rather than go to the landfills. These events are community favourites and often have long queues of eager crafters waiting to enter.

One ingenious way groups raise funds is through fabric sales. Grandmothers groups collect unused, surplus fabrics to upcycle, rather than go to the landfills. These events are community favourites and often have long queues of eager crafters waiting to enter.

If you hang around the Campaign long enough, you may hear the phrase, “Bags and Bling!” This is the name groups have given to their sales of jewellery and handcrafted tote bags and purses.

The talent that runs through the Grandmothers Campaign is abundant and diverse. Grandmothers and grandothers use create original works of art and crafts. Members and supporters make bags, clothes, quilts, toys, housewares, ceramics, cards, art and other creations to contribute to their group’s fundraising efforts.

The talent that runs through the Grandmothers Campaign is abundant and diverse. Grandmothers and grandothers use create original works of art and crafts. Members and supporters make bags, clothes, quilts, toys, housewares, ceramics, cards, art and other creations to contribute to their group’s fundraising efforts.

The joy of a triple-word score is so much better when your participation supports the Grandmothers Campaign! Many groups hold fundraisers featuring Scrabble, Bridge, Euchre, trivia and other much-loved games.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, grandmothers and grandothers have found new and adapted ways of acting in solidarity and continuing to raise funds.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, grandmothers and grandothers have found new and adapted ways of acting in solidarity and continuing to raise funds.

Every day, the power of collective action is demonstrated across the Campaign. The comradery, support and commitment fuels a dynamic movement that reaches beyond borders. Grandmothers and grandothers at work – and play! – in their communities, continue to inspire.

The Grandmothers Campaign is a solidarity movement. Across continents, countries and communities, the solidarity grandmothers show one another has created a strong, supportive network. It inspires bold action and growth and has led to beautiful friendships and caring connections.

Solidarity among grandmothers across sub-Saharan Africa has brought them together to defy stigma and discrimination, demand the supports they need and deserve, and claim their human rights.

“When I joined as a volunteer, I began to understand about HIV and that motivated me to go and get tested. I learned I was positive. And this woman, who is here next to me, she cared for me. I felt comfort because of her. I had someone by my side. And now over all these years, I have helped neighbours and my family – I have changed the community and myself.”

Since the launch of the Grandmothers Campaign in 2006, there have been many opportunities for grandmothers – from African countries, Canada, Australia, the USA and the UK – to connect through regional gatherings across Canada, national gatherings across sub-Saharan Africa and special events. These are opportunities for African grandmothers to share with grandmothers group members and supporters about their work, their evolving priorities and the realities of their lives.

Since the launch of the Grandmothers Campaign in 2006, there have been many opportunities for grandmothers – from African countries, Canada, Australia, the USA and the UK – to connect through regional gatherings across Canada, national gatherings across sub-Saharan Africa and special events. These are opportunities for African grandmothers to share with grandmothers group members and supporters about their work, their evolving priorities and the realities of their lives.

The solidarity that fuels the Grandmothers Campaign is grounded in respect, dignity and equity. It remains as strong today as it was more than 15 years ago. “We are not claiming to understand what the African grandmothers must feel like – we can’t. Of course we can’t fully experience what it means. But I think it is the concept of the power and strength of grandmothers – this resonates.”