Grandmothers of Steel: Lisbie Rae

In 2010, Lisbie Rae took part in a walk in Manzini, Swaziland jointly organized by the Stephen Lewis Foundation and Swaziland Positive Living along with 42 Canadian grandmothers, members of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation and thousands of grandmothers from 13 African countries who were raising funds and awareness about the AIDS pandemic and the role played by African grandmothers. While there she spoke of her meeting with a grandmother who lost 8 of her 9 daughters and was looking after all of their children. She is typical of African grandmothers.

Over 23 million Africans have AIDS and the Stephen Lewis Foundation has over 300 projects in those African countries, many of them dealing with orphans. The approach is holistic, melding education, accommodation and economics. 

In Hamilton there are three Grandmothers to Grandmothers organizations - Lisbie's is called Grandmothers of Steel. Joining her this morning was Doreen Crombie its co-chair. For more information contact one of the following: www.stephenlewisfoundation.org, www.grandmotherscampaign.org, www.grandmothersadvocacy.org, or www.unaids.org .