First, apologies that I've not written anything for days. Too much on the agenda. But now to jump right in-

you will likely find much in the media- BBC, CBC, Michael Enright, Readers Digest (Sally Armstrong), Zoomer magazine, G & M, and the stephenlewisfoundation.org blog to give you an idea of the magnitude of what's happened. It's amazing and heartening what one determined woman can do. This event was the brainchild of Siphiwe Hlophe, who many met last year when she spoke at the LE Shore library in Thornbury. She is a forceful, delightful bundle of energy. Not only did she get a huge and enthusiastic turnout for the Grandmothers Gathering, she also attracted the Swazi royal family and senior political figures.

Some quick notes in no particular order-

-on the day of our departure from the Gathering, the Ethiopean women were selling their clothing. Their project coordinator said their need is dire.

-I'm sure each and every one of us had several pleas- "can I send you the purses I make so you can sell them for me?"; "Could I get a job in Canada? I'm a teacher, but I'll do anything."; or simply "Please take me with you." The last from a senior woman in clothing I thought suggested somewhere in mid-northern Africa. Her daughter had left her with 5 children. Gone? Died? Don't know.

We may have the illusion that traditions make it easy for African grannies to care for the children. Without the family breadwinner, it can be desperate.

Then there is Ann. Talk about a force of nature! Anybody who met Ann immediately lights up. She is the youthful coordinator of a project in Kenya that began as a counselling service for grannies who were severely depressed. She said they would sit on the graves of their children , waiting to die. Ann tells them "You're not allowed to die! If you die I'll come to your funeral and make you live again and beat you in front of everybody so you won't dare die! And if you are thinking about dying, call me and I'll tell you if you're allowed to die. You have to have a VERY good reason...."

The project participants who came with her were dancing and singing and very persuasive in selling their craft goods, which they make under the project umbrella. They were all delightful. SLF, along with other NGOs, provides support for the project- the impact is huge for the grannies and their communities, and especially for their grandchildren and the other orphans in their care.

We met so many women from so many places with so many stories- all different, but in my mind a common theme emerges: GIVE THEM ACCESS TO RESOURCES. These women have been working together, giving each other what support they can, struggling to hold the families together, so often in severe poverty. They are very resourceful, they don't need much, but they do need enough.