This year Canadian Grandmothers have launched a wonderful book, “Powered by Love” that is already a critical read for anyone who is working on HIV&AIDS policy and funding internationally.

It puts grandmothers at the heart of the response to AIDS and gives voice to their expertise in sub-Saharan Africa at the frontlines around AIDS and in Canada around fundraising, awareness raising, and a new solidarity model.

The publishers of “Powered by Love” have been bowled over by the way Canadian grandmothers have mobilized to ensure that African grandmothers are heard and heeded and given prominence in sharing their stories of triumphs over adversity.

You can purchase the book at Coles in Penticton .

The Canadian grandmothers movement is now celebrated the world over.  There are 240 groups across Canada including the Oliver group that meets the first Thursday of each month at 1 pm in the United Church basement and is aways happy to welcome new members.

We are all part of a remarkable solidarity and social justice journey.  Stephen Lewis sums up the Canadian Grandmothers Campaign emphatically:  “It’s really quite remarkable to see what time and generosity and compassion have wrought.

Out of the despair of AIDS has come a powerful social movement, uniting two continents in abashed solidarity.”

Since its beginning in 2006, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaing has exploded into an unstoppable movement of dynamic women who, alongside the Stephen Lewis Foundation, developed an entirely new model of development, built on a mutual respect and a deep appreciation for the dignity, intelligence and courage of African grandmothers.  More than $25 million has been raised to fund grassroots project in Africas.

Marion Boyd