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OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 13, 2009 · 22 Dedication despite hard times is appreciated H ello from Halla. The weather in our land has been just slightly cooler lately, just as you begin to warm up in Canada. My grandmother likes the fall season, and feels healthier than in the hottest summer months. My grandmother is getting very old, yet she always has new stories to tell us about when she was younger and our herd's many treks across the savannah. You may recall that my sister, brother and I are in our herd with only our grandmother since our mother's passing and our father's departure. That got me to thinking about grandmothers across subSahara Africa, grandmothers who are holding together the continent by caring for millions of children who have been orphaned by AIDS. These grandmothers share a common concern -- what will hap- pen to the grandchildren after their death? The grandmothers want to ensure the security of their grandchildren's future, to know that they will be cared for, that they will stay in school and that they will stay HIV-free. "You are afraid to think of their tomorrow," said one Kenyan grandmother reported in the Stephen Lewis F o u n d a t i o n 's Grassroots Winter 2008 newsletter. "You look at them ­ beautiful, nice, innocent kids, but you are afraid for their ries about how we will tomorrow." I know that survive when she passes. my grandmother worAfrican grandmothers continue to be helped by the Stephen Lewis Foundation's Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, which is driven by thousands of Canadian grandmothers European Engineering Combined who are organizing fundraising events With Traditional Workmanship across Canada. These incredible groups of Canadian grandmothers and `grand-others' have now helped raise more than "Building on the $4 million for African Brightest Ideas Around Glass" projects. I read in The Oakville 905.849.0266 Beaver that Oakville's oomama grandmothers recently helped play a role in getting a petition signed by more than 31,000 Canadians. The petition asks the Canadian government to meet its promises to increase foreign aid, to raise Canada's commitment to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and to do a better job at getting, safe, generic pharmaceutical products to people affected by these diseases. More than 220 grandmother groups from Victoria to Halifax are working to raise funds and awareness so that African grandmothers can secure a hopeful future for their grandchildren. I am totally inspired by the strength of purpose of these Canadians and their fellow grandmothers in Africa. I am amazed at all the grandmothers around the world helping to turn the tide in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Stephen Lewis has said that the Foundation's Turning The Tide campaign will try to raise enough money to support all the worthy proposals that come to the Foundation, putting into operation, at country level, scores of additional projects. The Stephen Lewis Foundation hopes to raise $100 million over the next five years to fund hundreds more grassroots organizations. The dedication of Canadians to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, even during these times of global economic challenge, is truly remarkable. Congratulations to you all from Africa. Halla is a 12-year-old female African Savannah Elephant working with $Millions or More Oakville ($MOMO) to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) and the fight against AIDS in Africa. For more information, visit www.millionormoreslf.ca or call 905-469-6415. -- Submitted by the $Million or More Oakville campaign Lewis to speak here in Oakville Stephen Lewis will be the guest at $Million or More Oakville's (MOMO) Out of Africa event on Wednesday, April 29. The event will be held at King's Christian Collegiate located at 528 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (at Hwy. 407 and Neyagawa Boulevard). The fundraiser that aims to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa will benefit the Stephen Lewis Foundation campaign of that name. Tickets cost $50 per person. For tickets or information, contact 905-469-6415 or millionormoreslf@sympatico.ca. Experience the Warmth of the Irish this St. Patricks Day * FREE DAILY SERVICE Morning and afternoon departures to Fallsview Casino *After $10 Casino Rebate Government Photo ID required Morning & Afternoon from Hopedale Mall EVERY WEDNESDAY From Carpool Lot Guelph Line, North Service Rd ERTIN STABLES EVERY SUN, TUES, BSpring Lessons and THURS, FRI & SAT March Break Camps · Weekday Lessons 4/$107 or $35/Lesson · Saturday at Farm 10am-3pm $40 (Children 5-12 yrs.) www.bertinstables.com (905) 827-4678 www.bertinstables.com Minimum 5- hour stay required. Valid government-issued photo identification and Players Advantage Club Card required to redeem offers. Offers subject to change without notice. Offers cannot be combined/substituted. Must be 19 years of age or older to board coaches bound for Fallsview Casino Resort. Void where prohibited. 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