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23 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Stephen Lewis will carry messages from Africa By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF He is known globally, can be outspoken and if you hear him speak, it's likely to have a profound effect. Stephen Lewis, one of the world's most gifted speakers and a leading humanitarian -- who shares company with the likes of The Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela -- will be in Oakville on Wednesday, April 29. Lewis will speak at a $Million or More Oakville's ($MOMO) Out for Africa fundraising event at King's Christian Collegiate at 528 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (Hwy. 407 and Neyagawa Boulevard). The school that opened in 2001, holds upwards of 800 people in its gymnasium/auditorium and is likely to be packed to its very attractive rafters for the day. "For us, this will be the only opportunity during the $MOMO campaign to see Stephen Lewis in Oakville," said $MOMO campaign cochair Ann Mulvale. While $MOMO organizers are cognizant the economy is taking a toll at home, they note Oakville and its residents remain far richer than those in Africa who often face life or death scenarios and urge people to remain open to giving. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is funding grassroots projects in subSaharan Africa where many families are being reduced to grandmothers providing care and upbringing to their grandchildren as the HIV/AIDS epidemic eliminates the children's parents. Mulvale notes Lewis also advocates gender equality as statistics show 90 per cent of microloans given to women are repaid and that women tend to re-invest their earnings into the wellbeing of their family. In Africa, much of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is exacerbated by women's lack right to sexual consent. The Stephen Lewis Foundation provides funding for grassroots support programs and businesses aimed at five strategies to create lasting change -- supporting children orphaned by AIDS, home-based care, grandmothers caring for those orphaned by AIDS, positive living and ending sexual violence and HIV/AIDS. While communities across Canada do what they can to assist the foundation -- from bake sales and teas to galas and challenges -- the funds raised are transferred to similar enterprising people in Africa. They all have one purpose, to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Acting as a beacon on behalf of those beleaguered in Africa and a medium to the assistance available across the world, is Lewis. While Mulvale said Lewis may be outspoken, he is a gifted speaker. "Often someone who has heard him speak will point to that event as a pivotal point in their life," she said. Whether loved or otherwise, Lewis moves people to action. Stephen Lewis Sharon Roebbelen, director of communications and admissions at King's Christian, agreed that Lewis challenges people. He'll reach a lot of local people if King's Christian has its way. "This is one of the largest venues in Halton," said Roebbelen, noting the space is being provided as a means of the school assisting the $MOMO campaign. The school administrator said it's also critical that teens, who receive lots of messages rooted in consumerism and commercialism also see humanitarian causes in action and a means to respond in a way of compassion and generosity to others. $MOMO committed in late 2007 to work toward the goal of raising $1 million or more by World AIDS Day Dec. 1, 2009 in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. This is not Lewis' first appearance in Oakville. He spoke here at a church and sparked the formation of the local oomama, grandmothers to grandmothers group. Since then, Lewis spoke at Appleby College and also at Iroquois Ridge High School. Lewis is a professor in Global Health at McMaster University. From 1984 to 1988, he was Canada's Ambassador to the UN, and, from 2001 to 2006, he was the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. From 1995 to 1999, he was Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF at in New York. In 1970, he became leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party and became leader of the Official Opposition. Tickets cost $50 at 905-469-6415 or millionormoreslf@sympatico.ca.