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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 14, 2007 - 5 Group preparing for Stephen Lewis fundraiser Continued from page 3 had been looking for a place to settle in their retirement -- seeking somewhat futilely, according to Ardell, to replicate the village lifestyle not far from a major city such as they'd fallen in love with in Ireland. So, their experience in Bronte not only led to new friends for Ardell, but also a new home in Oakville. After settling here, Ardell became involved in CSAW. And it was upon listening to Lewis speak at a local church that the group of 14 local women, headed by former Oakville, now Burlington resident Carol Holmes, formed oomama. The group has a steering committee and puts out newsletters and e-mails to others who are Friends of oomama (FOO). Those friends, who number well over 100, are mobilized when a fundraiser or other activity takes centre stage. This June, the group will gather at St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School to hear speaker Mary Anna Beer, who led a $1 million fundraising challenge in North York for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. oomama meets monthly to network, lobby, strengthen awareness and raise funds for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign. Its members span the area from Oakville to Niagara-onthe-Lake. Fundraising began with an ongoing project to popularize "Alternate Gifting," each member sending a Mother's Day donation to the Stephen Lewis Foundation in honour of her own mother. Later, oomama passed this idea on to others. Its first one-off event was a the garage sale at Ardell's home last May. Of course you don't have to be a grandmother to get involved with Oomama. Ardell, who does have two grown children, Keleigh and Randall, and a six-yearold grandson, Owen, who lives in Maine, but spends time here with his grandparents, said the group just happens to involve many women who have retired and have "big hearts." "They've been here reading the statistics from an ocean away and thinking `How do they cope?'" she said. Ardell said the African women, who travelled to Toronto for last summer's conference, were so filled with resilience and strength they were "truly unbelievable. All the Canadian grandmothers just melted in their seats." "One woman was living with 27 children. They don't feel sorry for themselves. They say, we're okay, we just need a little help. They have so little, but they think they just need a little help," said Ardell. Prepared to provide a little help -- and a lot more -- is oomama. "You just shake your head and ask how is it possible," said Ardell, adding, "It gives you such faith in the strength of women. If you're charged with love, the spirit can't be extinguished," she said. The Oakville resident said the consequences of the AIDS epidemic in Africa are falling on the African grandmothers who have hardly any resources, and sometimes just as few rights in areas of health, secu- rity and personal rights. Ardell said Oomama's purpose is much more than raising funds. It's about lobbying for women's rights, health and safety, here at home and around the world, and empowering women outside of Canada to do the same. Ardell specifically notes the issue of a Canadian government promise from years ago about generic drugs needing to be held to account. There's also the question of Canada's funding levels of Third World nations. "There was a time here when women were considered property, I remember it," said Ardell, recalling how it was her husband only who could sign for their children's passports or give approval for a surgery. Ardell said AIDS in Africa has taken the lives of an entire generation and asks what the fall out from a missing generation will be, and what happens when the grandmothers are no longer alive. "It helps preserve your strength if you know people are behind you," said Ardell and the Canadian grandmothers, including oomama, are aligning themselves behind and beside the African women. In fact, each meeting of oomama begins with the South African chant from which oomama takes its name -- Oomama Bakudala Babethandaza, which means Our mothers used to pray -- as does each gathering of Capetown "womyn" that ocean away. Leaders in Lifelong Learning Continuing Education at Sheridan: Choose from hundreds of professional and personal development courses, most starting the week of April 23, 2007. Register online today: www.sheridaninstitute.ca Call 905.845.9430 or 905.459.7533 TM CONTINUING EDUCATION