OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 30, 2009 · 16 It's all about the power of grandmas and Stephen Lewis H ello from Halla. Our herd was moving through Uganda this past week, walking vast distances. When we rested, my grandmother told us the story of Jaja Sylvia Nalongo from the St. Francis Health Care Centre, who, like me, has an affinity for Canada. Jaja ("Granny") Sylvia represented St. Francis Health Care Services at the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers' Municipality of Halton Blue & Green at Halloween More Gathering in 2006. At that time, St. Francis was a busy health clinic with a small side project caring for and educating 30 orphans and supporting five grannies. Sylvia had cared for four of her adult children as they slowly died from AIDS, was now raising their five orphans and had been diagnosed as HIV positive herself. Sylvia was inspired by the gathering and the opportuni- ty to link with African sisters and Canadian counterparts. Sylvia worked with St. Francis to convene a meeting of 300 grandmothers to learn what they most needed. Beyond daily necessities, the grandmothers wanted secondary education for their grandchildren. Over the past three years, life for hundreds of grannies and hundreds upon hun See Concert page 17 menus ownership packages prices Restaurant Pre-Fixe Menu - $19.95 www.harbourbanquet.ca 2340 Ontario Street, Oakville 905-827-1315 baby essentials Items for GreenCart Items for Yard Waste Items for Garbage Pumpkins (place next to GreenCart) Candies (no wrappers) Paper bags Potato chips (no bags) Leaves, sticks, twigs Decorative cornstalks Decorative hay bales (must be bundled and weigh no more than 23 kg (50 lbs) Candy and chocolate wrappers Plastic lollipop sticks Plastic loot bags Potato chip bags that's how i stroll. Extended Holiday Hours Reuse: Many items in good condition can be taken to a local reuse centre. Costumes Clothing Shoes (paired) Visit www.halton.ca/waste for a listing of reuse centres. www.rattleandstroll.ca 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario L6M 3L1 301009 310 kerr street 905.337.0734