You will have been hearing much news lately about the multiple edicts from the new US government.  The pronouncement which is having enormous impacts on the programs and people we raise funds to support at Ujamaa Grandmas is that which has ceased funding to USAID (US Agency for International Development. PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS- provides 50% of global HIV response) and U.N. Global Fund to fight HIV, malaria and TB. The announcements were made suddenly, staff terminated and offices locked.

This has affected deeply all of the projects supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, begun in 2024 to send funds directly to grass roots organizations affected by HIVAIDS. Some organizations are directly connected to HIV treatment programs but all are connected to programs dealing with the effects of HIV in their communities and all have staff who have been directly or indirectly affected by HIV/AIDS in their families and lives. The effects of this sudden funding cut are and will be enormous. As Meg French, the executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation has said: “There will be deaths”.

Each of the 98 SLF funded projects in 14 African countries has been contacted , told to use their funds as needed and will be surveyed further to determine their critical needs in view of ongoing developments. A message has gone out to donors about the situation and the response has been encouraging. Proceeds from our upcoming fabric sale are always welcomed by SLF but will be especially needed this year.

Submitted by the Education and Awareness Committee (Anne Taylor, Barb Spear, Susan Plesuk)