WHAT WE DO

UJAMAA GRANDMAS is a group of over 500 Calgary women that is part of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, working to address the consequences of the HIV/AIDS pandemic upon families and communities in sub-Saharan Africa. As such, we are committed to the Campaign’s three goals:  raise awareness, build solidarity, and mobilize funds for community-based organizations that support African grandmothers and the children in their care.

Millions of African children have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and now live in grandmother-headed households. The grassroots organizations funded by the Stephen Lewis Foundation provide them with supports that include food, educational supplies, uniforms and school fees, medical care, HIV counselling and testing, adequate housing and bedding, counselling and support groups, home visits, and much more.

Since 2004, UJAMAA GRANDMAS has  raised over one and a half million dollars in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, through a variety of activities, both handcrafts-related and other. Please see our HISTORY page for more details on our development, and browse the rest of the website for information on our activities and opportunities for involvement.


OUR VISION
UJAMAA GRANDMAS is an enduring and nurturing community that works to transform the lives of African Grandmothers and children affected by HIV/AIDS.

OUR MISSION
To raise funds and awareness for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, using the skills and talents of a vibrant volunteer community.

OUR VALUES
Solidarity: We commit to one another’s well-being.
Social Justice: “We won’t rest until they can rest” so we can contribute to meeting the needs of grandmothers and grandothers (locally and in Africa).
Powered By Love:  Meaningful relationships empower our collective efforts.
Simplicity: We strive for clarity, consistency, to make decisions quickly and pragmatically, focusing on what is essential.
Trust: Treat each other with respect, believe in one another and use positive communication to support each other.
Care: We act responsibly towards our members, contributors, society and our environment.

RESPECT FOR UJAMAA GRANDMAS VOLUNTEERS
We are successful because we are a group of women from all parts of the city with a wide variety of interests. We enjoy getting together. We like the work that we do and feel that there is a sense of purpose as well as a sense of fun. We feel that we are helping the broader community of African Grandmothers at the same time that we are helping other people here in the city. Through our efforts to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation we are also supporting each other. We are committed to the values of respect, patience, open-mindedness, compassion and kindness.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Spanning generations, acknowledgment of the land is a traditional custom of indigenous peoples when welcoming outsiders on to their land and into their homes. To build respectful relationships – acknowledging the land is an important part of reconciliation, it honours the authentic history of North America, its original people, and tells the story of the creation of this country that has historically been missing.

In the spirit of reconciliation we would like to acknowledge that we are standing on Treaty 7 Territory, the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Nations, including Siksika, Piikani and Kainai the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Stoney Nakoda First Nations, and Métis Nation – Region 3. We acknowledge and honour the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who have lived, travelled and gathered here ~ whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries. We acknowledge that it is our duty to do more to learn about the rich history of this land to better understand our roles as residents, neighbours, caretakers and sojourners.

To learn more:


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