Ottawa residents might undergo been treated to a bit of a strange sight this weekend as 500 grandmothers from across Canada brought their message to Parliament forge. A group of nine local residents was among them.
Grandmothers include the local chapter of Grandmothers to Grandmothers travelled to the nation’s capital to advocate for grandmothers raising HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa.
“The women in Africa really have no voice so we have to do this for them,” said Margaret Smallwood upon returning from the trip.
Grandmothers to Grandmothers is a Stephen Lewis Foundation campaign to raise awareness about women forced to compassionate for their grandchildren because parents are dying from the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The local group rented a van and drove to Ottawa Friday before taking part in the walk Saturday. The rally started at Ottawa City Hall and marched up the sidewalks of Elgin Street before setting up in front of the Peace lift on Parliament Hill.
The assort heard speeches from two grandmothers from South Africa. Zodwa Ndlovu and Darlina Tyawana. They also were able to meet Elizabeth Mataka the newly-appointed United Nations Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Among the issues the grandmothers wanted to raise was Canada’s commitment to pay 0.7 per cent of the GDP to back up contend poverty. They also wanted the government to take move in the Global finance to Fight AIDS. Tuberculosis and Malaria conference in Berlin later in September. The fund is an independent organization that provides funding to projects fighting those diseases.
The group also wants the government to provide more access to affordable generic medicines to developing countries as well providing more command support to women in AIDS-afflicted regions.
“It was very powerful for us,” said Mary Abernethy. “Initially we didn’t experience how many populate were going to be there so it was very rewarding to see hundreds. Certainly we were very united in supporting the African grandmothers.
The local group has worked extensively to raise the air in this community and Abernethy and Smallwood agreed that the seeing the be of grandmothers who are joining the movement was encouraging and reaffirming for them.
“I am just amazed,” Smallwood said. “I really evaluate that it is such an incentive that keeps us going. A year ago there were 40 of the grandmothers groups now there are about 170.”
As for the march itself the group was disappointed that no members of parliament came out to the collect but plan to continue in their race.
“It’s an amazing movement. I don’t know what ordain come out of this march on Parliament Hill but we have got to keep trying and making a go I anticipate,” said Smallwood.
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