One never, ever knows, at any time in ones life, just what event will lead to something unexpected.
In 2000, Carol Hofmeyer, a doctor and an artist, retired to the beautiful area of Eastern Cape in South Africa. AIDS was rampant at the time. In contrast to the rural beauty, the local people were suffering from un-treatable AIDS. As the young adults died, they left orphaned children. The elderly women had to take over caring for them. Across Africa, there were millions of orphaned children.
In the village of Hamburg, Carol Hofmeyer started to teach the women how to sew as a means for them to earn a living. They designed panels showing the abundance and beauty of their area and contrasted it with the devastation caused by AIDS.
In 2003, the Keiskammen Trust was established which combined the Art Project and AIDS Treatment Program. This short movie is worth watching. You will see the Altarpiece, the details and and an explanation. You will also see the beauty of Eastern Cape and the treatment of the AIDS Pandemic. The ‘mini glimpse’ included here is only a blink of the total.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation was formed in 2003 specifically to fund and support the needs of the families in many countries affected by AIDS.
Guelph GoGo Grandmothers is one of 250 groups in Canada that raises funds to assist the grandmothers and young mothers. They are also involved in education, and with other issues, Our local group, founded in 2006, is very active in raising money. There must be thousands of other groups world wide.
That is an amazing site and so interesting to see the stitching as well as the work of one woman.
Proud to be associated with SLF as well as Guelph GoGo Grannies.
Glad you enjoyed it and found it interesting. It is amazing what people, woman can start and achieve when they work together. Thanks for your comment.
Beautiful post. It shows how resilient we can become when faced with adversaries of all kinds. It is wonderful to see how the grandmas have taken up the duty of caring for their grandchildren. Their plans put on hold for the sake of the grandchildren. Truly beautiful.
Thank you Marsha for your comment. I found the video very helpful in understanding how the altarpiece was made and what it represented. Grandmothers, worldwide, are wonderful people.
We are fortunate that we are living long enough to experience this and to give our grandchildren the added security in life.
However, in Africa, it is more a matter of survival. They lost a generation of young adults to Aids.