I'm posting this article written for Help Lesotho about the Granny Days run by the organisation. I am excited to take part and witness a Granny Day next week and then a conference in December. I will add my thoughts and reflections then but for now I think this article does a good job summing it all up.
I thought this programme may be of interest to any of you who are, will be or have grandparents.
I wanted to include the photos from the article but my pdf skills are limited and thus I could not find a way.
Alison
Grandmother Day from a male point of view by Doug Thicke and Stephen KendallWe think of our own grandmothers and what their later years were like. We recall the family members eager to address their every need. We see images of their lovely homes and their comforts. We recall sitting near their comfortable rocking chairs watching them enjoy their twilight years with us, their grandsons, listening to their stories. Today, we are in Lesotho and this is not the picture. More than 65% of the thousands and thousands of AIDS orphans are looked after by their grandmothers. The grandfathers died long ago. These women bear loss and suffering, we can barely imagine. With the world‟s 3rd highest incidence of HIV/AIDS, old age here is a time of physical pain, financial destitution, illness and hunger; cold winters and orphans ……so many orphans. The average grandmother looks after 6-9 orphans, some of whom she is not related to.
On this special Grandmother Day, these Basotho Grannies start arriving at the Help Lesotho office more than an hour before the appointed start time. They come from near and far, on foot and by small broken-down taxis sent to gather those beyond walking distance. These 50 were selected from the poorest of the poor by their chiefs. This is their day - once per month - to socialize, learn, relax, and feel the support from other grandmothers. These old and aching bodies settle into the cheap plastic chairs on the grass to wait, chat and enjoy the glorious African sunshine.
Such a kaleidoscope of colors and sizes: some are rotund, others scrawny, with sunken eyes and wizened skin. Some have canes or just tree-branch walking sticks. Some carry babies on their backs wrapped in blankets. Many are clad in faded but still beautiful traditional seshoeshoe dresses with colorful head scarves or sun hats, wrapped in blankets against the early fall chill.
At nine o‟clock, chairs and bodies are moved into the Help Lesotho training room to be greeted by the Help Lesotho Grandmother Support Officer, „M‟e Mapoloko. There is wonderfully boisterous ululating (a high pitched warble to express joy and happiness), spiritual songs and a solemn prayer. One grandmother and cancer survivor, shares with the group her struggles and recovery process at the Bloemfontein Hospital. She gives a passionate message of hope, faith, and resiliency.
Education is followed by tea time with biscuits. The grandmothers dunk their biscuits into their sugary tea or juice. The second speaker, the Ministry of Health District Health Education Officer, discusses “Positive Living” and the importance of health of mind and soul with tips, strategies and lively discussion.
The bo-Nkomo (Sesotho for grandmothers) share a traditional meal: boiled chicken pieces, a healthy serving of papa (a cornmeal staple), mashed pumpkin, “morroho” (chopped, boiled salty spinach), more orange juice and tea. They eat sitting with their legs out straight on the grass in clusters, as little girls would.
Spontaneous singing, clapping, and dancing is followed by more education, this time on “HIV and Gender Equality”. Three grandmothers lead a bible study and concluded with more singing, dancing and laughter.
Most of these grannies suffer terribly from cataracts and are approaching blindness. They try on used reading glasses, look at their hands, then up, put them back in the box and try another pair. Today the group photo includes much cheering and primping – as if they were movie queens. They eagerly view the camera screen to see themselves, covering their mouths and giggling. Others are quiet, taking in things in their own way.
Around 3:00, they lined up politely, hopefully, to collect a bag of green lentils donated from Canada and then say their goodbyes until next month. It is haunting to watch them return to their grief in the loss of their children and worry of how to raise these grandchildren with no resources. The lentils will likely be the only protein they and their grandchildren will have for some time.
The grandmothers say that these days have made a huge difference: they know they are not alone; they know their HIV status, others are in the same boat; they feel valued; they are given life-saving education for the first time. They have the best meal they will have for another month.
Monthly Help Lesotho Grandmothers Days in four remote and poorly served communities have become life lines. In between times, the grannies meet in their villages with those who live close by for companionship, solace and enterprise. Most villages groups now have small income-generating projects. They contribute pennies to share the cost of the soap, candles, seeds that their collective funds can buy.
To help Grandmother Days to continue to provide help and hope to grandmothers in Lesotho, visit
www.helplesotho.ca and follow the links on how to
"Sponsor A Grandmother".
Wouldn’t your own grandmother be proud of you?Rea Leboha/Thank You
Stephen and Doug
