Harambee Grandmas hosting fabric and yarn sale

Aug 27, 2023

The Harambee Grandmas invite you to their sixth annual fabric and yarn sale on Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21.

The fabric and yarn sale takes place in Lethbridge, at McKillop United Church, 2329 15th Ave. S, from 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 20 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Oct. 21.

Cash, debit, and credit card payment accepted. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their reusable shopping bags.

Harambee Grandmas is the local chapter of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s “Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.”

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) is a progressive, feminist organization rooted in the principles of social justice, international solidarity, and substantive equality. The SLF was created in 2003 with the express purpose of supporting community-based organizations working on the frontlines of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

Since its creation, the SLF has partnered with 325 community-based organizations on more than 1800 initiatives in the 15 sub-Saharan Africa countries that have been hardest hit by the HIV and AIDS pandemic.

The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign was launched in 2006 as an initiative of the SLF in response to the emerging crisis faced by grandmothers in Africa.

In the face of discrimination based on gender, age and HIV status, these women are courageous advocates for their families and communities.

As a result of the formation of the “GtoG” campaign, more than $40 million has been raised in support of grandmothers and the work they do in their community-based organizations.

Many of these grassroots organizations in African countries were originally formed by small groups of individuals responding to the crisis AIDS had wrought in their own lives and in the lives of their neighbours.

Over the years, they have developed into thriving organizations with deep connections to their communities.

The SLF’s community-based partners are turning the tide of HIV and AIDS by providing care and support to children orphaned by AIDS, LGBTIQ communities, women suffering abuse and people living with HIV and AIDS.

Starting with just a few groups in Canada, the Grandmothers Campaign now includes 10,000 grandmothers and grandothers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

These grandmothers groups organize fundraising events and activities and act in solidarity with the grandmothers and the SLF’s community-based partners in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Harambee Grandmas, Lethbridge and district’s local group, have been part of the campaign since the beginning and continue to create ways, such as the annual fabric and yarn sale, to engage the community in supporting this very worthy endeavour. The group can be found on Facebook, at Harambee Grandmas.

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