Film night for African grannies

Wednesday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m., there will be a film night in support of the grandmothers' campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. After finding countless destitute grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa caring for the more than 13 million children orphaned by the AIDS pandemic, Stephen Lewis and his foundation began to connect Canadian grandmothers with their counterparts in Africa.

In Orangeville, the grandmothers campaign group is a part of the Orangeville Chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women.

Grandmothers in Canada have raised more than $1 million through local community events. The film night May 30 will feature a screening of two films produced by the foundation. A Generation of Orphans tells the story of six children, from various African countries, struggling to grow up without parents. Grandmothers: The Unsung Heroes of Africa highlights the crucial role that grandmothers play in caring for AIDS orphans and in holding families and their communities together. Often without land or resources of their own, elderly women struggle to provide for their orphaned grandchildren.

The film night will be held at the Orangeville Senior Citizens Centre, 26 Bythia Street. Admission is free, however, donations (tax deductible) to the Stephen Lewis Foundation are sincerely appreciated. Seating is limited, so please call Chris Elms at 519-942-5932 to reserve your spot.