Grandmothers to share HIV/AIDS advocacy efforts with students
Two local grandmothers will bring their message of fundraising and advocacy for HIV/AIDS projects in Africa to Fleming College on Monday, Feb. 7.
The event, Tea with the Grannies, will feature Bernice Standen and Nancy Martin from the Peterborough Chapter of the Stephen Lewis Foundation “Grandmothers to Grandmothers” project. The women will share their latest activities with students at the Sutherland Campus.
The grandmothers take part in fundraising for grassroots HIV/AIDS projects in Africa as well as partner with African grandmothers caring for orphaned grandchildren. The women also advocate on behalf of African women by prodding the government to provide greater access to HIV/AIDS medication and support.
“Granny” Bernice is a retired neo-natal nurse whose area of advocacy is directed toward increasing access to AIDS medications and social supports for African mothers and their children. She has been working hard to encourage MPs to pass Bill C-393, which will allow less expensive versions of AIDS medications to be produced and distributed.
“Granny” Nancy worked in the prison system in Canada before retiring. She will speak about the networking and community-building projects involving Canadian and African grandmothers together.
There are 140 grandmothers who belong to the local chapter of the foundation.
Tea with the Grannies will take place on Feb. 7 in room 613 from 3-4 p.m. at Fleming’s Sutherland Campus, 599 Brealey Dr.
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 90 full-time programs in Business and Technology, Continuing Education and Skilled Trades, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Visual Arts, Education, Health and Wellness, and Law, Justice and Community Services. Fleming College has more than 6,000 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 58,000 alumni.
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For more information:
Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca