The Granny Connection is deeply dedicated to providing local support, advocacy, and funding to grandmothers in Africa who are raising children orphaned by AIDS, as well as local HIV/AIDS education and awareness.
HIV and AIDS in Zambia
The Granny Connection is a nonprofit organization of women who stand in solidarity with the grandmothers of Africa who are raising children orphaned by AIDS. There are 15 million children in sub-Saharan Africa who have lost one or both parents to the ravages of the AIDS pandemic. The grandmothers of Africa have stepped into the gap and have become the glue holding the continent together. The Columbus grandmothers and “grand others” know about the love and the struggles of our sisters in Africa. Our mission is empowerment of families affected by HIV and AIDS, assisting them toward self-reliance. The Arms Reach Care program helps with weekly health supervision, medication, and food supplements for HIV positive children among 550 families. In addition, in 2020, 14,000 treated bed nets were distributed to prevent malaria. The education and follow-up within this program resulted in the total absence of malaria among participating families. In addition, the prenatal care program evidenced no new HIV positive births to HIV positive mothers. According to the World Health Organization almost 15% of adults in Zambia are HIV positive. While most have heard of the disease, only about 40% are knowledgeable about the health condition and how to prevent it from spreading. The Power of Love (POL) Foundation assists with AIDS education, awareness, and testing. They teach the HIV positive children and grandmothers how to be responsible for their life-long care and disease management.
Micro-loans Provide Hope for the Future
The Columbus Granny Connection partners with the POL in Matero, Zambia, where the average per capita income is less than $2 per day. There is a 60% unemployment rate. Many of the grandmothers heading households have not had much schooling yet they are meticulously caring for an average of five to seven children. The micro-loan program currently has 551 women receiving business skills, supervision, and support for 18 months to establish small businesses. These new businesses provide more sustainable incomes, allowing the children to remain in school and provide more regular nutritional meals for families.
Local Work
As grandmothers and “grandothers”, the members of Granny Connection in Columbus also work to serve as an inspiration and role models for those in our community as well. We have several activities about AIDS awareness – The Red Scarf Project downtown; and working with high school seniors engaging in related senior projects. We hope our advocacy will assist locally as well as globally. We raise money for various AIDS related organizations in Indiana and primarily for the epicenter of the pandemic in Africa.
Join Us in Support
If you have an interest in joining our organization, we would be delighted to include you! Please call Ann at 812-342-4680 or email us on this site. We seek to make new friends and to make a difference in the lives of others while working to eradicate HIV and AIDS.