To the hosts of The 180,

I have just been listening to your programme as I drove buoyantly home from visiting  friends.   As I am 82 years old, it gave me a chill, as you informed me I am living on borrowed time!  Not a cheery thought for an active and happy person.  It brought me right down to gloom.

The discussion was  about the correct use of the terms--old--elderly--senior--etc.  Yes, old denotes age.  (old friend, old fashioned, etc.) An elder in the Indigenous  community is a wise person, a leader.  And senior used to refer to one's father or grandfather.  None of them meant to classify people into a group of their own--unfortunates because they are "old".  What  is old, anyway?  Who decides?  

I ask, why on earth does age matter at all?  Age is relative.  When you write a story about something happening in our world, human beings are involved--does it really matter what is their age?  Certainly not in the headline.  Perhaps mentioned later, if it is relevant, but in most human stories the age is irrelevant, and using  words such as "old", "elderly" or "senior" is simply practising Ageism, (which is the cousin of racism and sexism!  Imagine being described an an old, black woman!  Three strikes and you're out! )

Perhaps you will not understand this until you reach the age of 80, if you're lucky.  It happens more and more these days.  So let's lighten up with the Ageism, and celebrate  people for who they are and what they do, and keep the numbers for the statisticians. 

For me, being old is an honour.  I have responsibilities to represent my generation.

I would like to share a poem by Samantha Reynolds, who reflects my thoughts and feeling so beautifully.

I Am Not Old

I am not old, she said,
I am rare.
I am the standing ovation
At the end of the play.
I am the retrospective
Of my life as art.
I am the hours
Connected like dots
Into good sense.
I am the fullness
Of existing.
You think I am waiting to die . . . But I am waiting to be found
I am a treasure.
I am a map.
And these wrinkles are
Imprints of my journey.
Ask me anything.

(See Anna Mullins post on Facebook, photo by Ritta Ikonen and Norwegian photographer Karalone Hjorth)

I have a rather inactive blog, which is about to become active again!  janehamiltons.blogspot.ca/  Thanks for giving me a kickstart!  :)

Jane Hamilton Patrick

Good morning, world!  Yes, I'm still here.  I'm sorry that I haven't continued my blog of my African adventure.  I just ran out of energy, I guess, and have been lazy about it.  So many other things to do, and ever since I came back from Uganda, more than a year ago, I have been feeling tired and lacking in energy.  I managed to do a number of presentations about our trip to Uganda, and I have kept busy with my volunteer work with the Townships Grandmothers, the Yamaska Literacy Council,  Brome County Womens Institute, and certain other responsibilities, but there has not been enough energy to do "extras".  It seems I am running out of gas!

But today I was woken up from a long sleep . . . if you recall this blog was originally going to be about AGEISM in our world today.  Something I feel strongly about.  Well, on my way home today I heard a radio show on CBC which got me to thinking about that again.  I have already written to CBC with my thoughts, and I did remind the people I copied, that I still have a blog.  So I am going to try to attach my message to CBC to this blog.  I hope my tekkie ability will allow this.  Standby by for another post . . .
coming soon.  It may include a post I received on Facebook, I hope.

In the meantime, thanks for reading this, and I invite you to go back to earlier posts to read what I intended in the first place.  I would love to start up a conversation about Ageism.

Cheers for now.  Jane

The Other Half of October 7!

October 7--part 2--THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!  Got there in time for the last tea break, including Granny networking, and children's cultural performances.  Exhibition stalls were open in the park for sales, and wonderful treasures were bought and sold.  I arrived in my purple shirt and face bandage, and had time to do a bit of shopping.  Necklaces, earrings, bracelets, baskets and one wonderful beaded collar went into my shopping bag.  I now wish I had brought more treasures back with me--some of the Canadian grannies loaded up with colourful fabrics and woven carpets, etc. with them, but I was concerned about having to transport them all the way home, and through customs. 

Shopping on Last Day
Photo by Stella

 

The tall beautiful woman in orange, was the artist who created the beaded collar I purchased.  I will try to add a photo of it later.  The other people in this photo were women from her village.  There were many tender moments in the park this day, as we all knew our Gathering was coming to an end.  So much laughing, dancing, singing, talking and even weeping, were all coming to an end. 

 

It was time to go back to the Convention Hall  for the Closing Ceremony.  A prayer was said, and two national anthems were played.  And then the Ugandan Grandmothers Statement was presented.  This was the statement that kept our leaders up all the night before, writing from the notes of the rapporteurs at the workshops and other sessions--the distillation of all that had gone before in the two previous days--the jewel of the Gathering--Our reason for being there--The Voice of 500 Ugandan Grandmothers.  It was a very emotional moment.  It was read by Geraldine Powma  and translated by Jaja Jeda on behalf of us all.

 

Ugandan Grandmothers' Statement

We, 500 grandmothers from every region in Uganda, have come together for three days in Entebbe for the first ever National Grandmothers’ Gathering. We are celebrating our triumphs over the devastation that HIV and AIDS has wrought: over the painful losses of our loved ones, over stigma and discrimination, and over the threat to our very survival. Our love and labour has sown the seeds of new hope for our grandchildren, our families and our communities.

Our journey has been a long one, but our strength has been growing. We joined with other grandmothers in Toronto in 2006, breaking through silence and stigma. In Swaziland in 2010, we looked toward the future. Now, united in Uganda, we are claiming that future.

We have done our part. We care for the sick, we work the land, we hold our collective memory, and fueled by our love we raise the next generations, provide food, schooling, homes and security.

For far too long we have not been counted, we have not been valued, we have been made invisible. It is time for our contributions to be recognized and our rights to be protected.

Health care services must respond to the needs and realities of grandmothers and the children in their care, including: accessible grandmother-friendly HIV related services, specialized clinics and mobile care.

We must be protected from land grabbing and our property and inheritance rights guaranteed — not just on paper but in reality.

We demand an end to violence against grandmothers, whether it is domestic violence, elder abuse, or rape.

We are productive members of our society, and every government programme and policy should be designed with us in mind. But that is not enough, concrete action must be taken to ensure we can access them.

Our efforts to secure livelihoods for our families must be supported. Economic opportunities should be expanded for those of us still able to work, and social benefits extended to those who cannot. Protection from theft is essential, as well as greater access to credit and markets. We are raising generations of grandchildren ruptured by trauma, and require financial assistance and psychosocial support.

While we welcome the commitment to move the provision of social pensions from 15 to 40 districts, we urge our government to reach all of the grandmothers of our nation as soon as possible.

To our government, the private sector, civil society, media, UN agencies and members of the international community — the grandmothers of Uganda have a powerful vision for a future in which our families and communities are thriving, and have left the ravages of AIDS behind. With the support of our community-based organizations we have made huge strides, and we know a vibrant future is possible, but we cannot do it alone.

To our Canadian sisters in the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, you are an important part of our story, and we feel your solidarity as we build momentum.

We are 500 grandmothers here today, but we represent millions more. We are not young, but we are strong. We want the world to know how much we have achieved and how much we have overcome. We have breath to sing and energy to dance. We are moving forward! Join us!
 

This was the first International Gathering  There are now three statements in our literature:  The Toronto Statement in 2006 when the GMs were deeply in need of help to ease the suffering, the Manzini (Swasiland) Statement in 2010 turning the tide on HIV/AIDS and now the Uganda Statement when the GMs where there is now evidence that the tide is turning and GMs have found their voice.  Slowly things are changing--with school and home security, protection from land grabbing, violence, elder abuse and rape. 

 

There was more celebrating, singing and dancing, regional performances, and remarks by various leaders.  A lady by the name of Florence Butegwa spoke to the gathering.  She thanked the Canadians and Brits for travelleing the distance  and wished us safe passage back to our groups.  Some of the government representatives were "no-shows" but they were replaced amptly by others.  I'm afraid I was not in my best reporting condition because of my earlier accident.  My notes are very sketchy--I hope there will be  a video of this event that you can see some day.  A great deal of discussion about Human Rights.  " citizens are entitled to a full and meaningful life with dignity."  Grandmothers organizations are leaning how to apply policies already in place in their consititution--pensions for the elderly--micro grants--lists of essential medical supplies.  The government has an obligation.  GMs have rights, can make demands according to the constitution. 

 

Here is the video of Stephen’s full speech from the gathering :) Many of the Canadian Grannies even make an appearance!  Make sure you take the time to watch this--it is awesome!

  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmNrSMmie2M

 

Final Day of Gathering--Tying it All Together

Wednesday, October 7, 8 a.m.--We were up early and ready to march!  All 500+ jajas given white shirts with purple trim and logos, and we gathered outside the hotel and were loaded into busses, to head for the centre of Entebbe.



Waiting for the busses

Some groups were carrying placards declaring their demands and wishes.



Photo by Oscar

There was a brass band leading us as we lined up for the March.  There were even two women from CUPE*--supporters of the SLF marching with us. There was a buzz of excitement, accompanied by looks of bewilderment from some.  We were off on a 3-kilometre hike, telling the world the wants and needs of Ugandan grandmothers and the millions of grandchildren in their care.  We set off at a brisk pace with heads held high.  Police and soldiers on motor cycles accompanied us along the road.  And of course, the local press was there, as well.   I was surrounded by jajas.  I was surprised how easy it was to keep up with them.  Adrenalin, I guess.



Photo by Oscar
Pride Cometh Before a . . .
 



 I was not prepared for what happened next!  About 2 km. into the march there was an unplanned event . . . I tripped on a curb as we were turning a corner, and fell and hit my face and knee on the rocky sidewalk!!

 

What follows was my own little adventure which no one else would be able to describe.  Helpful people tried to pick me up . . .  the St. John's Ambulance people arrived, bless them,  and I was loaded into their ambulance, and attendants attempted to mop me up and stop the bleeding as they took me to a clinic in a shopping mall.  There was another little jaja in the ambulance as well, suffering from a fall, and very quiet.   Dr. Betty ** accompanied us, as well as Graham from the SLF.  We waited for the young Ugandan emergency doctor on duty to take his diabetes medicine.  My nice white shirt was all bloody, and Graham tried to find me "something pretty" at the mall,  but all he could find was a black t-shirt with big white letters on it.  Dr. Betty found me a purple shirt with a pink collar--this was the uniform shirt worn by staff, so I had an immediate  promotion from Granny to Staff!  When the emergency doctor arrived, Dr. Betty assisted him with his instruments, and I heard her ask  him, "Don't you have a smaller needle?"

 

He replied,  "This is the only one I have."    I shuttered! 

 

She said "Don't do anything--I'll be right back."  She was gone about 10 minutes and came back with a smaller needle.  Bless her!

 

The doctor sewed up my face--it took 7 stitches.  And I had a big bandage on the side of my face and on my right knee.  Dr. Betty drove me back to the hotel, and Graham, most kindly took my hat away to wash the blood stains off it.  I felt I was wonderfully cared for, and told the Ugandan doctor before we left,  that if this had happened where I live in Canada, I would still be in the waiting room!  I am very grateful to all these people who were so concerned and took such great care of me.   I arrived back at the Gathering in time for lunch! 

 

We are only half way through the day, but I think I will end this chapter of the story, and post it, and continue later (but not much later) with the other half, which is probably the most important part of the whole Gathering. 

 

*  Canadian Union Public Employees 

 

**Dr. Betty Nsangi, Executive Director

    Reach Out Mbuya Parish HIV/AIDS Initiative

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







 



 

 



 

 

 

A Few Explanations

Good Morning Readers. 

Surprised to get another page so quickly?!  I just re-read yesterday's text, and realized that I have slipped into a laziness of using abbreviations and buzz words, and also have not been giving our photographers proper credit.  So I want to correct this right now.  I will explain some expressions and perhaps will add more explanations to this page from time to time if needed.  A bit of a glossary. 

GM=grandmother   This word is used so frequently because this whole effort is about grandmothers, Africa's Unsung Heroes.

Jaja also means grandmother in their language.  I was called Jaja Jane!

SLF=Stephen Lewis Foundation. None of this would be happening without this foundation.  There are two websites you can visit to learn more about it: www.stephenlewisfoundation.org
or www.grandmotherscampaign.org

Community Based Organizations = CBO  I have not used this acronym yet, but now I will start, because it is another long phrase that comes up often.  These organizations are where the GMs go to find help, and in many cases they are run and staffed by other volunteer Jajas.  SLF supports and operates through these CBOs.  There were six CBOs that were particularly involved in organizing this Gathering, and they will be featured later.  We were able to visit two of them.

Photo by Edward Echwalu

Grandmothers:  Africa's Unsung Heroes--BookLaunch

About the photographers . . . I think this was the first time that the SLF decided to use a group of local professional photographers.  It was a brilliant move, because the chosen photographers were brilliant at their craft.  We were told that it was better to leave our cameras in our rooms and let them do the job.  Our job was to communicate with the Jajas, and this is difficult with a camera pointed at them constantly.  I think they really appreciated having their own local sons doing the job, and became very comfortable having them present all the time.  And these sons knew how to find the interesting moments and record them artfully and kindly.  When we were divided into groups, each group had their own photographer.  Our photographer was Oscar, and I will devote a whole page to Oscar before this story is finished.

The four photographers were:

 

Edward Echwalu

Emmanuel Museruka

Kibuuka Mukisa Oscar

Julius Ceasar 

 

To these young men we owe the great success of our publications, and our thanks.  I shall go back into the blog and enter the names under the photos.  In my haste I have left them out, or have only put in their first name.  But in the huge collection of photos in DropBox where we can access them all we want, their names are under each image. 

 

This is not to say that the Canadian Grannies didn't take any pictures at all.  It was very difficult to resist the opportunities that were around us all the time, so you will see some excellent photos by some of us, as well.  And I will give them credits too, when I know their source.  Mine were all taken with my iPhone, and have a slightly purplish tinge to them. 

 

 Photo by Emmanuel Museruka 

At a briefing with SLF Staff
A daily occurrence.

Day Two of the Gathering--A Power Packed Day

Tuesday, October 6--The Gathering continues in earnest.  Grandmothers assemble at the Imperial Beach Resort Hotel in the huge conference hall.  From 9 to 9:30 there is a recap of yesterday with some discussion.  At 9:30 we hear from Patience Sentamu, Head of the AIDS Support Organization (also daughter of Kaka Jolly, our chairperson for the whole conference.)

This morning the theme is HIV and AIDS.  We are being prepared for the ensuing workshops which begin at 9:45 on:
 
1.  living with HIV
2.  raising HIV positive grandchildren
3.  disclosure (coming out, going public, dealing with  ......)

We are broken into smaller groups again for these discussions.  More reams of notes. 

 

Photo by Oscar

Two rapporteurs taking notes from translater

while Stephen Lewis listens in.

 



At 11:15 there is a tea break outside on the lawn where refreshments are served, and  we circulate, shop at the craft tables, or sit in chairs or on the ground and relax with a cup of tea and sweet bread.  The atmosphere is cordial--laugher rings out through the park, there are lots of hugs, pictures are taken and new friends made. 

This is not an easy experience for the Jajas--imagine being poor, possibly HIV positive, living in a small village caring for eight or ten grandchildren, and suddenly being bussed to a huge hotel in a strange city, wearing your best dress, to a gathering of close to 500 other grandmothers, most of whom you have never met before, to discuss and learn about matters that are very personal, sensitive and stressful, with the hope that all this is somehow going to make life easier.  The tea break was an oasis.

 

Photo by Emmanuel



At 11:45 it is back to work--at a pleniary session where the workshops are reported and discussed further for an hour or so.  I have reams of notes, but quoting them here would make this blog page too long.  Everything is recorded and will be reviewed when the final conclusions are written up tomorrow.  There will be a copy of the final Ugandan Grandmothers Statement after tomorrow's report.  Further along I intend to create a separate page just of quotes I have taken from the various meetings. 

At one o'clock it is lunch time.  The same magnificent buffet is waiting for us in the dining room, and grandmothers collect at tables with their friends, and their plates piled high!  I sat at the table with Joy--I deliberately sought her out, because I was curious about her.  Even her name excuded optimism and  hope.  I sat beside Joy and some of her north west Ugandan grannies, and  more or less interviewed her--she was eager to talk about herself and her life.  She was a slight woman wearing modern attire, and a broad smile.  I asked her how many grandchildren she was caring for, and she said "too many to count"!   When I asked her who was caring for them in her absence, she said "my husband".  She explained that he was taking them around to visit their relatives because they felt is was so important for orphans to know that they still did have some aunties and cousins--some blood relatives.  She told me she hoped to go back to school and study gerintology.  She said she had four children, her eldest daughter was graduating from university with a degree in Economics, and her three sons "had some education and were looking for jobs".  She told me she was running for a position on the committee of their community based organization.  She was 58 years old.  None of her children were married yet, and she had no grandchildren of her own.  I asked her, as delicately as I could, about the health of her family, and she understood why I asked, and smilingly said that all her family were in good health.  She was not here to get help for herself, but to be of help to others.  For so many years the SLF had been saying they were "turning the tide on HIV/AIDS in Africa" and this interview with Joy made me believe that the tide was truly turning.

Joy and Canadian Granny

Photo by Emmanuel

There was a tiny wizend old granny sitting opposite me, very quietly eating her lunch.  Joy told me this lady wanted me to be "her friend".  In other encounters so far, this had meant they wanted a big favour--money, or a new house or a school.  And it was difficult to deflect these requests--we had to explain that it was the community based organizations, supported by SLF, that the help came from.  Joy already understood this, but this lady's need was something different.  I listened as Joy translated and I prayed to have a wise reply.  It turned out that this lady's granddaughter had been savagely abused and raped, and was severely injured-- she could not walk.  How could I help?  With a heavy heart I contemplated, and remembered Patience--who yesterday, when she was introduced by her mother, had said if anyone needed help they should come to see her and she would help.  A wide open and sincere promise.  I reminded Joy of this promise, and they talked about this among themselves, and Joy and one of the young helping women said they would take the Jaja to speak to Patience. Now, Patience is a very busy person at this conference.  But they took her to the St. Johns Ambulance kiosk at the back of the hall, where Patience met with people, and gave her a chair to sit and wait for Patience.  This was fine with her--she was used to waiting.  I bumped into Patience on my way back to the hall after lunch, and told her there was a lady who was waiting for her, and she already knew about her.  Patience would have many connections.

Lunch was from 1:00 to 2:30--lots of time to eat and talk and rest.  When we reconvened, there were twenty minutes of celebratory performances by grandmothers from various regions--singing and dancing and drumming.  Our photographers were in heaven.  (I also plan to create a separate photo gallery near the end.  We have some absolutely amazing photos.)

Photo by Edward



Then back to work again, this time with the theme of Social Protection.  A short introductory discussion on the topic, and then break away workshops again on:
 
1. land and housing issues
2.  social security
3. inheritance (or lack thereof)
4.  child support. 

We broke into groups once more to observe and take notes.  There was plenty of discussion and grandmothers finding their voices to express their pain, their hopes and needs.  I attended only one of these workshops and was not one of the official rapporteurs.  It was very intense. 

Photo by Edward

Reconvened for a pleniary report on Social Protection ended at 5:20 with Tea Break which took us to the end of the planned day.  I think we were all grateful to have the evening off--the Canadians eating  supper together and unwinding from a very full day.  As I review this page before publishing it I am struck by the changes in tempo as the day unfolded, never allowing boredom or fatigue.  The sign of a well planned event. 

 

 

Photo by Emmanuel

The Gathering Gathers Momentum

After lunch that day, the action gathered momentum, following a carefully planned programme.  The theme of the afternoon's activities was Economic Empowerment, starting with remarks by Kezia Mukasa from the Uganda Reach the Aged Association.  Here is where we learned more of the plight of the GMs--and how neglected they are by their government.  Of the pain and the suffering they have withstood.  Here is where my copious notes become sketchy--so much information, all in little spurts, not tied together in any way.  I'll do my best to put it all together, hoping you can get the general ideas, and the feeling of this experience. 

The GMs were divided into four large groups according to their lanyard colours, and two Canadian GMs (at least) were assigned to each group.  Our job was not to participate, but to take as accurate and detailed notes as possible of the "breakout workshops"--the topics announced were Savings Schemes, Financial Management, Agriculture and Wealth Creation.   Heavy stuff!

Alix and I were assigned to a workshop on Household Income.  The question asked was basically "What income generating activities are used in your households?  What do you do to generate an income?"  They asked us (the rapporteurs) to listen for words and ideas that were repeated often (we were getting all our information through a translator as the facilitator and grandmothers were all speaking the Ugandan language.)

In foreground Alix and I bent over our notebooks as translator (left) dictates what is being said. 

Basically, the grandmothers have no support from the government or their husbands, and their children are either dead, or "gone to the city", so they  have to generate their own income to feed the children they have taken under their care.  The income creation starts with them. 

They agreed that this gathering gave them a chance to learn from each other how to use the few assets they have, the land especially.  And it is giving them a voice.  They can learn from each other, as they exchange  information about their projects.  Some of these were:  high value crops such as onions, potatoes, carrots, pawpaws, cabbage--which they could eat, but also sell.  Some of them are venturing into "cash crops" such as coffee, tea, tobacco.  And then there is animal production; poultry, goats, pigs,  rabbits and an occasional cow. And fishing.  Other examples:    Beekeeping, mushroom growing, Irish potatoes, manure, tomatoes, water!!, sugar, peanuts, sogum, cocoa, pineapples, hops, quarry (hammering large rocks into gravel to sell), milling grains for flour, weaving, trading goods and services with other households. Brick making and bricklaying.  Selling milk.  "Make sure your family has enough first."  Children can help with some of the work projects.  In a few rare cases, the husband helps, too.  Trading goods and services with other households.  "Grannies are the experts."

The next question was "How do you use the proceeds from your activities?"  A lot goes to medical care.  Remember, many of these GMs and children are HIV/AIDs positive.   Luckily now there are medications available to keep them healthy and productive. 

Other uses of their earnings were for planting, seeds, buying more animals.  Some have built stands at the roadside, or have a truck stand.  Some have bought a piece of land.   Some are becoming very competent entrepreneurs.  In all of this, they agree that the grandmothers are the experts, helping each other, with the assistance of the community based organizations which I will tell you more about later.

The facilitator at this workshop described a great metaphor for what they had been discussing.  She said something came into her head as they spoke--a tree with a trunk and roots and branches is like a household.  A tree without those things,  when the wind comes (hunger, disease) the tree may fall.  The household is the trunk, and the activities are the roots. The branches are the proceeds from your generating activities.  The tree with strong roots and trunk, many branches, can withstand the wind.  The tree = Family and community. 

As the workshop concluded the GMs said they would like to have more training and workshops, more education about agriculture, crafts, marketing, accounting.  They would like to have a training school for themselves and their grandchildren.  Lots of practical ideas were shared.  It was a most animated and exciting conversation.  All the GMs present had a chance to speak, and were thanked by the facilitator for their participation.  They truly do have a voice.    "You are the experts--we are here to learn from you."

While we were recording this workshop, there were three other workshops going on, which I can't tell you much about.  Except that they were probably equally animated and exciting.  At four o'clock we resumed our places in the large convention hall for a pleniary session.  They spoke about disclosure of HIV/AIDS--another difficult topic.  We did a stretching exercise called "picking mangoes--put them in the basket"--very stimulating.  Outcomes of first workshops--Grandmothers need to be listened to--need to be in the forefront, handled as special people.  They urged us to spend money at the market in the park.  Patience, daughter of Kaka Jolie reminded all GMs that she is there to help anyone who needs help--just go and talk to her.   Psycho Social support is needed.   

There is so much more I could write, but I must stop somewhere.  There was a tea break after this, and we all went outside to drink tea, schmooze with the jajas, and  relax, laugh and buy some beautiful articles to bring home.  Another page will be devoted to that later.

 

Tea Break after a busy afternoon.

 

 

The rest of the afternoon from 6 to 7 was devoted to Granny Networking, which covered many various activities, and from 7 to 10 there was a Cultural Evening and Dinner served in the park, followed by amazing entertainment.  What a day!!  What an Evening!

 



 

Dining and Dancing in the Park.