In August 2006 the project manager and two grandmothers hosted two workshops at the Grandmothers’ gathering in Toronto, Canada. The AIDS focused gathering was funded and organised by the Stephen Lewis Foundation. At the gathering a link was made between Canadian grandmothers and grandmothers from Africa bridging the gap between developed and undeveloped countries. The gathering gave grandmothers from Africa a once in a life time chance to travel on an aeroplane and visit another country.
In October the Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the GAPA project. The grandmothers welcomed the Royal couple with traditional songs of praise and a praise singer.
In 2007 three grandmothers attended the launch of the Stephen Lewis film on the plight of AIDS orphans in Africa. They visited grandmothers throughout Canada, appeared on radio stations and Canadian TV. On arrival home they were elated with the success of their frenetic tour around Canada but the first words out of their mouths as they came out of the airport were “You didn’t tell us we were going to work, work harder than ever before in our lives! We’re home to relax”
In March 2008 Canadian grandmothers visited GAPA at its headquarters in Khayelitsha where they experienced life in an African township first hand. They returned home with images that they will never forget.
