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We did it!!!
Kampala, Uganda to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Because of your efforts and generosity we have been able
to raise about $10,900 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation!!
It is very hard to arrive at a precise total because of the many ways of donating. However, we can celebrate our achievement and rest assured that the funds will benefit grass-roots organizations in sub-Saharan Africa who are dealing with this COVID 19 pandemic while they continue to deal with HIV/AIDS.
Questions? Contact Connie at [email protected] or call 519 578 5866
____________________________________________________________________________
Kampala, Uganda to Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Because of your efforts and generosity we have been able
to raise about $10,900 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation!!
It is very hard to arrive at a precise total because of the many ways of donating. However, we can celebrate our achievement and rest assured that the funds will benefit grass-roots organizations in sub-Saharan Africa who are dealing with this COVID 19 pandemic while they continue to deal with HIV/AIDS.
Questions? Contact Connie at [email protected] or call 519 578 5866
____________________________________________________________________________
Stride 2021, Final Report (almost!)
It will take a few weeks to get a final total for the amount of money we raised, but the
kilometres are impressive! We were in Botswana at the end of week three, headed to Windhoek, Namibia, and needed 837.66 more kilometres to get there. We easily passed Windhoek, then set off again on our way to Lubumbashi, the coal mining capital and third largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We needed 1695 more kms to reach Lubumbashi so a total of 2532.66 altogether. And guess what, our week four+ total is 2559.11!!! We made it! That brings our Stride grand total to 9122.45 kilometres!!
Let me finish our journey highlighting a few of the organizations we could have visited:
In Botswana the SLF supports Stepping Stones International. They provide a wide range of training in areas such as basic financial literacy, budgeting, small business management, and many trades. Many of their graduates find work or start their own small business. They also supply small amounts of start-up capital. At the national level they conduct research and write policy reviews to stimulate reforms.
The national office of Catholic Aids Action is in Windhoek, Namibia. This is the only group supported by the SLF in Namibia. They look after the poorest and neediest with home based care, soup kitchens, after school activities, care for orphans, and HIV testing and counseling. Their programs are available to all irrespective of religion, race, or background.
The Foundation partners with organizations that challenge gender-based violence and provide urgent medical care. The Panzi Hospital in the DRC, led by Nobel-prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, treats survivors of violence in three ways: medically; through psychosocial services; and by providing legal advice.The Panzi staff have cared for over 50,000 survivors of sexual violence in the past 23 years.
So there we are, our journey has finished and we have helped the SLF support very worthwhile grassroots organizations. I hope we have a better understanding of some of those organizations and will stay committed to our sisters and brothers in sub-Saharan Africa. As soon as we have a $$ total I will let you know.
Thanks for taking the journey with me, stay healthy and safe over the summer, and I hope we can meet in person in the fall.
Connie
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
It will take a few weeks to get a final total for the amount of money we raised, but the
kilometres are impressive! We were in Botswana at the end of week three, headed to Windhoek, Namibia, and needed 837.66 more kilometres to get there. We easily passed Windhoek, then set off again on our way to Lubumbashi, the coal mining capital and third largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We needed 1695 more kms to reach Lubumbashi so a total of 2532.66 altogether. And guess what, our week four+ total is 2559.11!!! We made it! That brings our Stride grand total to 9122.45 kilometres!!
Let me finish our journey highlighting a few of the organizations we could have visited:
In Botswana the SLF supports Stepping Stones International. They provide a wide range of training in areas such as basic financial literacy, budgeting, small business management, and many trades. Many of their graduates find work or start their own small business. They also supply small amounts of start-up capital. At the national level they conduct research and write policy reviews to stimulate reforms.
The national office of Catholic Aids Action is in Windhoek, Namibia. This is the only group supported by the SLF in Namibia. They look after the poorest and neediest with home based care, soup kitchens, after school activities, care for orphans, and HIV testing and counseling. Their programs are available to all irrespective of religion, race, or background.
The Foundation partners with organizations that challenge gender-based violence and provide urgent medical care. The Panzi Hospital in the DRC, led by Nobel-prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege, treats survivors of violence in three ways: medically; through psychosocial services; and by providing legal advice.The Panzi staff have cared for over 50,000 survivors of sexual violence in the past 23 years.
So there we are, our journey has finished and we have helped the SLF support very worthwhile grassroots organizations. I hope we have a better understanding of some of those organizations and will stay committed to our sisters and brothers in sub-Saharan Africa. As soon as we have a $$ total I will let you know.
Thanks for taking the journey with me, stay healthy and safe over the summer, and I hope we can meet in person in the fall.
Connie
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Time to Tally our contributions. June 30th was our last day!
1. For those giving a lump sum, tell Connie the amount at the end of June, including any donations you received from others. Our treasurer Penny Cressman (see below) would like cheques made out to Omas Siskona KW, with Stride in the memo line, sent to her directly. Any donations over $20 will receive a receipt. Make sure she has the names and addresses of your sponsors. If sponsors prefer to donate online, they should reference Omas Siskona/Stride when it asks for a Grandmothers’ Group affiliation. If possible, let Penny know the amount of any online donations.
2. For those giving per km, let Connie know the total at the end of June and donate as in #1 above. It is of course your choice as to which of your activities you are pledging for. As an example, I am pledging for the km of walking and biking I do, but also counting up my Pilates, gardening, vacuuming (not many to add there!!), etc. as well.
Penny Cressman
[email protected]
412-55 William St. E. Waterloo ON N2J4Z1
519-744-2984
____________________________________________________________________________
1. For those giving a lump sum, tell Connie the amount at the end of June, including any donations you received from others. Our treasurer Penny Cressman (see below) would like cheques made out to Omas Siskona KW, with Stride in the memo line, sent to her directly. Any donations over $20 will receive a receipt. Make sure she has the names and addresses of your sponsors. If sponsors prefer to donate online, they should reference Omas Siskona/Stride when it asks for a Grandmothers’ Group affiliation. If possible, let Penny know the amount of any online donations.
2. For those giving per km, let Connie know the total at the end of June and donate as in #1 above. It is of course your choice as to which of your activities you are pledging for. As an example, I am pledging for the km of walking and biking I do, but also counting up my Pilates, gardening, vacuuming (not many to add there!!), etc. as well.
Penny Cressman
[email protected]
412-55 William St. E. Waterloo ON N2J4Z1
519-744-2984
____________________________________________________________________________
Our leader and organizer, Connie, walking in the rain on June 26. What devotion!! Thank you, Connie!!!
More Week 3 photos below.
Left: OMA Erla Koch and her sister on a 4 day bike hike.
Middle: OMA Hulene Montgomery, her partner Michael and OMA Brenda Couch, hiking at Pinehurst
Right: Hulene and Brenda canoeing the Grand
Left: OMA Erla Koch and her sister on a 4 day bike hike.
Middle: OMA Hulene Montgomery, her partner Michael and OMA Brenda Couch, hiking at Pinehurst
Right: Hulene and Brenda canoeing the Grand
OMA Pat and granddaughter Ann-Marie
WEEK 3 PROGRESS REPORT: JUNE 14-21, 2021
More good news to report for week three of our fundraising campaign. With four more participants to report in, we easily traveled through Cape Town and are just 184 km away from Gaborone, Botswana! We have covered 2006.23 km and counting this week! We have been doing so well that we extended our journey…who knows where we might end up!
More activities have been added to the list. One granddaughter is horseback riding, a member is now lawn bowling. If possible, would you send me a picture of the activity you or someone in your family is engaged in. It just might be posted on the SLF website!
**** NOTE ABOUT WEEK FOUR - REMEMBER THAT WE FINISH ON JUNE 30. PLEASE SEND YOUR LAST REPORT TO ME (INCLUDING THE LAST 10 DAYS) BY JULY 1.
PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED.
While we were in Johannesburg we might have visited the national office of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), launched in 1998 by a small group of political activists to campaign for access to AIDS treatment. It has grown to become “the world’s most effective AIDS group” (New York Times). One of their most significant victories was a 2002 court ruling in which the South African Government was ordered to provide ARVs to prevent transmission of HIV from mothers to babies during birth.
Not all of the SLF’s partners have the stature and clout of organizations like the TAC, but they all have members of the local community, especially people living with HIV/AIDS and women, on their boards. The Wide Horizon Hospice in South Africa provides support to grandmothers from counselors and peers. Counselors give practical advice and peers have an influence on the emotional level. The members of the grannie groups support one another and the grannies living close to one another become friends.
So make these last ten days good ones, stay safe,
More good news to report for week three of our fundraising campaign. With four more participants to report in, we easily traveled through Cape Town and are just 184 km away from Gaborone, Botswana! We have covered 2006.23 km and counting this week! We have been doing so well that we extended our journey…who knows where we might end up!
More activities have been added to the list. One granddaughter is horseback riding, a member is now lawn bowling. If possible, would you send me a picture of the activity you or someone in your family is engaged in. It just might be posted on the SLF website!
**** NOTE ABOUT WEEK FOUR - REMEMBER THAT WE FINISH ON JUNE 30. PLEASE SEND YOUR LAST REPORT TO ME (INCLUDING THE LAST 10 DAYS) BY JULY 1.
PLEASE ALSO INCLUDE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED.
While we were in Johannesburg we might have visited the national office of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), launched in 1998 by a small group of political activists to campaign for access to AIDS treatment. It has grown to become “the world’s most effective AIDS group” (New York Times). One of their most significant victories was a 2002 court ruling in which the South African Government was ordered to provide ARVs to prevent transmission of HIV from mothers to babies during birth.
Not all of the SLF’s partners have the stature and clout of organizations like the TAC, but they all have members of the local community, especially people living with HIV/AIDS and women, on their boards. The Wide Horizon Hospice in South Africa provides support to grandmothers from counselors and peers. Counselors give practical advice and peers have an influence on the emotional level. The members of the grannie groups support one another and the grannies living close to one another become friends.
So make these last ten days good ones, stay safe,
Walking in solidarity with our sisters in Africa!
WEEK 2 PROGRESS REPORT:
June 7 - 13, 2021
We have surpassed our Week One total. In Week Two: 2131.25 km and counting!!! Congratulations everyone!
Even though the journey from Tanzania to Lusaka, Zambia was a long one, we only needed 564.77 more km to get there. That means we passed through Zambia early in the week on our way to Harare, Zimbabwe, breezed by there, and had a chance to relax in Johannesburg, South Africa!!
I will leave Johannesburg for next week , but here are a couple of SLF-supported projects worth mentioning:
1. Education is the key to turning life around for children who have been badly disadvantaged by HIV and AIDS. In Zambia, the Twavwane Home Based Care Initiative integrates school support into their programming. Not only do they pay for uniforms and supplies, they host after school and teen clubs, provide tutorial support and trouble-shooting with parents and teachers. Ranchhod Community Services and Hospice does similar work, and sees restoration of hope as the most important outcome. Both organizations believe “this work is about lifting someone to higher ground, so she sees the way through difficult times”.
2. Hope Tariro Trust in Zimbabwe has improved the lives of more than 5,400 orphaned and vulnerable children, mainly through psycho-social support and through supporting grandmothers raising children orphaned by AIDS. Their home-based care workers help keep people on their treatment by close monitoring and continuous follow-up visits. The Movambo Trust is a learning centre for children 8 to 12 who have never been to school. It also offers nutrition and health care as well as support for their grandmothers, including legal assistance.
Keep up the good work everyone, we are half way through our Stride month. If you can snap a few pictures of the activity you are doing and send them to me, the SLF would like pictures for their web page.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
June 7 - 13, 2021
We have surpassed our Week One total. In Week Two: 2131.25 km and counting!!! Congratulations everyone!
Even though the journey from Tanzania to Lusaka, Zambia was a long one, we only needed 564.77 more km to get there. That means we passed through Zambia early in the week on our way to Harare, Zimbabwe, breezed by there, and had a chance to relax in Johannesburg, South Africa!!
I will leave Johannesburg for next week , but here are a couple of SLF-supported projects worth mentioning:
1. Education is the key to turning life around for children who have been badly disadvantaged by HIV and AIDS. In Zambia, the Twavwane Home Based Care Initiative integrates school support into their programming. Not only do they pay for uniforms and supplies, they host after school and teen clubs, provide tutorial support and trouble-shooting with parents and teachers. Ranchhod Community Services and Hospice does similar work, and sees restoration of hope as the most important outcome. Both organizations believe “this work is about lifting someone to higher ground, so she sees the way through difficult times”.
2. Hope Tariro Trust in Zimbabwe has improved the lives of more than 5,400 orphaned and vulnerable children, mainly through psycho-social support and through supporting grandmothers raising children orphaned by AIDS. Their home-based care workers help keep people on their treatment by close monitoring and continuous follow-up visits. The Movambo Trust is a learning centre for children 8 to 12 who have never been to school. It also offers nutrition and health care as well as support for their grandmothers, including legal assistance.
Keep up the good work everyone, we are half way through our Stride month. If you can snap a few pictures of the activity you are doing and send them to me, the SLF would like pictures for their web page.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEEK 1 PROGRESS REPORT: May 31 - June 2, 2021
Members and friends of OMAS SISKONA covered almost 1850 kms in our first week. We started from Kampala, Uganda, breezed past Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and are on our way inland to Lusaka, Zambia. Check out our route to Cape Town on the website omas-siskonakw.org.
As we travelled in Kenya, we would have visited the Tumaini Rescue Centre, run by Ripples International, which shelters girls who have been sexually violated and suffered Female Genital Mutilation or forced marriage and child pregnancy. Because of these circumstances most have had to drop out of school. They arrive at the Centre alone and terrified. The Centre promotes their healing with medical and psychosocial support, nutrition and access to education.
The grandmothers’ income-generating project supported by Umoja Wa Mapambano Dhidi Ya Ukiwi (UMWI) in Tanzania has become one of the first organic honey producers in Tanzania. Perhaps we tasted their honey! Or maybe we were invited to talk with the women of the Maasai Women’s Development Organization. With home-based care education and empowerment programs, as well as access to income-generating groups, village women are gaining confidence and taking up their rights, such as owning land.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Members and friends of OMAS SISKONA covered almost 1850 kms in our first week. We started from Kampala, Uganda, breezed past Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, and are on our way inland to Lusaka, Zambia. Check out our route to Cape Town on the website omas-siskonakw.org.
As we travelled in Kenya, we would have visited the Tumaini Rescue Centre, run by Ripples International, which shelters girls who have been sexually violated and suffered Female Genital Mutilation or forced marriage and child pregnancy. Because of these circumstances most have had to drop out of school. They arrive at the Centre alone and terrified. The Centre promotes their healing with medical and psychosocial support, nutrition and access to education.
The grandmothers’ income-generating project supported by Umoja Wa Mapambano Dhidi Ya Ukiwi (UMWI) in Tanzania has become one of the first organic honey producers in Tanzania. Perhaps we tasted their honey! Or maybe we were invited to talk with the women of the Maasai Women’s Development Organization. With home-based care education and empowerment programs, as well as access to income-generating groups, village women are gaining confidence and taking up their rights, such as owning land.
______________________________________________________________________________________
To join, contact Connie at [email protected] or call 519 578 5866
OMAS STRIDE TOGETHER RAIN OR SHINE SOCIALLY DISTANCING ALL THE TIME