SLF home > grassroots > letter from Stephen Lewis

dear friends:

I admit that this is slightly self-serving, but I do want to say how proud I am of the Foundation. Not only is our remarkable staff getting vast sums of money out the door and right to the community grassroots of Africa as promised, but with the astonishing success of the Grandmothers’ Gathering, the Foundation took a step to becoming an international presence in the world of HIV/AIDS.

As of December 1st, the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) has provided funds to more than 150 projects in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

I had always dreamed that might be possible, but never expected it to happen so speedily. The Gathering was Ilana’s brainwave, and has it ever taken off. Not only are we hearing from grandmothers and their supporters right across Canada, but we’re also hearing, more and more frequently, from the African grannies, many of whom came to Toronto and now feel completely comfortable about writing to the Foundation and listing their needs.

I knew we had struck an international nerve when I received, in early October, a phone call from the World Bank, expressing an interest in helping grandmothers in Africa, but wanting to consult with the Foundation first! I’ve never been a fan of the Bank, and I must admit that I was grinning throughout the day.

All of which is to say that the Foundation is carving out for itself a vital role in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. The grandmothers are a dramatic example of that, but the constant rollout of grants and support for projects gives us our strong and continuing rationale.

Naturally, I want to express endless appreciation for the extraordinary country-wide support we receive. We treasure it. Africa treasures it. The Foundation is saving lives and meeting needs and doing it with great heart, commitment and respect.

Many many thanks,

Stephen Lewis

Letter from Stephen Lewis
[more]

Grandmothers’ Gathering
'may this be the dawn of the grandmothers' movement.' [more]

Grandmothers' Gathering: Toronto Statement
'we will not raise children for the grave' [more]

Our Mandate
4 critical areas of focus [more]

Letter from the Director of Programmes
[more]

SLF’s Programmes in Africa
project highlights from 14 countries [more]

From the Grassroots of Canada
Canadians' response to the pandemic, Give a Day to World AIDS [more]

SLF News
current and upcoming initiatives [more]

Financial Overview
revenues and allocation [more]

Letter from the Executive Director
[more]

Ways to Give
[more]

Our December 2006 Grassroots newsletter is available as a pdf download (1.5mb).