Grandmothers to Grandmothers hosting national concert in support of African AIDS pandemic
Grandmothers for Grandmothers (G4G) groups across Canada are coming together to host a virtual fundraiser concert with the goal of raising half a million dollars for grandmothers in Africa who are dealing with dual pandemics.
The event, titled “Together in Concert: In Solidarity with African Grandmothers” will take place on April 15 at 5:30 p.m. CST as a free virtual event, with donations welcome and encouraged.
The concert is a national fundraiser, with group members from across Canada working together to organize the event to mark the 15th anniversary of the G4G campaign. The aim is to offer some extra help to African families struggling with both the COVID-19 and HIV/ AIDS pandemics simultaneously.
Funds are being collected by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, a non-profit organization that facilitates the G4G campaign and provides help to families in 15 African countries who have been affected by AIDS-related deaths, leaving grandparents raising sometimes several children while dealing with their own health problems.
“We partner with grandmothers groups in Africa and work with them on needs they identify for themselves, [so] I think it's a really good model,” said Mary MacFarlane-Sefton, member of the planning committee and chair of the Saskatoon G4G group. “They don’t have the resources to call on to get them through tough times like we do, so that’s why we work to support them because it's a real life-line for many.”
Sefton’s group is one of four G4G groups in Saskatchewan, including a group in Moose Jaw, and one of 160 groups across Canada associated with the concert. The virtual concert will feature 90 minutes of Canadian talent, including spoken word artists, musicians, storytellers and dancers, as well as Grandmothers sharing their experience visiting Africa.
Stephen Page, formerly of the Barenaked Ladies, will be the headlining act, joined by tons of other talents from all over the country, including the National Ballet School, Kym Gouchie and Saskatoon band Kids of Note & The Notations.
“We wanted to make it something special because of the 15th anniversary of the Stephen Lewis Foundation [campaign], so we are including people from all parts of Canada,” said MacFarlane-Sefton.
Registration for the event is required and attendees will have the chance to view the concert for up to 72 hours after its airing.
Those interested in attending or making a donation can do so online at cdngrandmothers.ca, which also features a list of performers donating their time to appear in the show.