September, 2020

THE CIRCLE NEWSLETTER FOR SOUTHERN AND SOUTH-

WESTERN ONTARIO GRANDMOTHERS GROUPS

LOL https://ladiestalkshow.com/share-me/ Life gets so busy and stressful that we forget to smile, let alone laugh! However, if we

knew the innumerable benefits of laughter, we would probably make an effort to laugh

more every day.

Did you know that laughter stimulates the

immune system, increases oxygen levels in the

blood, lowers blood pressure and reduces levels

of stress hormones? It not only promotes a

sense of well-being, but also relieves us of our

pains temporarily. Laughter even helps with

weight loss and makes you look younger. Now

isn’t that something? Apparently there are

about fifteen facial muscles that work together

to make you smile and laugh, which in turn

increases blood circulation around the face :)

Laughter cleanses your soul and reduces

anxiety and depression. It also improves your

memory, optimism and self-esteem… surround

yourself with people who are humorous, fun and

positive. Watch funny movies which make you

laugh until you tear up. Finding humor or irony in a difficult situation, might seem like an

overkill, but definitely helps in the long run. It would in fact give confidence to overcome

hurdles in the future… Don’t settle for a smile, grin or chuckle but laugh out loud from

the soul, which overflows and spreads around. https://inspiresn.com/2018/10/16/quotes-on-laughter/

“… keep a sense of humor. It doesn’t mean you have to tell jokes. If you can’t

think of anything else, when you’re my age, take off your clothes and walk in

front of a mirror. I guarantee you’ll get a laugh.” — Art Linkletter

Information Sharing

Suggested Reading

EVERYDAY UBUNTU Mungi Ngomane

Mungi is Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter. In his foreword, he states that being a person with ubuntu was one of the highest accolades one could ever achieve. The lesson is best described in a proverb, “A person is a person through other persons.” The fundamental meaning of the proverb is that everything we learn and experience in the world is through our relationships with other people. We are therefore called to examine our actions and thoughts, not just what they will achieve for us, but for how they impact on others with whom we are in contact.

Mungi states that ubuntu exists when people unite for a common good. The book has 14 lessons built on ubuntu. She chose this number as there are 14 chapters in the Rainbow Nation’s Constitution. Rainbow Nation was coined by her grandfather for South Africa after the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, to symbolize the unity of its cultures after the colllapse of apartheid.

Lesson # 1: See yourself in other people. Think about who has made you into the person you are to-day. Think about the people you help. Notice how life is about give and take. Ubuntu refutes the notion that a person can ever be self-made. Try to look everyone you come across in the eye. Connect with them. Smile. Say thank you with enthusiasm. Notice how this makes

you feel and the interactions you have with others change for the better. For one day, try to observe others without judgement and quietly let the negative thoughts go.

Lesson #2: Strength lies in unity. “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” “Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable.” I found this to be startling. In 2018, the prime minister of the UK created a post for a Minister of Loneliness. Standing shoulder to shoulder with others, physically and spiritually sends a powerful message. It says, “I am sad because you are sad. I am suffering because you are suffering.” Think of the change you’d like to see in the world and act. Time is the most precious gift you can give.

Lesson # 3: Put yourself in the shoes of others. “Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Everyone has difficult things going on in their lives which we know nothing about- even people we think we are close to. Her grandfather said, “If you want peace you don’t talk to your friends, you talk to your enemies.” A teenager turned up for a programme with a bandage on his neck. He had been stabbed by another teen and required stitches. The youth worker asked the boy how he was feeling. He answered.“ I’m OK. I’m hurt, but I’ve decided not to hold a grudge because I have no idea what the guy who did this was going through that day. He could be facing all kinds of things I know nothing about, and maybe he just lost it that morning.”

EVERYDAY UBUNTU is a book to be treasured. Marilyn Ortwein, of Ubuntu Grandwomen of Burlington, submitted these nuggets of wisdom found in this book. It is available from the

Different Drummer in Burlington.

News from the SLF

Dear grandmothers and grandothers,

We hope you our note finds you well and enjoying these last summer days and weeks.

We’re pleased to share some regional news with you. Carol Barnhardt has held the role of Grandmothers Regional Liaison since 2018. As GRL, she has nurtured and supported groups in the South and West of Ontario. Her leadership, enthusiasm and dedication are demonstrated as she has visited your group meetings, events and regional Gatherings. Over the past year, from time to time, she’s put out feelers for prospective GRL candidates and late this summer, Theresa Randles expressed interest in stepping back into a formalized regional leadership role.

We’re delighted to welcome, Theresa, back into the role of GRL effective in September. She’ll be joining GRLs from across Canada on our monthly video call in a few weeks’ time. Many of you know Theresa as the editor of The Circle and for many years she coordinated and led regional activities across much of Ontario. We want to acknowledge and thank Carol for all your contributions and the energy you’ve shared with all of us. We know that you’ll continue to be a part of our Grandmothers Campaign community through your involvement in the Guelph Gogo Grandmothers. Over the summer, at the SLF, we’ve been planning and looking ahead to the coming months. The past six months have brought unprecedented global challenges, as we respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SLF remains in regular contact with our community-based partners and we’re looking forward to sharing some updates across the Grandmothers Campaign in September via the Granny Bulletin and the Voices newsletter. We’re also looking forward to more opportunities this fall to gather virtually to hear updates and share with one another. Late last winter and into the spring, many of your groups suspended meetings and postponed and cancelled events, while at the same time, you’ve been adapting and responding to the continued needs of grandmothers and our community-based partners in sub-Saharan Africa. We’ve seen an increase in the engagement and participation of our monthly Campaign calls, now hosted via Zoom. The desire and interest in maintaining connections, supporting one another and sharing ideas as we look to the future remains steadfast and strong. You’re all welcome to join us and grandmothers from across the Campaign on our September 17 call at 12:30 pm. This call will kick off our fall activities and present an opportunity to come together, share your group’s ideas and plans, and hear what others are planning as well. You can RSVP to campaign@stephenlewisfoundation.org and we’ll gladly send you the Zoom link. In a recent conversation with Carol and Theresa, we talked about the connections between and amongst grandmothers group members. We are excited and interested in the possibility of gathering together, virtually, later this fall, to share, learn, and network. Perhaps an occasion to build energy and momentum to carry us forward until we can meet together in the same shared physical space at a future regional gathering. We’d love to hear your thoughts and reactions. Please let us know if meeting together, as a region, would be of interest or use to you or your group.

We’re looking forward to working together with you and supporting your groups and activities in the coming months, With gratitude and affection, Sarah & Ruth-Anne

News from the GRL

Hello Grandmothers and Grandothers,

Well it’s time to hang up my hat as your GRL. Life is constantly changing and I found it was

time to let someone else take the reins.

Being the GRL gave me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people, giving me the

opportunity to connect and learn from each and every one of you. I want to take this time to

thank you all for your support. It was your kind words and dedication to your group and the

cause that always gave me the lift I needed to carry on. I will always remember how welcome

you made me feel when visiting your groups and your emails of encouragement. Your

enthusiasm when you advertised your event or the happiness you portrayed when the event

was a success.

A special thank you the Grandmother to Grandmother Campaign for allowing me to be part of

that bigger picture. For being there to answer my questions, concerns and helping give

direction. I so much will miss our time together.

And a big welcome to Theresa Randles for, once again, stepping in and taking the lead as our

GRL. Having Theresa back at the helm lets me step back knowing the area will be in good

hands. Please give a round of applause to a dear friend and grandmother.

Theresa is stepping in right when things are unsettled in this world of ours, giving the position

and even bigger challenge, but I know you will band together to support her.

Bless you all, stay strong, stay safe

Hugs Carol

Hello all, First let me, on behalf of the Southern and South-Western Region, thank Carol for her guidance, her leadership and her commitment as GRL. Carol’s smile lights up the room. It is so true that the strongest of women are often the most gentle and kind. At this time we are facing many challenges, some ongoing and some quite new – an aging membership, a pandemic that has re-written if and how we can have social contact, and increased concerns for the African grandmothers who now have even more to deal with. I decided to step forward for the GRL position because I want to be actively involved in the sharing of ideas and the encouragement and support for each other as the Grandmothers to

Grandmothers Campaign moves forward. Should anyone wish to be involved with the work of the GRL, I would be happy to share the role. I look forward to re-connecting and to meeting new members of the campaign and working with all to keep this movement strong and vital. My deepest regards,

Theresa

News from Groups – Successful Events

Blooms for Africa – Hamilton – submitted by Marg Webert

Blooms for Africa is delighted to announce that our Walkin' to Uganda campaign for Stride to Turn the Tide raised over $22,671 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. This is more than double our usual amount and we did this by trying some new things:

First of all we were aware that this could be our only chance for a major fundraiser this year with all events cancelled for the foreseeable future, so we put a big push on to send information on our progress several times to all our family, friends and acquaintances about the walk and the challenges to Africa of coping with another pandemic on top of HIV&AIDS.

We phoned people to encourage them to register as the reality of Covid-19 was making people nervous about even leaving their homes.

Two of our members put out three May Motivator newsletters with photos of things we

saw on our walks and photos of us doing many different activities with fingers as well as legs, to encourage us all to ‘up our game’.

We added sewing, cooking, painting, gardening, vacuuming etc. and assigned steps to each based on how vigorous the activity to encourage more people to participate.

We even invited members of other Grandmother groups not planning a walk to join our

team if they would like and we did have a few do this. The result we had 46 walkers on the team who covered almost 12,000 kms. over 31 days - we walked all the way from Botswana, down through South Africa then we followed the coast up to Tanzania before moving inland . We arrived in Uganda with time to spare so proceeded

west to Kenya and up to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before heading back south to Kenya and eventually reaching our goal in Kampala, Uganda. We also had a very fit group of people at the end of it! I have attached one of our popular May Motivators which Margaret Holmes and Carol Desoer

put together with submissions from our team members and the map of the route from SLF.

Masks in support of Grannies: Blooms for Africa has an energetic and dedicated small group of members who have been supporting African Grandmothers and their AIDS-orphaned Grandchildren by sewing masks during Covid 19 and selling them for $10 each. To date we have raised over $4000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Yes, we have made over 400 masks since May! At first it was mainly members who were buying masks, but before long, family and friends were ordering masks as well. Our costs have been kept low as we have been given donations of material, thread and elastic thus having had to buy very little. If your group isn’t making masks, please consider ordering from Blooms from Africa and sharing the adjoining poster with family and friends.

News from Groups – Upcoming Events

News from Other Ontario Groups

Grandmothers Partnering with Africa

We continue to raise funds for grandmothers in Africa who are caring for their

orphaned grandchildren on a continent suffering from the intersection of two

pandemics, HIV/AIDS and now COVID-19 which is rapidly spreading across sub-

Saharan Africa.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation's community-based partners are best placed to

protect and support the most vulnerable populations. People affected by HIV and

AIDS are particularly at risk, as are the same grandmothers who have been the

backbone of their communities.

We have rapidly changed our fundraising efforts to encompass online events and

product sales. Thank you to our many supporters who attended and donated to our

successful and fun online Yoga and Zumba events in June and stay tuned for more

upcoming online events in the Fall.

Product Sales

We have started selling a lovely selection of scarves and African themed cards

which can be purchased through our website:

Grandmothers Partnering with Africa

Scarf Sales

All scarves are $20 including taxes. Shipping is an extra cost.

If a scarf you want is sold out let us know and we can order it for you.

We are selling cards by artist Julia Cairns. All are colourful, whimsical, happy

pictures of African life – many involving the daily lives of African women. We are

very grateful to the artist for giving us permission to sell these cards in support of

the Grandmothers Campaign. The cards and other art are also available through

Julia's Website juliacairns.net.

Cards come in 2 sizes. Price including envelope: $5.00 each OR a combination of 5

of either size for $20.00. Shipping is extra.

Cards: 5" x 7"

Cards: 6" x 6"

This newsletter is produced as a communication tool for groups in the Southern and South-

Western Ontario Region.

Please submit event announcements as well as group reports and photos of successful events.

Recommendations of good books, movies or other resources are welcome, as well as any

information that would benefit other members of the Campaign in this region. Please send

submissions to trandles@rogers.com.