Sir Peter Ustinov Foundation: Magazine
Grannies as Lifesavers
July 2, 2020
Especially now, during the Corona crisis, it is evident how much different age groups depend on each other.
The older generation relies on support from the younger one. Conversely, the younger generation also benefits from the help and life experience of the older.
In Africa, grandmothers, affectionately called “Grannies,” play a pivotal role in communal living. When their own children are unable to provide due to consequences of AIDS or migration within the 30 to 50-year-old working age group, the Grannies step up. They alone take on the care of their grandchildren. The rate of teenage pregnancies is also very high. In many cases, the child is entirely raised by the grandmother, with the biological mother assuming the role of an older sister so she can continue going to school or finish her education.
The Grannies are lifesavers—they are essential for the survival of the entire community. It is therefore crucial to support these brave women in their tireless efforts. They secure the essentials for the children: something to eat, a place to sleep, a bit of protection, and above all, a sense of security.
Without the care and attention of their grandmothers, many children would not be alive today. Please help and support these lifesavers in our projects in South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda! In doing so, you provide thousands of children with the chance for a dignified existence, basic care, and, most importantly, new hope.