Making herstory, the Tanzania Grandmothers Gathering saw more than 200 determined Tanzanian grandmothers, from across the country, gather to claim their human rights and healthcare. Grandmothers are invaluable allies in the fight against AIDS. They are demanding a seat at the table where decisions and policies are being made that affect them, and the multitude of children in their care. Your donated Aeroplan points helped make it possible for these leaders to come together, and map a way forward based on their experience, knowledge, needs and goals. A groundswell of African grandmothers defending their human rights is underway.

The Tanzanian Grandmothers were meeting for the first time, with a powerful momentum built on solidarity and a shared purpose – to have their voices and expertise heard by those who have the power to support them. With their grassroots organizations, they ran workshops on issues arising from the impact of the AIDS pandemic – ranging from raising children living with HIV, to inheritance rights and access to health care for older women.

Grandmothers took to the streets, accompanied by grandmother solidarity delegates from the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign (with members from Canada, Australia, the UK and the USA), and representatives from the organizing committees of the Uganda Grandmothers Gathering and the South Africa Grandmothers Gathering. And the momentum continues.