Saturday 10 May, 2014 , a large and enthusiastic audience gathered at the Glebe St. James United Church, 650 Lyon Street to watch an exciting fashion show featuring designer Chidima’s creations, organised by local group Grammas to Ambuyas.
According to the group’s co-leader, Barb Coyle, Grammas to Ambuyas is one of 27 “granny groups” in the Ottawa region raising funds for and awareness of the grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa who are raising their own grandchildren and others in the community now that their children have died from HIV and AIDs. There are now 250 such granny groups across Canada — all working tirelessly for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Grammas to Ambuyas is one of the smaller groups with only a dozen members, but in their seven years they have raised close to $50,000 through various community events. Three years ago they produced a popular children’s CD called Dancing Kites, featuring songs and poems donated by well known Canadian artists. Last spring they did a concert with The Big Soul Project. This spring they held their first ever African Fashion Show & Tea featuring Chidima Dezigns. Most of them are full-time retirees having worked in a variety of fields — social work, teaching, communications, nursing, accounting, health and administration. The group leader for this event was Madryn Zulu, a granny from Zambia who was a founding member of the group.
“We really appreciate the relationship we have with Glebe St. James United Church,” says Barb Coyle, ” We have held four African lunches here and this year we will be selling plants and treasures on the lawn at the Great Glebe Garage Sale.”
