Videos

Carole Holmes: Oomama

Oomama supports Grandmothers in Africa who care for AIDS orphans

Listening to Stephen Lewis speak of the plight of African grandmothers who are often the sole means of support for their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren CAROLE HOLMES realized she could not sit idly by. She and 12 other women formed the Oomama's - one of the 220 groups that form the Grandmother to Grandmother campaign. Supported by the Stephen Lewis Foundation, the group's goal is to raise and channel funds to grass-roots organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries where AIDS has left thousands of grandmothers struggling to put food on the table for their grandchildren. They raised $22,000 in their first fundraising effort and haven't stopped since. Whether lobbying the government, battling with pharmaceutical companies or visiting Africa, Carole Holmes' energy, drive and commitment puts a new face on the 21st century grandmother.