On Saturday, February 20th G.R.O. really hit the pavement! Together, the Canadian fundraising team and our new volunteers taped, stapled, and glued posters in all the hottest Toronto neighbourhoods. The posters were promoting the Scholarship Challenge, an initiative designed to raise funds for the High School scholarships G.R.O. provides to vulnerable students of Hlotse-Leribe, southern Africa. After coffee and bagels, the group split off into two groups and plastered utility poles, message boards, and hoarding throughout downtown Toronto (yes, it’s legal).

It was great to meet the new volunteers – thanks so much Joel, Alex, Curtis and Nora! We are looking forward to working together again in the future!

Posted under The Movement

The Spirited Grannies, a group of socially-engaged Grandmothers from both Canada and the U.S.A, have contributed over 4 full-year, comprehensive scholarships for Basotho students!  This group, working to raise money in Mesa, Arizona, has demonstrated the power of how a committed few can create meaningful and monumental change in the lives of others.  Thank you Spirited Grannies for your ongoing support and commitment.  We at G.R.O. consider you Global Heroes and thank you for your efforts!

Posted under The Movement

Calling all current and future G.R.O. Canada volunteers to meet up, team up, and spread the word about the G.R.O. 2010 Scholarship Challenge!

The Scholarship Challenge is G.R.O’s campaign to raise funds for Lesotho students whose families have been adversely affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Scholarships of $450/year provide one student the opportunity to attend High School in southern Africa and have access to life skills programs, career counselling, and library services that help ensure their success!

We need to spread the word to Toronto! We have the posters, we just need some help posting them at post-secondary campuses, community centers, cafes, and any other public places where people interested in our cause might hang out.

When: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10 am – 4 pm
Where: Gen Scott’s House – Gen is the G.R.O. Communications Officer.
What: We’ll gather at Gen’s house at 10 am for coffee and pastries and team up into small outreach teams of 2-3 people. Each team will be responsible for one segment of Toronto. Together, that team will go out to poster up the city (making sure to have any necessary permissions, of course).  We’ll regroup at Gen’s at 2 pm for cold refreshments.
What to bring: Your TTC pass (if you have one, we will make arrangements for those who don’t), staplers, tape, and/or tacks if you have some.

Who: Everyone is welcome! Please gather up your friends!

RSVP: If you are interested in joining, please email Jayne at jwilkins@grofoundation.org for details about the location of the event.

This is a fun way to really hit the pavement and get involved with G.R.O. We hope you’ll join us!

To learn more about G.R.O. and our family scholarship program, check out our website www.grofoundation.org.

Posted under The Mission, The Movement, The Vision

On December 1, 2009 the SFU AIDS Awareness Network held a campus-wide event featuring educational panels and a concert fundraiser.   The AAN was formed by students in the Faculty of Health Science (FHS) at SFU with the belief that everyone has the responsibility and capacity to contribute to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Proceeds from the days activities were graciously donated to YouthCo AIDS Society in Vancouver and GRO Foundation.  Thank you to friend Eliza Seaborn and all the members of the AAN!

Posted under The Movement

Students from the Boston College Graduate School of Social Work paid a visit to G.R.O. in Lesotho as part of their international class that focuses on the changing face of women and children due to the AIDS pandemic.

13 students and their coordinators Lisa and Penny met with Jason and myself to discuss G.R.O.’s workand our philosphy before visting each project.  They first visited with the Artisans and went on a bit of a spending spree which made the Artisans convinced that 2010 will be big, and afterwards, enjoyed some local fare at Unique Silverspoon cafe.

Jason gave them a town tour on their way to the Grannies Poultry project where the students turned volunteers as they dug irrigation trenches and helped the grannies clean out the coops.  Just as the irrigation trenches were being dug, a huge downpour showered us but did prove that the trenches will work!  After some watermelon and cookies, the students headed to Molapo high school where they saw what a local school looks like.  Too bad schools out of session for summer so they weren’t able to meet the G.R.O. scholars.  A fabulous day here in Hlotse and we were really pleased to host our visitors from Boston College! 

Posted under The Movement

In Lesotho, with an overwhelming rate of HIV infection, death of parents is far too common. Many orphans are raised by grandparents who struggle to provide basic necessities, such as food, clothing and education. G.R.O.’s Orphan Crisis Kits are specially tailored to meet a growing child`s needs and are distributed by a support group of local grandmothers. Your gift will help provide a kit that includes essentials like winter clothing, food staples, paraffin for heating and cooking, school uniforms and shoes.  Give this gift.

Posted under The Movement

The World Food Program states that 56% of the population in Lesotho lives on less than $2/day. Students coming from vulnerable homes are often forced to survive on the one meal a day provided at school. Your gift of a family food basket can provide a student and his or her family with a holiday food basket through our local partnership with Anwary’s Supermarket in Hlotse-Leribe. One basket can provide a family with a two month supply of food, every bit of which provides the energy for families to focus on school, work and the holidays.  Give this gift.

Posted under The Movement

Many of the women in Lesotho suffer from HIV and seek ways to both support their treatment and provide for their families. In 2009, The G.R.O. Artisans Collective was formed in Hlotse-Leribe, Lesotho to provide HIV positive mothers with an opportunity to make a living in jewelery design and sales. Your gift of an artisan`s start-up kit includes everything needed to help a woman to start making jewelry - tools, beads, supplies, and business training with the collective. The Artisans Collective offers fair wages along with critical health care and family support benefits for its workers. Give this gift.

Posted under The Movement

The AIDS pandemic in Lesotho has left many grandmothers caring for orphaned grandchildren and sick relatives. Your gift can provide an industrious Grandmothers` Support Group in Hlotse-Leribe with basic first aid supplies, vitamins and other necessities to provide better care for families in their communities. Many grandmothers in the support group are retired nurses and already provide a tremendous amount of community support. They just need additional basic supplies that will help extend the reach and breadth of their care.  Give this gift.

Posted under The Movement

100% of donated funds for the Grandmothers` Support Group, the G.R.O. Artisans Collective, and the Family Scholarship Fund are spent directly on those Lesotho-based projects. However, the Canadian team also requires support to scale-up our advocacy, fundraising and awareness activities here in Canada. By engaging Canadians, we can spread the message about global development issues and what can be done to relieve poverty. A gift to the Canadian GROwth fund will allow us to expand our Canadian operations as we seek to establish a permanent Toronto office, extend our campaigns across Canada, and maintain our administrative and operational needs. Give this gift.

Posted under The Movement