In September 2013, three Granny Connection members left Indiana on a trip to Africa. Our adventure had three segments of focus: the first to learn about a very successful HIV/AIDS program called IU-AMPATH in Eldoret, Kenya , the second segment was to appreciate the beauty of Kenya’s Masai Mara game reserve, and the third was to visit and support the ongoing work of Power of Love in Lusaka, Zambia which Granny Connection helps to fund. The three Granny Connection friends are Ann Jones, Diane Michael, and Cindy Chapman. Ann and Cindy had been to Africa several times but this was Diane’s first experience.

After arriving in Nairobi, we stayed the night and took a short flight in the morning to Eldoret. We were greeted by Michael Greven who has been living in Eldoret with his wife and son, working on the construction of a Chronic Care Center. The next several days we stayed at the IU House, a compound of rooms and apartments where doctors, nurses, and pharmacists of all levels come through the IU Medical system to contribute and gain experience particularly concerning HIV and AIDS. In the days following we travelled to the country side to observe a home visit (photo #1), we visited the Mother-Baby Hospital (photo #2), the upcoming Chronic Care Center (photo #3), a Children’s Home School (photo #4), and the Imani Workshops (photo #5) as well as other places of interest. The work being done in Eldoret is to be commended. We learned about HIV and AIDS from the gracious people there and saw the impact of IU Medical School's joint program with Moi University in Central and Western Kenya.

We then returned to Nairobi and in the morning boarded a small plane which landed in the game reserve! After meeting our guide, we traveled miles and miles in a land rover as we enjoyed the incredible wild life of Masai Mara. Photo #6 gives you an idea of our means of travel. As well as the Big Five, we were able to see hundreds of wildebeests in their annual migration north to find water and food and many African animals. (photo #7 - Wildebeests; photo #8 - elephants at dusk) We also had the opportunity to visit a Masai Village and found ourselves in the midst of children and cattle! (photo #9 - Diane and Ann with Masai children and animals)

After the week in Kenya, we flew to Zambia where we met Alka Subramanian, one of the founders of the Power of Love Foundation. The four of us stayed in a lovely cottage run by an Indian couple who took good care of us. We traveled every day to the poorest suburb of Lusaka called Matero where the work of the Power of Love Foundation is done. The Matero Care Center was our base to experience and participate in the three focus areas of the work being done there. The first area of focus is the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Care Program called Arms Reach Care for 200 HIV+ children and their families. In photo # 10 and #11 are homes we visited with the Community Care Assistants doing a weekly check on an HIV+ child. In photos #12 and #13 we enjoyed presenting the children in the program with new dresses and shorts. In photo #14 we participated in the Safe Parks Program, a Saturday morning recreational time for the children in the Arms Reach Care Program as well as an outreach to other children in the community.

The second area of focus is Project Mosquito Net which helps to eliminate malaria. In photo #15 and #16 we see Alka distributing mosquito nets and the children who received them. Along with the distribution was education about the use of the nets and prevention of malaria within the home.

The third area to be noted is the Microfinance Program for Women. We had the opportunity to interview three talented women in the program and also enjoyed visiting some of the successful entrepreneurs. With business training, advice, and small group support amongst the women, most of them do very well. With the training provided the women are able to provide a subsistence living for their families. We enjoyed the gathering for the distribution of the loans, pictured in photo #17 where the women are joyfully singing songs of praise to God. Photo #18 shows a healthy vegetable stand as a result of the Microfinance Program, and photo #19 shows one of the more successful convenience stores.

After a week in Zambia, it was time to return to the United States. We carried with us a better understanding of life as many African people know it. We were blessed by the kindness, the gentleness, and the perseverance of the women and children we encountered. The families are encouraged and supported by the programs of the Power of Love Foundation. The Granny Connection in solidarity with our African grandmothers continues to work hard on our fund raising in order to make a difference in the lives of others.

Photo #19