The second annual Spring Rant is approaching fast.
The grandmothers group, commonly known as the Langley Gogos, invites people to the rant this Saturday, April 25.
The Langley Gogos are grandmothers who offer their support to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF).
There are fundraising events such as the Spring Rant, a bridge tour, tea at Michaud House, and they attend Langley Farmers Markets to sell homemade products and the Gogos bag.
The Gogos bags are sold for $15 to $40 depending on the size and can be purchased at the Spring Rant.
The rant gives visitors an opportunity to speak for two minutes on any topic that is tasteful and not too serious for $5. Ranters can sign up at the event.
The Langley Gogos have also secured four guest speakers including the Grandmothers to Grandmothers director Graham Coutlas, poet David Blinkhorn, Pastor Helen Tervo, and the group’s first couple ranters, Rob Howard and Mariane Conner.
“It is possible we will be getting one or two more guest speakers for the main program,†said Carole Albertson, chair of the Langley Gogos.
Tickets for the event taking place at St. Dunstan’s Anglican Church at 6:30 p.m. are $20. They can be purchased at the door or by calling Albertson at 604-534-6152.
The SLF aims to raise awareness and support for African grandmothers as they struggle to care for millions of children orphaned by AIDS ,and to build solidarity among African and Canadian grandmothers.
The Langley Gogos are made up of more than 25 groups of grandmothers and grandmothers, under the Greater Van Gogos, who support the SLF’s work with grassroots groups supporting African grandmothers and the children in their care.
Each grassroots group offers support for the African grandmothers’ immediate needs such as nutritious food, health care, transportation, home visits, adequate housing and bedding, school fees, school uniforms and supplies for orphans.
As well there’s help with long-term needs such as parenting and business skills, micro-credit grants, bereavement counseling, HIV awareness training, counseling and testing, and grandmother support groups.
“The grassroots groups ask the grandmothers what they need,†said Albertson. “We don’t tell them what we think they need.â€
Since beginning the campaign in 2006, the role of the grassroots groups have evolved as the African grandmothers are beginning to fight for their human rights.
“They never felt empowered to stand up for themselves,†said Albertson.