A unique event is being held Apr. 15, which will be hosted by the Harambee Grandmas.
The Climate Change Fashion Show will support the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, as every dollar makes a difference in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Harambee Grandma Shirley Almas says the group was founded in Lethbridge when the word got out about Lewis’ initiative in Africa. Lewis was a United Nations ambassador for Canada through a special envoy for HIV and AIDS.
“He got upset because the international community was not stepping up to donate money for drugs and support for the struggle in Africa,” Almas notes. “He and his daughter started it in 2006. Harambee Grandmas had their first meeting in 2007.”
Stephen and his daughter, Almas explains, brought some grandmothers from Africa to Canada, and they told their story. “That’s how we all got started.”
Barbara, a previous chair of the group, adds locally the goal of the group is to raise awareness of the African grandmothers and what they’re facing, as well as the Stephen Lewis Foundation and what it is doing to help. “We do mainly fundraising to try to give support to the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.”
Almas says the local group is well-known for its Fabric, Yarn and Notions Sale that has been held for many years in Lethbridge.
The event also helps keep fabric out of the landfill, as group and community members use the items for projects instead of it being tossed out.
Barbara notes the sale is usually held at the end of October. “It’s actually our eighth sale we will be having Oct. 24-25.”
According to Barbara, the fashion show fundraiser has been called a “quirky” fashion show, or it has been promoted as a, “fashion show with a twist.”
“The twist is garments have all been handmade and very skillfully adorned with bright, original graphics. The graphics tell stories about climate change. That’s the informative part. It’s a fashion show about climate change.”
“We’re hoping the stories that come out from the various fashions will get people to talk and act on climate change,” Barbara says.
Over the years, Barbara explains, the group has had a lot of community support. “For us, this is a different project because ever since COVID we kind of limited our fundraising to our fabric sale. This is expanding to a different type of project we’re doing now.”
“In the past, we’ve done travel chats, Scrabble and some different things like that. This is broadening the base for raising awareness for our group,” adds Barbara.
Almas says the fabric sale has a very large effect on other groups in the community, as well. “People have been so generous in donating fabric, notions and yarn to us. At the end of the sale, we’ve had quite a bit left over, which has been distributed to schools and the hospital. Several different groups have come forward like Blankets for Canada. A lot of different groups have benefitted from our work.”
Admission to the fashion show is by donation and the event will be held at the McKillop United Church at 7 p.m.
