Grandma-2-Grandma Facts

Imagine having to raise your orphaned grandchildren because their parents have died of AIDS -- plus you are homeless.

In addition to being poor, hungry and over-whelmed , five grandmas and their 16 grandchildren enrolled with the Bibi Jann Children's Care Trust had no roof over their heads until they moved into rented quarters on March 1, 2007. Generous American donors are paying the $50 monthly rent.

With the help of Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas, we hope to either buy or build a permanent communal home for these families near the trust's headquarters in the village of Mbagala, 10 miles south of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa. The children will have a safe place to live, study and reassemble their lives.

The project will cost about $50,000. Let's all work together to erect The House That Love Built!

This new, 4-bedroom house (picture above) with water and electricity is being rented by a generous Oregon couple for $50 a month to shelter five homeless bibis and their 16 grandchildren. If it works well for the families, FAWCO clubs may help purchase it (or build another).

BIBI HOUSE RULES
1. The house is belong to Bibi Jann Trust.
2. The bibi who suppose to live in is those who registered at the trust with their     grandchildren who registered too.
3. Is not allowed to enter the man in the house except those who supposed to and those     who dealing with a trust.
4. Every bibi must clean the house and not allowed to leave the house dirty.
5. All bibis are not allowed to be drank, fighter or any bad behavior.
6. Any bibi who will show bad behavior will be eliminated from the house and even in a     group.
7. Every bibi must be faithfully and show love for other bibis and grandchildren.
    USA.

FUND RAISING IDEAS
Think tie/ins with the themes of home, mother and grandparenthood, children.

Host a tour and/or wine reception in a famous home, manor house, castle, hotel or landmark in your area.
Clean house and hold a sale.
Offer room service by asking local hotels to donate nights or weekends for a raffle.
Give the folks back home a donation in their names.
Sell homemade goodies and gifts.
Have quilters in your club make blocks with the theme of home, to be assembled and raffled at the 2008 FAWCO conference in Seoul.
Stage a house party and charge the guests for a picnic, festive dinner, holiday meal, brunch, barbecue, wine tasting, ice cream feed.
Sell or auction home services, including dog/walking, plant/watering, baby sitting, computer aid, sewing, ironing, meals or desserts, baked goods, etc.
Invite Bibi Jann home to your regional gathering or largest club meeting to inspire your members.
Buy copies of HOME SWEETER HOME: Creating a Haven of Simplicity and Spirit" by Jann Mitchell for your book group or for gifts. Portion of proceeds go to the FAWCO House.

MOMS AND GRANDMAS
Ask for or make a donation honoring loved ones for Mothers Day.
Congratulate a new grandma or commemorate a late grandmother by making a donation in her name.
Tell your kids and grandkids that what you really want for your birthday, Hanukah or Christmas this year is a donation to the FAWCO House.
Ask each parent in your club to donate a certain amount in the name of each child, grandchild, niece or nephew.
Hold a benefit Mothers Day Brunch with the whole family welcome.
Stage an "old bag sale", featuring unwanted evening purses, handbags, totes and backpacks.
Charge guests to attend themed party, in which each brings photos and shares memories of their grandmothers. You may even want to dress like her, in hats and gloves, aprons, etc.
Talk to friends who are grandmothers and interest them in donating.
Order batik fabric made by the bibis in Tanzania - or purchase an
Africa-themed wall-hanging created by Bibi Jann
(click on BIBI JANN DESIGNS).

KIDS
Get your local international school involved in a fundraiser.
Gather up unneeded baby equipment, children's clothing, toys, games and such and sponsor a flea market.
In lieu of one birthday or holiday gift, ask your child or grandchild to help a Tanzania AIDS orphan have a real home.
Ask birthday party guests to bring a donation - or make one yourself (with an explanatory note sent home) instead of giving out goody bags.
Hold an essay contest on What My Grandma Means to Me, charge for entries and the lunch at which winners are read aloud.
Stage a Grandma and Me event to which grandchildren are invited.
ALL DONATIONS TOWARD THE FAWCO HOUSE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE FAWCO FOUNDATION -www.fawcofoundation.org.
The club raising the most money toward the house will receive a custom wall/hanging made with batiks created by the bibis and sewn by Bibi Jann featuring the club's name.

ABOUT THE FAMILIES

Hatarini Isaka, 58, bore two daughters. One died of AIDS and the other is missing, probably into prostitution and/or drug addiction. She is left with five grandchildren, ages 3 to 12. They are Tatu, Zuberi, Heri, Lela, Mwajuma and Rehema. Zuberi proudly announces in English that one day he will be president of Tanzania.

Miramu Salumu, 46, has lost a son, daughter and daughter-in-law to AIDS -- and is often ill herself, but manages to work as a guard. She has three grandsons, 8 to 13 - Hatibu, Juma and - Omar, whose only possessions are the clothes on their backs. Her brother has refused to help her, saying, "If you come here, I will kill you."

Hadija Salemani, 55, has seen AIDS kill four of her five grown children. She has five grandchildren to care for, ages 6 to 16. She can't talk about all those deaths without sobbing, and struggles to keep in school three granddaughters and two grandsons: Hadija, Sina, Tatu, and Hasani and Bakari. She enjoys making batiks with the other grandmothers.

Anna Brasi is unsure of her age, but knows too well that she has lost two of her five adult children to AIDS. With a 16-year-old grandson Betto and
8-year-old Anna to raise, she is sometimes able to cut and sell firewood.
She stands out from the other bibis because of her Makonde tribal facial tattooing, which look like black lightning bolts.
Further information on these and other orphan families are found by clicking on BIBIS NEEDING HELP.