Grandma-2-Grandma Facts

PROJECT
GRANDMA-2-GRANDMA / BIBI-2-BIBI is a project of the Bibi Jann Children's Care Trust, registered in Tanzania, East Africa. It is headquartered in the village of Mbagala, about 10 miles south of Dar es Salaam.
Co-founders are Jann "Bibi Jann" Mitchell of Stockholm, Sweden and Portland, Oregon, and Fatuma Gwao, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

To find sponsors world-wide for grandmothers (bibis) who are raising their
AIDS-orphaned grandchildren in order to feed, clothe and educate the children,
To help bibis become self-supporting through crafts sales (design, manufacture, marketing of batiks, woven mats, model boats, etc.),
To provide emotional support for these grieving mothers,
To provide education in HIV/AIDS prevention and care, nutrition, personal financial management, literacy.

Grandmothers must have lost one or more children to AIDS and be sheltering their orphaned grandchildren,
Grandmothers must attend Saturday morning meetings and work sessions (unless too old or sick) and participate in making of crafts for sale,
Grandchildren must (as financially enabled) attend school or a work apprentice program.

Grandmothers and grandchildren are assigned sponsors who send money, gifts, letters and photos,
They thus get help with food, clothing, school fees and uniforms,
They have access to the Bibi Clothes Closet,
Orphans receive free medical care.
management,
Children go on field trips and given parties,
All obtain the emotional support of others in the same situation,
They gain dignity, hope, self-esteem,
They know someone cares about their plight.

HISTORY
- Project begun March 2005 as natural outgrowth of Bibi Jann Preschool
- Bibis interviewed and photographed March/April 05, Oct. 05, April 06
- Bibi Project Office completed 2/06, with bibis meeting Saturdays to create crafts for sale (batiks, clothes, mats, etc.)
- Bibi Clothes Closet opened 4/05, with Caroline Barker in Dar as collector, transporter
- Orphans accepted into pediatric medical care at DarDar clinic mid-2006.
- Bibi Jann House opened 3/07, sheltering four homeless grandmas and their 13 grandchildren (house rented with a donation, campaign begun with FAWCO to buy it or build another).

PARTICIPANT DATA
Grandmas enrolled: 25 plus a handicapped, single father
Grandchildren: 75 (some are raising 9)
HIV-infected: 1 bibi and at least 5 orphans, all receiving treatment
Age-range: 39-86
Most are widowed, with many husbands dead from AIDS
Most live in Mbagala (14), while others live in villages of Mbagala-Charambe (1), Tandika (1), Kurusini (1), Kinondoni (1), Mwananyamala (1), Msasani (1), Temeke (2), Kizanga (1), Mbagala Kiburugwa (1). Travel is a hardship for many, as they don't have bus fare, and then must walk 2 miles to the project office from the main road.

INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
Most are American, but also come from England, Sweden, Australia, Switzerland, Colombia, Peru, South Africa and Tanzania.
Some pledge monthly amounts, others donate as they can.
Several have visited "their bibis" homes outside Dar.

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
Air Tanzania, Dar, Tanzania
American Women's Club in Stockholm, Sweden
Charity Goat Races, Dar, Tanzania
Dar Guide, Tanzania
Dartmouth Medical School (DarDar), USA and Tanzania
Diplomatic Spouses Group, Dar, Tanzania
KPMG, Dar, Tanzania
FAUSA, USA
Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas, International
National Microfinance Bank, Dar, Tanzania
Small Friends Preschool, Portland, Oregon USA
Stockholm International School, Sweden
West Hills Christian School, Portland, Oregon USA

BIBI (GRANDMOTHER) GROUP RULES
NOTE: These guidelines were established by the director of the G-2-G group, which holds weekly meetings for mutual support and to create crafts to sell.- BJ

1.To attend at bibis' meeting every Saturday. Any bibi who will not attend within three weeks without any excuse strictly will be eliminate herself.

2. Every bibi must participate full at bibis' group work.

3. Every bibi must love her fellow bibis and all the bibis must live as relatives. Our motto is WORKING HARD, PEACE AND LOVE..

4. Grandmother who will show bad behavior and divide others will be eliminated at the group.

7. Grants/aid must be a challenge for all bibis to work hard for their own developments and not to keep them lazy.

8. Every bibi must learn on how to saving money or any materials which earn every time for her grandchildren.

9. Every bibi must have a something to do like business, making thing in order to get something for her grandchildren.

10. Every bibis must make sure that every grandchildren who needed to school must send him/her to school.

11. Every bibi must express any new views to the group or say anything to the group freely.