The Concourse Plaza Multiplex Cinemas on 161 Street was packed last month at Bronx Week during a screening of the 2009 Cine Golden Eagle Award winning film, "Grandmother to Grandmother: New York to Tanzania."
Though worlds apart, grandmothers in central East Africa and New York are faced with the same struggle and worry as they raise their grandchildren: how to obtain money to feed, clothe and shelter them. "What happens if I die? Who will raise my grandchild?"
The film, by Old Dog Documentaries, explores two programs, one in the Bronx and one in the United Republic of Tanzania that help support grandmothers raising their grandchildren. The children in New York City lost their parents to prison, drugs or violence, while AIDS left the children in Tanzania parent-less.
Grandparents in both countries who once had no help or hope in raising their grandchildren now see a light at the end of their tunnel. Their grandchildren, who were once “at risk,” are now well on their way to leading productive lives and have a shot at bright futures thanks to organizations Presbyterian Senior Services, the West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing and BIBI-2-BIBI it's sister project led by Bibi Jann Children's Care Trust in Tanzania.
BIBI-2-BIBI (Grandmother to Grandmother), headquartered in the village of Mbagala, about 10 miles south of Dar es Salaam, finds sponsors world-wide for bibis (grandmothers) in Africa who are raising their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. The program's co-founders are Jann "Bibi Jann" Mitchell of Stockholm, Sweden and Portland, Oregon, and Fatuma Gwao, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
According to a report done by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1970, 2.2 million (3.2 percent) of American children lived in a household maintained by a grandparent. By 1997, this number had risen to 3.9 million or 5.5 percent, representing a 76 percent increase over the 27 year period. The number of grandchildren residing in households maintained by grandparents with just their mothers present increased by 118 percent from 1970 to 1997.
During the 2000 census, 83,946 of New York City grandparents - most of them single grandmothers - were the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The study showed 18,970 grandparents in the Bronx were raising their grandchildren. It's a burden made heavier by the fact that about 20% of city residents 65 and older live at or below the poverty line - twice the national rate for the elderly.
In 1998 Presbyterian Senior Services, founded in 1962 by the Presbytery of New York City, a not-for-profit agency serving New York City's elderly, along with the West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing dreamed of affordable and safe housing for grandparents raising grandchildren. Their dream came to fruition in June 2005 with the help of $13 million in private donations when PSS/WSF Grandparent Family Apartments (GFA) opened to 50 grand families from across New York City.
With buildings holding 40 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom units replete with amenities such as a green roof, a state-of-the-art Center, a library and 24-hour front desk service, it's unlike any other affordable housing communities. The Center offers support groups, counseling services, seminars, legal services, a summer day camp program, case management, recreational activities in addition to a mandatory one-hour after-school academic program for the grandchildren.
Since its inception, GFA has been recognized nationally and internationally as a model for intergenerational
housing. Senator Clinton and other politicians have visited the community, applauding the efforts of the staff who proudly boast that they are the front-line defense in assisting grandparents "reach his/her full potential" as they raise their grandchildren and to "enable the grandchildren to gain the emotional and educational tools for success."
The agency has two other Senior Housing communities in Corona, Queens, the Alberta L. Alston Houses and the Fort Schuyler Houses in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx.
The program, the only one of it's kind in New York, operates off a $400,000 annual budget primarily funded by the city, state and federal governments. Though it has proven to be an integral part of the community, it has not escaped the threat of budget cuts many other desperately needed non-profits are also facing. This year's budget cuts threatened to slash the organizations budget by $155,000.
The 48 grandmothers and two grandfathers, all African-American and Hispanic, who live within the 50 units at GFA have an average income of $10,000 a year, with 30% of that income going toward their rent. At a recent Sunday barbecue held at the GFA's in Morrisania, worries were set aside as grand families played dominoes and chatted amongst one another while their grandchildren rode scooters through their paved backyards.
One GFA resident Annie Barnes who is now raising her two teen aged grandchildren told the New York Daily News, "Here you have support." She added that residents living in GFA are "like a big family."
"Over there, you're on your own," added Barnes, 67, referring to the Forest Houses Apartments she used to live in.
The film followed two New York grand families as they traveled to Tanzania in 2008, courtesy of Presbyterian Senior Services, to visit African grand families. Andre Rodriguez, 18 said the trip made him see the world different.
"Seeing the hardships faced by the Africans made me more grateful. It put me on a better track," said Rodriguez.
The Bibi project in Tanzania began with fundraising efforts by the members of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas. After seeing Bibi's homeless, hungry and begging in the streets, the members first rented, then built a housing complex named Bibi House, which is set to house five bibis and their grandchildren.
The complex also houses Bibi-2-Bibi Director, Fatuma Gwao (who has taken on orphans), orphans without grandparents and visiting volunteers. Additional space was added for meeting/work spaces for all the bibis and shops that will house businesses.
As Karel van Kesteren, ambassador to Tanzania from The Netherlands and other officials planted a ceremonial tree at the Bibi House orphans danced, bibis cheered, guests applauded and everyone ate Tanzanian food.
The five FAWCO members responsible for initiating Bibi House are the Dutch ambassador, one Muslim iman and two Christian pastors. On February 2, 2009, they dedicated the Gerrit Brokx/FAWCO House for AIDS orphans and the Bibi's raising them near Dar es Salaam.
Click HERE to find out about other public screenings of "Grandmother to Grandmother" or to order your personal copy of the film.
To learn more about Old Dog Documentaries, headed by film makers Anne Macksoud and John Ankele, located at 16 Church Street in Woodstock, Vermont and 5 West 19th Street (3rd Floor) in New York City, stop by their web site or email them.
Their telephone number is (802) 280-7605 and (212) 929-9557.
info@olddogdocumentaries.com
To learn more about how you can help Bibi's in Africa click HERE
To learn about Bibi-2-Bibi in Tanzania click HERE
Read about the Bibi Jann School in Tanzania HERE
Using Old Dog Documentaries
Media Outlets must credit
The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
Though worlds apart, grandmothers in central East Africa and New York are faced with the same struggle and worry as they raise their grandchildren: how to obtain money to feed, clothe and shelter them. "What happens if I die? Who will raise my grandchild?"
The film, by Old Dog Documentaries, explores two programs, one in the Bronx and one in the United Republic of Tanzania that help support grandmothers raising their grandchildren. The children in New York City lost their parents to prison, drugs or violence, while AIDS left the children in Tanzania parent-less.
Grandparents in both countries who once had no help or hope in raising their grandchildren now see a light at the end of their tunnel. Their grandchildren, who were once “at risk,” are now well on their way to leading productive lives and have a shot at bright futures thanks to organizations Presbyterian Senior Services, the West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing and BIBI-2-BIBI it's sister project led by Bibi Jann Children's Care Trust in Tanzania.
BIBI-2-BIBI (Grandmother to Grandmother), headquartered in the village of Mbagala, about 10 miles south of Dar es Salaam, finds sponsors world-wide for bibis (grandmothers) in Africa who are raising their AIDS-orphaned grandchildren. The program's co-founders are Jann "Bibi Jann" Mitchell of Stockholm, Sweden and Portland, Oregon, and Fatuma Gwao, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
According to a report done by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 1970, 2.2 million (3.2 percent) of American children lived in a household maintained by a grandparent. By 1997, this number had risen to 3.9 million or 5.5 percent, representing a 76 percent increase over the 27 year period. The number of grandchildren residing in households maintained by grandparents with just their mothers present increased by 118 percent from 1970 to 1997.
During the 2000 census, 83,946 of New York City grandparents - most of them single grandmothers - were the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. The study showed 18,970 grandparents in the Bronx were raising their grandchildren. It's a burden made heavier by the fact that about 20% of city residents 65 and older live at or below the poverty line - twice the national rate for the elderly.
In 1998 Presbyterian Senior Services, founded in 1962 by the Presbytery of New York City, a not-for-profit agency serving New York City's elderly, along with the West Side Federation for Senior & Supportive Housing dreamed of affordable and safe housing for grandparents raising grandchildren. Their dream came to fruition in June 2005 with the help of $13 million in private donations when PSS/WSF Grandparent Family Apartments (GFA) opened to 50 grand families from across New York City.
With buildings holding 40 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom units replete with amenities such as a green roof, a state-of-the-art Center, a library and 24-hour front desk service, it's unlike any other affordable housing communities. The Center offers support groups, counseling services, seminars, legal services, a summer day camp program, case management, recreational activities in addition to a mandatory one-hour after-school academic program for the grandchildren.
Since its inception, GFA has been recognized nationally and internationally as a model for intergenerational
housing. Senator Clinton and other politicians have visited the community, applauding the efforts of the staff who proudly boast that they are the front-line defense in assisting grandparents "reach his/her full potential" as they raise their grandchildren and to "enable the grandchildren to gain the emotional and educational tools for success."
The agency has two other Senior Housing communities in Corona, Queens, the Alberta L. Alston Houses and the Fort Schuyler Houses in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx.
The program, the only one of it's kind in New York, operates off a $400,000 annual budget primarily funded by the city, state and federal governments. Though it has proven to be an integral part of the community, it has not escaped the threat of budget cuts many other desperately needed non-profits are also facing. This year's budget cuts threatened to slash the organizations budget by $155,000.
The 48 grandmothers and two grandfathers, all African-American and Hispanic, who live within the 50 units at GFA have an average income of $10,000 a year, with 30% of that income going toward their rent. At a recent Sunday barbecue held at the GFA's in Morrisania, worries were set aside as grand families played dominoes and chatted amongst one another while their grandchildren rode scooters through their paved backyards.
One GFA resident Annie Barnes who is now raising her two teen aged grandchildren told the New York Daily News, "Here you have support." She added that residents living in GFA are "like a big family."
"Over there, you're on your own," added Barnes, 67, referring to the Forest Houses Apartments she used to live in.
The film followed two New York grand families as they traveled to Tanzania in 2008, courtesy of Presbyterian Senior Services, to visit African grand families. Andre Rodriguez, 18 said the trip made him see the world different.
"Seeing the hardships faced by the Africans made me more grateful. It put me on a better track," said Rodriguez.
The Bibi project in Tanzania began with fundraising efforts by the members of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas. After seeing Bibi's homeless, hungry and begging in the streets, the members first rented, then built a housing complex named Bibi House, which is set to house five bibis and their grandchildren.
The complex also houses Bibi-2-Bibi Director, Fatuma Gwao (who has taken on orphans), orphans without grandparents and visiting volunteers. Additional space was added for meeting/work spaces for all the bibis and shops that will house businesses.
As Karel van Kesteren, ambassador to Tanzania from The Netherlands and other officials planted a ceremonial tree at the Bibi House orphans danced, bibis cheered, guests applauded and everyone ate Tanzanian food.
The five FAWCO members responsible for initiating Bibi House are the Dutch ambassador, one Muslim iman and two Christian pastors. On February 2, 2009, they dedicated the Gerrit Brokx/FAWCO House for AIDS orphans and the Bibi's raising them near Dar es Salaam.
Click HERE to find out about other public screenings of "Grandmother to Grandmother" or to order your personal copy of the film.
To learn more about Old Dog Documentaries, headed by film makers Anne Macksoud and John Ankele, located at 16 Church Street in Woodstock, Vermont and 5 West 19th Street (3rd Floor) in New York City, stop by their web site or email them.
Their telephone number is (802) 280-7605 and (212) 929-9557.
info@olddogdocumentaries.com
To learn more about how you can help Bibi's in Africa click HERE
To learn about Bibi-2-Bibi in Tanzania click HERE
Read about the Bibi Jann School in Tanzania HERE
Using Old Dog Documentaries
Media Outlets must credit
The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
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