From Alabama to South Africa: Lessons from a shared legacy

As part of a university education abroad program, we entered Khayelitsha, South Africa, and saw a sea of tin structures in every direction. We had traveled 20 miles from Cape Town’s cosmopolitan city center to visit Grandmothers Against Poverty and AIDS (GAPA), where we were welcomed with singing and dancing by community members wearing T-shirts that read, “GAPA: Celebrating 20 Years of Never Giving Up.” Founded by 10 grandmothers and one occupational therapist (OT), this organization helps “grannies” support each other in caring for grandchildren who have lost parents to AIDS-related illnesses.