Grandmothers: Pillars of Resilience and Hope

In 2003, WEMIHS Executive Director and Founder, Wairimu Mungai, launched the Grandmother Resilience and Nurturing Initiative (GRANI) to address the overwhelming burden on grandmothers caring for AIDS orphans during a time of limited treatment options, a lack of social protection policies, and pervasive stigma.

Over the years, WEMIHS has developed collaborative care and support programs that have significantly empowered grandmother-headed households. These programs provide:

• Grief counseling and resilience-building support.
• Livelihood skills for caregiving and youth development.
• Strengthened connections to community support networks and essential services, such as education, medical care, legal protection, and mentorship.

With support from the Stephen Lewis Foundation, GRANI has expanded to benefit 108 grandmothers across six villages in Thika and Maragua sub-counties. Together, these grandmothers care for 265 AIDS orphans, including some living with HIV who require critical care and support.

Your support can help WEMIHS continue to transform the lives of these courageous grandmothers and the vulnerable children under their care.