How did you get started?
In 2007, S. Rosita Aranita, CSJ was working on water projects in Raruowe District of Kenya. She was forced to leave due to political upheaval but she told the Sisters in St. Paul the stories of the amazing women she met. The St. Monica Women’s Group were widows who refused to follow the local custom of becoming second wives. They formed a group to support each other and to raise the children orphaned by AIDS. They met in circles doing micro-lending, supporting each other in selling produce, handwork. They were particularly concerned over young girls’ futures. Lois Mineau and S. MaryEllen Foster,CSJ were caught up and Grandmother Circles was born.
What is a distinguishing mark of Grandmother Circles?
We have a very personal relationship to the Women’s Groups. We organized a trip to Kenya in 2010 to meet the Grandmothers in person. In 2019 2 board members made a visit and plans are in the making for another Board member visit.
We have regular contact through WhatsApp with younger Kenyans who have joined the CSJ Community as consociates. We are proud to be their allies in community service.
What were the early projects you took on?
Grandmother Circles became fund-raising partners to the Kenyans. We asked what they needed and listened to their requests. Water tanks were the Grandmothers first need.
The soil does not support drilling for water so water catchment tanks would serve family plots and the Pottery Collective which the women undertook. Chicken coops, poultry and livestock to boost family incomes came next.
Then Mary Lieta who had worked as a school principal and was a respected community leader proposed a scholarship program. Grandmother Circles agreed to raise $12,000 per year to pay school fees for 20 young girls in Boarding Schools in the district.
How does Grandmother Circles operate in Minnesota?
We have had non-profit status as a 501(c)(3) since 2008. We have no employees or fixed expenses. Rather the Board is volunteer. We act as a pass through for the pledges we receive and wire funds to Kenya to Marit Women’s Group, a CBO, Community Based Organization, akin to our non-profit entity. Mary Lieta is our contact and she organizes the interviews of prospective scholarship recipients She sends us the names of the girls and their stories.
What plans do you have to sustain your commitment to the scholarship program?
The Board meets regularly to address funding issues. Our sponsorship program is the most recent effort. We assign specific students to donors who pledge to $600 yearly scholarship as well as to other pledge levels. We apply for grants through the Sisters of St. Joseph and Sisters Rising Worldwide. We are available to give presentations to civic and religious groups.
Grandmother Circles 