Latest news with #grandmothers
New York Times
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
Trump Canceled Their Salaries. These Health Workers in Uganda Showed Up Anyway.
In April, I stood on the soft green lawn of the home of a retired police captain in Uganda, surrounded by older women with H.I.V. The crowd, which included many grandmothers, wore formal outfits, fit for church, a show of respect and appreciation for the team arriving from a clinic 30 minutes away to deliver the antiretroviral drugs that kept them alive. They watched in grave silence as a nurse, pharmacists and counselors from the AIDS Support Organization (TASO) in Tororo unpacked their drugs, pharmacy log books and other supplies. When a counselor jokingly chided them, 'Why aren't you happy to see us?' the crowd offered a perfunctory cheer. Then clients said that they'd heard news of the Trump administration's changes to foreign aid. Many of them wept as they explained their fear that TASO Tororo wouldn't come as scheduled. A grandmother of 12, fearing for the survival of her teenage granddaughter, also living with H.I.V., pleaded to me, an American, to convince whoever in my government had put the program in jeopardy to relent. 'Change the heart,' she begged repeatedly, then collapsed forward, her body shaking. It was 20 years ago that I made my first visit to Tororo, Uganda. A rural community where roughly a third of residents live on less than a dollar a day, Tororo is a world away from Washington. But the U.S. Senate could influence the fate of H.I.V.-positive people there this week. Lawmakers have until July 18 to vote on a bill, known as a 'rescission package,' that would slash $900 million for global health, including $400 million for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which supports H.I.V. treatment worldwide. It has saved 25 million lives since it was established by President George W. Bush 22 years ago. The package retroactively approves the unlawful actions of the Department of Government Efficiency, which in January and February halted foreign aid and other spending already approved by Congress. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a waiver to continue PEPFAR's lifesaving services, including the distribution of antiretrovirals, the maelstrom of grant cancellations and terminations at the U.S. Agency for International Development left the H.I.V. program in chaos. This was evident in Tororo. When the medical team arrived with drugs for the grandmothers and other clients in April, they hadn't received salaries for three months as a result of a canceled grant. Nor had TASO staff members, who support more than 120,000 people across the country. And yet, counselors, doctors, nurses and peer educators kept showing up. Many counselors and educators also have H.I.V., and they told me that abandoning their clients was unthinkable. Mr. Rubio has positioned himself as a champion of PEPFAR. And indeed, his waiver, PEPFAR's operational structure (it has been housed in the State Department and implemented by multiple government agencies since it began) and the work of volunteers like those in Tororo have kept the program operational, even as U.S.A.I.D. formally shut down this month. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
01-07-2025
- BBC News
Sisters died in fatal Caversham crash, family says
Sisters who died while on weekly walk were "two of the most loving, caring women you would ever meet", their family and Sylvia - whose surnames and ages have not been confirmed - were hit by a blue Volkswagen Tiguan on Peppard Road in Caversham, Reading, shortly before 08:00 BST on Friday, police women, who were both grandmothers, died at the scene, near Cedarwood Crescent.A 47-year-old woman from Reading, arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, was released under investigation, Thames Valley Police (TVP) said last week. "It is such a tragedy that these two lives have been taken away and knowing they were taken whilst they were doing what they loved best - their morning walks. It just hits harder," a family statement, released by TVP on Tuesday, said. "Every Friday morning, the sisters would go for a walk, down to the town and back home. But unfortunately this Friday was different."They were both healthy and full of life, with future plans. They both had holidays, adventures and were soon welcoming new additions, great grandchildren, to the family."They are and will forever be missed and loved more than ever by family and friends." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Fast Company
20-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
Is there any such thing as a safe investment?
The elders in my family were big on safe investments. Growing up in the 1980s, I can recall receiving savings bonds as birthday gifts from far-flung aunts and grandmothers. Though these bonds were disappointing presents for any 8-year-old hoping for the latest Skeletor action figure, my parents assured me I would be grateful when I was older. My white-haired relatives had no understanding of the ongoing battle for Eternia's future, but they consistently invested money for mine. In 1997, just before I left for college, I took nearly two decades' worth of these savings bond gifts to my bank. The face values added up to no more than $1,000 total. I redeemed my savings bonds for an amount closer to $2,000. I walked out of the bank feeling like I had the Power of Grayskull. The little old ladies in my family were onto something with those second-rate birthday gifts (that came with principal protection and a decent return). I wondered if I should listen when these wise elders also advised me to put my money in other 'safe' investments, like real estate, gold, and annuities. But as smart as my aunts and grandmothers were, the past 30 years has me wondering if there is such a thing as a safe investment. Here's what I've come to understand about the low-risk investments that are traditionally considered safe. In the mid-2000s, the accepted wisdom about real estate was that home values could only go up and an upside-down mortgage was an economic impossibility. Which explains why banks were throwing bags of money at anyone with real estate dreams and a verifiable pulse. Back then, I was still teaching high school English and not paying close attention to financial or housing news—but the explosion of house-flipping reality TV weirded me out. Many of these shows documented photogenic amateurs overleveraging their finances and DIY skills to remodel cheap homes for a quick profit. Considering how common these shows were, and how incompetent many of the flippers were, it struck me that the demand for housing couldn't possibly remain high enough to keep up with this kind of supply. Unfortunately, by 2008 the housing bubble had burst. Apparently, real estate values can go down and a borrower can be upside down in a mortgage. The subsequent great recession was a painful reminder that real estate isn't a straightforward path to generational wealth, no matter what the 'Welcome to the American Dream' brochure may say. The risky fine print When your grandmother suggested that buying a house was a smart and safe investment, she wasn't thinking about you taking out an adjustable rate mortgage to purchase a foreclosed fixer-upper to renovate and sell in less than six months. For the majority of real estate investors (i.e., homeowners) buying a house is more about securing shelter than investing money for a future financial payout. That's what Nana meant when she called buying a house a smart investment. Becoming a homeowner will not only provide you and your family with something you need, but your home will also appreciate in value over time—as measured, traditionally, in years or decades rather than months or quarters. But if you're counting on turning a quick profit, you may be in for a rude awakening—just ask any real estate developer. The safety of such a real estate investment is the fact that you build equity and value as the years pass in your home. Gold Humans have prized gold for its beauty and malleability for millennia. We have adorned ourselves and our homes with golden decorations for at least the past 6,000 years, and we began using gold as currency about 1,500 years ago. Since gold resists corrosion and oxidation, it's an ideal medium for currency, since it holds its value better than a metal that rusts, corrodes, or becomes hollowed out in a can of Coke (allegedly). But gold doesn't just hold its value over time. Between our collective fascination with its glitter and the durability of this malleable metal, the value of gold has generally risen over time. Typically, the price of gold spikes during periods of economic or political uncertainty. Investors appreciate the tangible confidence of an investment in gold, especially if they have just experienced major losses in the market. The risky fine print It's unlikely that the relationship between humanity and gold will go away anytime soon. So buying gold probably isn't a bad idea. But that doesn't mean it should be the cornerstone of anyone's investment strategy. For example, in the past 30 years, the S&P 500 has averaged a 10.29% compound annual growth rate, while gold's spot price has a 6.97% compound annual growth rate. Just under 7% compound annual growth is certainly not nothing, but gold experienced negative growth for 11 of the 30 years, compared to only six for the S&P 500. Ultimately, gold was more volatile. In addition, scammers often prey on investors hoping to put their money into safe investments like gold. While a legitimate investment in gold may be a prudent investing decision, treating all gold investments as 'safe' could leave you vulnerable to fraud. It may be easier to think of gold as 'safe' in the same way that cash can be safe. In some situations, it's helpful and prudent to have, but in others, it can cost you. Annuities Before I started writing about money, I associated annuities with people who knit. That's because the only people who ever seemed to discuss them were friends of Miss Marple in Agatha Christie mysteries and my elderly relatives. Of course, once I became a financial journalist, I learned that an annuity is an insurance contract and that knitting is rarely required. Typically, you'll pay the insurance company either through a series of payments or via a lump sum, and they'll give you monthly payments for a specific period of time, death benefits, and tax-free growth on your investment. Annuities may offer fixed interest rates, variable interest rates, or rates tied to a specific stock market index. Since you purchase an annuity through an insurance company, the safety of your money is ensured by the company's financial rating. The annuity will also do the hard work of budgeting your money for you, sending you monthly payments that re-create the experience of having a salary postretirement. That makes it a safe and smart way to offload your financial chores to the insurance company. The risky fine print Of course, annuities aren't all yarn balls and tea cozies. To start, since annuities are an insurance product, they may be sold by high-pressure insurance agents who want a commission and don't care if the annuity fits your needs. Additionally, while some annuities are straightforward and easy-to-understand products, there are a number of much more complex annuities that may not be clear at first glance. It's important to make sure you understand exactly what product you're getting, what it is supposed to do to help you reach your goals, why the insurer thinks it fits your needs, how it works, when it will begin to pay out, what fees it may have, etc. Finally, the biggest risk to annuities is the fact that your money is tied up in the annuity. If you want to withdraw funds early, you will have to pay a surrender charge, which can be as high as 7% of the amount you withdraw. Understanding the meaning of 'safe' Sometimes, the wisdom of our elders gets lost in translation. When Nana sent savings bonds instead of Battle Armor He-Man, she was giving a gift for your future self to appreciate. When she told you real estate was a good investment, she was encouraging you to settle down—and enjoy the side benefit of your money growing. When she shared how her own grandmother sewed family gold into her petticoat and used it to barter her way to America, she was teaching you how to protect yourself in a chaotic world. When she crowed about her annuity, she wanted you to know there are ways to relieve yourself of the work you hate doing without giving up anything you need. When you understand what someone means when they call an investment safe—especially when it's someone as wise as one of your family elders—then you can recognize how to take their advice and avoid the unnecessary risk.
Mail & Guardian
19-06-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
A grandmother is a library: Support for their caregiving role is vital
About one in three children in South Africa is brought up by a grandparent.. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G) In the heart of communities across South Africa, there exists a quiet, unrecognised force holding families together: Gogo. Grandmothers are the true heroes of our nation, bringing up millions of children in the face of hardship, loss and poverty, often without support and recognition. With HIV, unemployment and other socio-economic issues having torn through the fabric of many South African households, it is frequently Gogo who steps in to care for the youngest members of the family. In fact, an estimated one in three children in South Africa is brought up by a grandparent. These women are pillars of strength, love and resilience. They nurture children with wisdom passed down through generations, instilling values, providing meals with their limited resources and ensuring their grandchildren are safe and cared for. In many cases, they are doing this while grappling with their own health problems, financial strain and the trauma of having lost their own children. Nowhere is their influence more evident than in the critical early years of a child's life. In early childhood development (ECD), the role of a caregiver is central. Studies show that the quality of interaction and stimulation a child receives in their first five years directly affects their cognitive, emotional and physical development. Gogos, though often lacking formal training, naturally embody the foundational principles of ECD through storytelling, song, structured routines and consistent emotional support. There is an African proverb that honours grandmothers: 'A grandmother is a library.' This proverb speaks to the wisdom, stories, traditions and life lessons that grandmothers carry and pass down through generations. They are living repositories of knowledge and culture. But many of these grandmothers face immense difficulties in getting formal support systems or ECD resources. Too often, they are excluded from training opportunities and community programmes because they do not fit the typical profile of an ECD practitioner. Recognising and empowering gogos is vital to the success of any community-based ECD strategy. Programmes that include grandmothers in training, provide access to parenting resources and connect them to early-learning centres can significantly boost early-learning outcomes for vulnerable children. As a nation, it is time we celebrated gogos not just as caregivers, but as educators, nurturers and community builders. They should be empowered as key partners in bringing up the next generation. Theresa Michael is the chief executive of Afrika Tikkun Bambanani, which recognises grandmothers as primary caregivers, offering them parenting resources, training and access to early learning tools.
Washington Post
17-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
No, you don't have to wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming
Is it true that you should wait to swim after eating? As children, too many of us were forced to face that dreaded dilemma — eat a summer treat and wait 30 minutes before joining our friends in the pool, or go without it to avoid missing any swim time. The rule — passed down from our mothers and grandmothers and intended to keep us safe from drowning — is, however, a common myth, experts said.
