Lacey and the African Grandmothers

Twelve-year-old Lacey loves spending time with Oma patake, an elder on her reserve who is like a grandmother to her. From Oma patake she is learning about the traditions of her people, the Siksika, including the art of beadwork. Lacey hears about a project to help grandmothers a world away in Africa who are raising their grandkids because the children's parents have died of AIDS. She decides to put her new skills to work and make beaded purses to raise money to help. When a charitable organization brings two of the African grandmothers on a visit to her country, Lacey is thrilled to learn that they have asked to see her. She is humbled when the African women tell her how her compassion and dedication have made a difference in their lives. Inspired by a true story. Sue Farrell Holler traces the start of her writing career to elementary school when she regularly wrote to more than a hundred penpals. A genuine love of writing led Sue to journalism school, and she is now a freelance writer based in Grande Prairie, Alberta.