GAPA consists of a dedicated group of staff members, as well as a committee made up of grandmothers and a board.
The board consists of community members and a diverse group of people committed to the development of grandmothers.
In May 2003 a full time project manager, Ms Mandisa Mafuya was employed to manage and monitor the activities of the members of the project. In 2004, through the generous donation of I&J the GAPA multi-purpose centre was opened which allowed for the expansion of GAPA’s intervention in the township.
In March 2006 a project manager for Gugulethu, Ms Zimkhita Ndayi, was employed to oversee the formation of a GAPA program in Gugulethu. In July 2007 a full time Executive Director, Ms. Yolisa Vivienne Budaza, was appointed to oversee the running of all the programs and to make plans for future expansion.
Presently, Ms. Budaza still leads the GAPA team, which consists of office staff (including an occupational therapist, a project coordinator, an income generation coordinator and a financial administrator), kitchen staff, aftercare teachers and grannies (committee and members).
GAPA is proud to support any and all grandmothers in need, and have strong partnerships with various organisations, such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Global Fund for Children, Stephen Lewis Foundation, I&J, PKF, Tias Arms, SAFAIDS, Old Mutual, ABSA, Nedbank and SouthAfrica.co.za. These organisations are invested in supporting GAPA either through fundraising, donations, media exposure, catering, support services or workshops.
Writer Jo-Anne Smetherham reflects upon what it means to her to interview six grandmothers from Khayelitsha, Cape Town...