Jesse Pringle illustrates the old adage that 'you can pursue your passion' at any age. In 2007 Jesse joined the Stephen Lewis Foundation and met 200 African grandmothers who had lost their children to HIV/AIDS. Inspired by these courageous grandmothers she came back to start the South Fraser Gogos, a group of Grandmothers who help the Stephen Lewis Foundation raise funds for African grandmothers. This experience has been one of self discovery for Jesse, who found that many of her skills and talents have been very useful in showing other women of courage and determination how to help others in need.

LEADING GRANDMOTHERS BY HEART

Jesse Pringle was born in Scotland, U.K. She immigrated to Canada in 1948 and studied and became a family therapist, retiring in 2005.

In 2007 Jesse joined the Stephen Lewis Foundation and she traveled to Toronto to meet 200 African Grandmothers. At this gathering, she met and listened to these heroic women of Africa, who, having lost their own children to HIV/AIDS, were now left to look after their grandchildren with little to no resources, but a lot of courage and determination. Their slogan was “We will not raise our grandchildren for the grave!” Inspired by these courageous grandmothers she came back to start the South Fraser Gogos, a group of Grandmothers who help the Stephen Lewis Foundation to raise funds for African grandmothers. She had no experience in leadership before, but she knew this is what she had to do. The group has grown in numbers and she is now part of a large group of the most amazing women she has ever met in her life. Jesse now realizes how a lot of her previous life experience, talents and skills are so relevant and useful to develop a network of women who have the desire to make a difference in this world. This experience has been one of self discovery for Jesse, who has found that many of her skills and talents have been very useful in her success in helping other women of courage and determination to help others in need. Jesse’s goal has always been to be able to make some difference in the world.

Jesse just came back from a trip to South Africa. She went to visit one the Stephen Lewis Foundation projects. She is so excited to see how Canadian Grandmothers are making a huge difference in many lives.