Forward
Francine LeFrak & Same Sky employee
LWP is forwarding a powerful message from a true leading woman, Francine LeFrak. Francine is a successful Broadway, television and movie producer. Her most recent production, Same Sky, is helping to empower women throughout the world by providing employment to HIF-positive women in Rwanda and Zambia. The message from Francine is one of giving thanks, and the moving experience she had on her most recent trip to visit these women in Zambia.
African Arrival
Same Sky - Rwanda & Zambia
The plane landed in Lusaka Zambia, a country in sub-Sahara Africa, where one in seven adults is living with HIV. I traveled here to meet the Same Sky-trained women artisans, who are HIV positive, and visit the house Mary Fisher and I rented for them as a workspace. After going through customs, I headed out the door to look for the driver, named Medicine, who was meeting me with a sign. As I looked for Medicine, I couldn’t believe what
happened next. There, in full voice, were the Abataka Same Sky women – singing, howling and smiling with smiles you only see in Africa. They were Singing the Francine song in Njenja, their language. They sang chichitekelo Francine, which means Believe and refers to the belief that Francine/Same Key has in the Zambian women and how Francine traveled all this way, allowing them to celebrate their belief in each other. The second song was balamupapa Francine, meaning we shall go with you and tie you on our back on this journey together, like a baby, so you can never fall off. The third song they sang was inkonto yandi, “my stick”. It means that Francine/Same Sky brought us hope and is their stick to lean, even if we fall, on for our long journey together. They sang their hearts out meanwhile the people in the airport asked who they were. “We are the HIV women who have changed our lives by making jewelry.” The whole airport watched us and looked at me as if I was Michelle Obama arriving in Zambia. The Women were full of joy and heart. Tears welled up inside of me I couldn’t catch my breathe. I was deeply touched by their love and transported by that feeling.
I got in the car with Medicine and his dazzling Clark Gable smile and drove straight to the house that we rented for the women. They continued singing in their cars madly waving out the window yelling Francine.
A New Home
When we arrived at the house the women made me turn backwards to enter the house – a ritual. I was sandwiched in the middle of the women lead by Ida walking backwards through the front door. The house was something they never dreamed of having represents a start of their new lives. It was a dream they didn’t even dream of so it was important to enter by celebrating this way and walking in backwards. they proudly walked Mary and Me from room to room showing off their place of work where they had gained self esteem,
Getting Better All The Time
The women were once struggling with aids but now that their illness is under control with medication they are struggling with social issues. Working in a collective with other women and making a sustainable income empowers them to face their challenges and be kinder as women.
Same Sky Bracelets
We all began to work so my suitcase would be full of bracelets to take home. They sang in 5-part harmony and I was surprised to discover they spontaneously wrote their songs while working. The atmosphere was charged and full of life. They were so happy that I came. How blessed I felt to be present and see the impact Same Sky was making first hand.
The next day we visited the Mother Teresa compound with the aids babies and young children. The children danced for us and handed us flowers. We then visited the cribs of the sick babies. It was well organized and they each had one stuffed animal that they clutched. The doctors told us they gave the center anti-retroviral drugs and the kids were improving. The nuns are somewhat confused because the facility was set up to prepare for death and dying, not for people to becoming better up and able to leave. Even the Nuns needed to adjust their work to accommodate advances in science. Mary Fisher’s family is building an amazing health center to serve the community. There is a new president and ruling party after 20 years. There is so much hope here for a brighter future. Hopefully the roads will improve and the HIV epidemic will be won.
Giving Thanks
Saying goodbye to the women was special. They sang their goodbye Francine song and of course asked for more work. I told them our Same Sky fans believe in them and will support them.
This has been such a rich experience that I had to share it with Same sky’s extended family and say thank you for making this possible.
