Former Pres. Bush with Abataka's Jessica Grillo.

Former President George W. Bush visited Zambia at the beginning of December to raise health awareness of breast and cervical cancer, as well as HIV.

Accompanied by his wife Laura and his two daughters, they traveled to Tanzania and Ethiopia, as well, to assert the U.S.’s commitment to raising health standards in those countries.

During Mr. Bush’s time in Lusaka he met Jessica Grillo of The Abataka Collective of Mary Fisher Productions, which produces Same Sky and Mary Fisher products. The artisans of Abataka are HIV positive women who are trained in beadwork that supports them and their families.  Among them are three cancer survivors.

In Zambia, it is estimated that 1 in 7 adults are HIV positive and it is so important to Same Sky to have a presence there.

Mr. Bush sent a “blessing to us in Zambia and specifically to our artisans who are healthy and strong,” said Grillo.  We applaud former President Bush’s initiative in raising awareness of the health, especially the HIV, issues that exist in Zambia.

- Tania Prizio