By Dr. Schola Matovu | Nursing Professor | Nurse Scientist | Director of Global Learning and EngagementJune 2, 2026
We often hear about the forces that divide us—
borders, race, religion, culture, politics.
But there are also forces that connect us deeply.
Shared human experiences:
- Loss and grief
- Celebration and joy
- Parenting
- Caregiving
And one that is especially close to my heart:
Grandparents raising their grandchildren.
This is not a local story.
This is not a cultural anomaly.
👉 This is a global reality.
Across the world, more than 167 million children are being raised by their grandparents. And behind that number are stories of sacrifice, resilience, and love.
🤍 This Is Not “Traditional Grandparenting”
This is not about:
- Weekend visits
- Spoiling grandchildren
- Sending them back home
This is something very different.
This is full-time caregiving.
It is waking up in the middle of the night.
It is navigating schools, healthcare, and systems.
It is stretching financial resources.
It is carrying emotional burdens—often quietly.
It is, quite literally, giving a part of oneself:
- Energy
- Finances
- Health
- Identity
🌱 A Shared Human Experience
Every one of us has—or has had—a grandparent.
And for many of us, those grandparents shaped:
- Who we are
- How we care
- What we value
I experienced this firsthand growing up with my ‘Jajja’ or grandma in a small village in Uganda. That experience didn’t just shape my childhood—it shaped my purpose.
Today, it shapes my research.
🔍 Why This Work Matters
Grandparent caregiving is often invisible.
Yet it happens:
- Across countries
- Across cultures
- Across socioeconomic contexts
And too often, these caregivers:
- Lack resources
- Lack institutional support
- Lack recognition
Even as they carry tremendous responsibility.
🌐 A Call for Global Solidarity
What if, instead of focusing on what separates us,
we focused on what unites us?
Grandparent caregiving is one of those unifying experiences.
It offers an opportunity to:
- Build cross-cultural understanding
- Share knowledge and support
- Advocate for policies and systems that recognize caregivers
🔑 The Bigger Question
If millions of grandparents around the world are stepping in to raise the next generation…
What are we doing to support them?
Because this is not just a private family matter.
It is a global public health, social, and equity issue.
And it deserves our attention—collectively.