My grandmother tells me I am quite smart.

With a mass a little more than 5kg (11 pounds), elephant brains are larger than those of any land animal, and we are very intelligent.

Humans say elephants are open to making music and art, playing (my favorite), and using tools.

We are reported to have self-awareness and can recognize ourselves in a mirror.

Of course, we always knew that because we have brainpower.

That got me to thinking about the loss of human brainpower in Africa because of AIDS.

With so many dying each year, and millions of orphans who cannot get schooling, Africa needs help.

We need to harness brainpower to prevent AIDS, provide more education, and solve African problems.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation supports the Umoyo Girls School in Lusaka, Zambia, where all the girls are orphans, aged 14 to 17.

As a 12-year-old elephant girl without parents, I can relate.

My grandmother and aunt teach me, especially about lions, the only animal that dares to attack elephants.

Think about impressive African brains.

Everyone knows about Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela from South Africa, both of whom were Nobel Peace Prize winners.

Wangari Maathai, the first female to obtain a PhD in veterinary medicine and the Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2004, is a leader committed to replanting forests.

Human habitation has really reduced the places we elephants can wander for food, we like leafy treats, and I simply admire veterinarians.

And then there is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Harvard graduate and the first female African President, from Liberia.

Just imagine how your support could help educate millions and stop the loss of brainpower because of AIDS.

In Oakville, Gillian Zimmerman tells me that on Sunday, Sept. 28 starting at noon, $Million or More Oakville ($MOMO) volunteers are organizing the Amazing Race Against Time.

For a registration fee of $25 per person, a team of four racers can compete among a total number of 50 teams.

Like the television show, Amazing Race, each team must find seven exciting Oakville destinations with funds raised going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

I tried to get them to include an African destination, but there is no time in one single day to get there and back, so I will have to race in Canada.

The Amazing Race Against Time lets you use your brainpower for the game while providing support to save human brains for Africa.

I hope you will join the race or volunteer, which you can do by contacting amazingraceagainsttime@gmail.com for more information.

Get involved today.

To close, be sure to visit the $MOMO Waterfront Festival booth, and may I wish everyone a Happy Canada Day on July 1.

Halla is a 12-year-old female African Savannah elephant working with $Millions or More Oakville ($MOMO) to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation and the fight against AIDS in Africa. For more information, visit the $MOMO website www.millionormoreslf.ca.

-- Submitted by the $Million or More Oakville campaign