Features
Key findings from the KwaWazee Project in Tanzania indicate that social pensions are an effective way of bringing more stability and dignity to both the adults and children in older people headed households. Salt, Soap and Shoes for School documents that children living in homes with a pension and child-benefits demonstrate a considerable improvement in their psychosocial wellbeing: They have a better coverage of basic needs such as access to clothes, school materials, soap to wash and kerosene, all of which are essential for school attendance and progress. They also have to do less hard work and have more time for themselves. Thus, better nutrition, better hygiene and better access to medication are likely to improve their general state of health.
Over 50% of children orphaned by the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Tanzania live with their grandparents. Given this situation it is important for us to begin to understand more about the lived experience of children being brought up by grandparents. The KwaWazee Project provided a unique opportunity to work with groups of children living in elderly-headed households. This report, Living with Our Bibi, is the result of a series of participatory workshops with children who are part of the project. It gives a useful understanding of the issues children are facing and directions for policy and programme intervention.