Central to the ageing challenge in Africa is HIV/aids, which has effectively wiped out a generation of young parents – leaving another generation of children on their own. With few orphanages (see photos of child’s room and orphanage), the grandparents are called upon to bring up the grandchildren.

At the same time the elders are pressured by the extended family or village, thanks to the 46% unemployment with no safety net, to contribute their $130 per month aged pension to them. This can lead to situations of elder abuse, where the money can be forcibly taken.

When the grandparents die, the grandchildren are on their own again but now with no household financial support – for them or the community. Everybody suffers.

Girls have one option- pregnancy and a single mother’s pension. A cycle begins again.