Living with our Bibi: a qualitative study of children living with grandmothers in the Nshamba area of north western Tanzania
Assessment of orphaned children living with grandparents in Tanzania

This report is the result of a series of participatory workshops with children who are part of the Kwa Wazee Project in the Kagera district of Tanzania. The main activity of the Project is to provide a cash transfer in the form of a small monthly pension to grandparents (mostly grandmothers) who are caretakers for orphaned children.

The report provides an understanding of the issues children are facing and directions for policy and programme intervention. It is clear that children living in elderly-headed households have more stressors in their lives than children living with parents. The findings in this study suggest that the following characterise the issues affecting elderly-headed households:

  • poverty
  • grandchildren as caretakers
  • an uncertain future
  • a generation gap

Creator: 
Glynis Clacherty
Publisher: 
HelpAge International
Date: 
2008