White hair and faces seamed with wrinkles. Little by little they all gather together under the shadow of a mango tree. Some of them reach the assembly point leaning on their staffs, others are helped by friends. Today AVSI is implementing the follow-up of a FAO-funded project through which a group of elderly people in Akilok Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Northern Uganda received goats as an income generating activity.

"This activity targeted two main categories: older persons at-risk and child-headed households", says Filder, AVSI's Food Security Officer. The people in these categories are among the so called extremely vulnerable individuals, according to the UNHCR definition. "I am called Acayo Ecelia", says one old woman during the follow-up session. "But do not ask me my age, I really cannot remember how old I am. For sure I'm over 80!" she says, making the others burst into laughter, revealing their big, toothless smiles. Acayo falls into the subcategory of elderly with children without adequate support. "I have been looking after three orphans for two years now. But only one is going to school. The others dropped out and are now at home helping me with house work such as fetching water and collecting firewood. With no source of income I can do very little for their education". Acayo's family, like 1.4 million other Ugandans from the Acholi tribe, has lived for years displaced from their village in IDP Camps due to the 20-year conflict between the Government and the rebel group, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). IDPs have been living in poor health and sanitation conditions, with no possibility of access to their land, thus with hardly any source of income. For the elderly whose main economic activity has always been farming, life in the camps is even more difficult. 20-year conflict between the Government and the rebel group, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). IDPs have been living in poor health and sanitation conditions, with no possibility of access to their land, thus with hardly any source of income. For the elderly whose main economic activity has always been farming, life in the camps is even more difficult. 20-year conflict between the Government and the rebel group, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). IDPs have been living in poor health and sanitation conditions, with no possibility of access to their land, thus with hardly any source of income. For the elderly whose main economic activity has always been farming, life in the camps is even more difficult. 20-year conflict between the Government and the rebel group, the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). IDPs have been living in poor health and sanitation conditions, with no possibility of access to their land, thus with hardly any source of income. For the elderly whose main economic activity has always been farming, life in the camps is even more difficult.

Acayo recently received goats from AVSI. "I am now feeding the goats in order to sell them in the future. This will help me to get some money to at least allow my 14 year-old niece finish school and give her life a boost", says Acayo.

She is dressed in white and adorned with a very beautiful red necklace. Actually, many of the old women gathered under the tree wear very long dresses with colourful necklaces. It is as if they need to be ready for any important occasion that may happen in the camp. The dresses are full of dust and often ragged, but the grandmothers move along as if they were wearing precious clothing.

Today in Akilok about 15 women have gathered under the tree. They spontaneously decided to come together in a group to help each other bear the burdens of life. The majority are grandparents to orphans who have lost their parents to apparently unknown reasons. Actually, it is estimated that in Sub-Sahara Africa, between 40% and 60% of orphans live in grandmother-headed households. Taking into account that in the same part of the world approximately 13 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS, out of which 2.3 million are in Uganda, the data gives size and shape to the dilemma. During the last International AIDS Conference, held in Toronto in August, 2006, African grandmothers taking care of orphans were recognized as the unsung heroes: robbed of income earners, pressed into parenting again in old age, worried about what will happen to their grandchildren when they die, the grandmothers are also repositories of culture and tradition and keepers of family history. Yet all too often these remarkable women are forgotten despite the great importance of their role. In Northern Uganda, the situation is all the more urgent. the prolonged conflict has put at risk an entire generation, orphaned not only of its parents, but also of its traditions. omen are forgotten despite the great importance of their role. In Northern Uganda, the situation is all the more urgent. the prolonged conflict has put at risk an entire generation, orphaned not only of its parents, but also of its traditions. omen are forgotten despite the great importance of their role. In Northern Uganda, the situation is all the more urgent. the prolonged conflict has put at risk an entire generation, orphaned not only of its parents, but also of its traditions. omen are forgotten despite the great importance of their role. In Northern Uganda, the situation is all the more urgent. the prolonged conflict has put at risk an entire generation, orphaned not only of its parents, but also of its traditions.