In early 2013 Mozambique was hit by severe floods. A year on, we see how Egmont Partner Vukoxa in Gaza Province, one of the worst areas affected, is continuing to rebuild.

Since 2007, Egmont has funded Vukoxa projects in four communities of the Chokwé District one of the areas hardest hit by HIV & AIDS in Mozambique. A prevalence rate of 27% combined with the pressure on working age men to journey to the mines of South Africa (to ‘mine and die’ as the locals say) means that over half the population is under 20 years old. Often it falls to the children’s grandparents to care for them. 

Chokwé District is home to over 90,000 children, but fewer than 9,000 people aged 65 and over.   However it is these grandparents - most of whom live on less that 18 meticias (30 pence) a day - who carry the responsibility for feeding, clothing, providing medical assistance, and educating the children in their care. The strain felt by the many households headed by older people in this district is immense.