Grandmothers of Mbinga

By: Meghan Roberts
Submitted: 04/09/2010

MBINGA is a small dot on the map of Tanzania. Laying between Mozambique and Zambia, Mbinga's population is roughly 25,000. This is the homeland for more than 2,600 orphans and over 9,200 widows due to AIDS.

It's become common for parentless children to depend on their remaining relatives for support. In most cases the Grandmothers of these orphans are the closest family members to care for the children. Often times Aunts and Uncles have past away from AIDS as well.

Struggling to make ends meet by selling sugar cane and beans several miles away from home, these Grandmothers continue working to support their family.