Rachel Albone, HelpAge’s HIV and AIDS Policy Adviser spent last week at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna. Here are some of her highlights:

Sunday morning: We started with the World Health Organisation (WHO) consultation on Global AIDS strategy 2010-15.  I haven’t been to an international meeting on HIV before that has focused so heavily on care and support and the contributions and needs of caregivers!

Caregivers like Awassa, above, who are supporting grandchildren who have lost their parents to HIV and AIDS. She told us that her biggest worry is not having enough money to support and feed her grandchildren.
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The 2010 FIFA World Cup comes to an end this week, with either Spain or Holland lifting the coveted trophy for the first time in their footballing history.

Global celebration

The first World Cup to have been held in Africa, the 2010 tournament has meant so much to its host nation, South Africa. As the focus of the world’s media, South Africans have brought people from around the world together for the biggest sporting celebration on the planet. And it hasn’t disappointed.

A few of my highlights:

Vuvuzelas (the most annoying noise ever?), outrageous managerial attire (Maradona’s mullet and Joachim Loewe’s lucky jumper, right), even more outrageous refereeing decisions (don’t worry Lampard, everyone knows it was goal), a seemingly unstoppable German team (until Paul the psychic octupus decided otherwise) and tens of tens of sublime performances and goals (Wayne Rooney, you are excused from this category).

But what happens after the last vuvuzela has been blown, the last goal scored and the remaining fans fly home?
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I met the children at Bigwa primary school who are brought up by their grandparents, having lost their parents to AIDS. They have dreams of becoming doctors, lawyers prime minsters and sung of education being the key to life. 

I visited Mama Amina who, at 76, is bringing up 11 grandchildren in shocking conditions with no income. Her plot of land is far away and she finds it difficult to farm now. The children gather stones to sell to other families building houses. This is their income. 

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Wilbur has an energetic commanding character, a retired secondary school teacher and journalist, he says “I retired 15 years ago but although retired, I am not tired.”

Born on the slopes of Africa’s highest mountain Mount Kilimanjaro, he is happy living in the shadow of the Acropol mountains with his wife, chickens, goats pineapples, bananas and mangoes - he is self sufficient. But he is well aware that many of his older neighbours are struggling to eat, unable to afford medical care and that the poorest are those who are raising grandchildren alone because they have lost their parents to AIDS.

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Henry Matthews, Campaigns Coordinator for HelpAge International explains how age helps in so many ways…

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Over the past 25 years HelpAge International has seen at first-hand how older people contribute so much to their communities. Mediators, educators, advisors…older people play all these roles and more.

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