Barnabas, 76, Uganda

Barnabas and his orphaned grandchildren. (c) HelpAge International Barnabas, 76, lives with his wife and two orphaned grandchildren. His land was grabbed by his neighbour. A paralegal trained by HelpAge's partner, Uganda Reach the Aged Association (URAA) helped him get justice through a local court.

URAA trains community volunteers as paralegals to assist older people with legal issues, including land rights.

Thrown off his land

Barnabas said: "I live with my wife and two orphaned grandchildren. I earn a living by collecting and selling firewood. I use the little money I get to buy books for my grandchildren and some food to eat.

"I was so worried when my neighbour started building a house on my land. I tried to talk to him and ask him why he was disrupting my peace but he scolded me and said that I had no land to talk about."

Assured I had rights

He went on say: "I did not want to even bother reporting my neighbour to officials because I knew I would lose the case since he is richer than me.

"People from URAA encouraged me to take the matter to the local council authorities. They explained to me that older people's organisations could help me with legal issues. They promised me full support and assured me I could win the case because I had rights over my land."

I was so happy to keep my land

This help had an immediate effect on Barnabas and his family:

"I presented the case to the local council and my neighbour was summoned. The case was then forwarded to a court where judgement ruled in my favour.

"I was so happy to win the case and retain my land. My neighbour removed the building materials that he had piled on my land and he also levelled the ground where he had dug a foundation for his building.

"I feel so confident and strong. I am sure that my grandchildren will have this land even after my death."