Support Indigenous Batwa Education & Village Life

Barnabus and his friends should be in school like other children in their district, but for the indigenous Batwa this often is not the case. The Batwa , one of the oldest surviving indigenous people in Africa, are a displaced and disappearing people facing extreme poverty. They once lived in the forested mountains alongside wildlife. This land has all been cleared for farming and settlement. The last remaining forested areas are protected National Parks from which the Batwa were evicted. Can you help us sponsor children like Barnabus so that they may have opportunities and improve their lives and the futures of their people? Donations will be used towards education and rainwater catchment systems for the minority Batwa in the Rushaga Village of the Kisoro District. Rushaga is a mountainous village tucked in the southwestern corner of Uganda bordering the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , a world heritage site, that protects wildlife such as the mountain gorillas.

Our fundraising goal will cover boarding costs at the local community school for one year for 4 to 5 children and purchase and installation of two rainwater catchment systems. Sponsoring one child for a year at the community boarding school costs about $350.00. This includes three terms in a school year, one term costs 320,000 Ugandan Shillings (~$85.00) and 10 kg of beans. Additionally, kids need a mattress, uniform, soap, and toiletries coming to about $140.00 for the first term and a bit less for the following terms. Water catchment systems cost around $810 to purchase and install (see below for itemized cost).

A rainwater catchment systems for a school or disadvantaged home can change many lives.

The backstory: Last winter, Annie, Erin, Pam, and Jerry traveled to Rushaga, one of a handful of access points to Bwindi. During our 5-day stay we were humbled and moved by the generous, bright, and playful Ugandans who we interacted with and who looked after us. We noticed Barnabas (top photo 2nd from left) and his comrades as we arrived in town. They, looking much less serious than in the top photo, were putting on an act for us at the edge of the road (see photo below). Later Annie would have them in a game of frisbee using road trash, a lid from a 5-gallon bucket. And from there, we continued to notice and interact for the rest of our stay.

A standout experience: Meeting with over a hundred school children on a grassy field backed by the Bwindi Forest was made possible because of our compassionate guide Micheal. We were able to purchase cases of school notebooks, pens, pencils, and biscuits and soda. On a Sunday, the school headmaster, teachers, some parents, and many kids came out to meet us. Some of the kids danced and sang for us, and with us, even singing happy birthday to Erin whose birthday it was (thanks Michael). We handed out the supplies, secretly wiping away tears here and there…. Or all the time (ehem Jerry).

Near to the end of it, we realized that Barnabas and his friends were on the outskirts of the group watching. It was then that we learned that the reason we saw them as often as we did is because they weren’t in school, which is common for the disadvantaged Batwa. They got a notebook, a pencil, snacks and soda.

This is when we met Naboth Christmas Tumwebembeze (Christmas). Christmas is a perfect example of how far a donation towards education can go. His schooling was paid for by a foreign donor. He is now a passionate schoolteacher and conservationist using that education to improve the circumstances for the people in his community and their environment.

Christmas and Michael are our Ugandan partners on this Go Fund me campaign. They both are active and committed to working to improve the lives of the people in their community. Christmas has begun teaching kids in school about non-biodegradable trash and environmental pollution and is organizing trash cleanups. Through our donations Christmas was able to purchase collection bins for recycling and garbage. According to Christmas, “If I was not educated, I would not have the heart of conservation". Please consider donating. If we’re successful, we’ll keep anyone who is interested updated on the accomplishments of our fundraiser and your donations.

Michael with Barnabus' mother.

Barnabus' great grandmother, Bayoroba.

Christmas visiting with some members of the Batwa community.

Rushaga community primary school Headmaster and school children on the day we met to handout school supplies.

Anne, friend to children. Jerry, also friend to children, but not quite as popular

Barnabas in the back with his friends.

A young girl looks after her siblings while their mother is out looking for food to bring home. Proper housing is still needed for many of the Batwa.

Water Harvesting Donation

*Water tank (1pc) 1,600,000

*Tank base (1pc) 450,000

*Down pipes (2pcs) 100,000

*Gutters (6pcs) 300,000

*Masons labor 200,000

*Transportation 300,000

Total (UGX) 2,950,000

Or $810