I was fortunate enough to fulfill a long-standing dream to trek gorillas in the Impenetrable Forests of Uganda--and did so just before COVID closed everyone's borders! It was a fascinating trip--trekking 5 to 10 hours a day through beautiful pristine forests and meeting many wonderful Ugandans--both in the villages and at our lovely lodges (clearly designed for the tourist). Not surprising to those of you who know me, I spent quite a bit of my time learning about the Ugandan economy and in particular, its people and its labor market. A substantial percent of the lodge fees go to its local village to support the schools and medical/hospital care for the village--so much of the rural populace are becoming educated and staying healthy. Generally, a village family has a small plot of land to farm for self-sustaining purposes and/or to sell to the local lodges or exchange their products with other villagers and some are fortunate enough to be porters or trekkers. However, there are many more trekkers/porters than the demand and the average annual wages for these villagers is some $200 per year. The only "modern" device owned by a few of the villagers is a cell phone--which is used to arrange trekking/porter work and for community purposes.
I met Vicent--pictured below on the far left-- as he was my porter as we trekked gorillas in the Impenetrable Forest. He is a charming young man, well-spoken, well-informed and very curious about the world. Yet due to life's opportunities in Uganda, he and his villagers are disadvantaged and he appears to be a leader in his community--taking care of many --both family and neighbors. The Ugandans have sustained serious setbacks due to COVID shutting down tourism operations and also injring many villagers, plus a locust infestation this spring wiped out their summer crops, and then after replanting a drought, followed by torrential rains taking their latest crops. In a word, the village is starving and Vicent, in desperation, contacted me for assistance.
I became endeared with these happy and lovely people--as you can see from the photos! I have sent money to help them--but it is not enough so --as I attempt to enter the 21st century-- I have had my Pacey Economics team--the younger generation--show me how to set up a GoFundMe-- to seek some additional aid!!
I am hoping you will find it in your heart (that's the easy part) and in your pocket book (a bit harder) to make a small contribution ($10, $20, or whatever you are comfortable with) to this village so they could purchase seed and replant!
Thank you so much for your support!
The Pacey Economics, Inc. Team
I met Vicent--pictured below on the far left-- as he was my porter as we trekked gorillas in the Impenetrable Forest. He is a charming young man, well-spoken, well-informed and very curious about the world. Yet due to life's opportunities in Uganda, he and his villagers are disadvantaged and he appears to be a leader in his community--taking care of many --both family and neighbors. The Ugandans have sustained serious setbacks due to COVID shutting down tourism operations and also injring many villagers, plus a locust infestation this spring wiped out their summer crops, and then after replanting a drought, followed by torrential rains taking their latest crops. In a word, the village is starving and Vicent, in desperation, contacted me for assistance.
I became endeared with these happy and lovely people--as you can see from the photos! I have sent money to help them--but it is not enough so --as I attempt to enter the 21st century-- I have had my Pacey Economics team--the younger generation--show me how to set up a GoFundMe-- to seek some additional aid!!
I am hoping you will find it in your heart (that's the easy part) and in your pocket book (a bit harder) to make a small contribution ($10, $20, or whatever you are comfortable with) to this village so they could purchase seed and replant!
Thank you so much for your support!
The Pacey Economics, Inc. Team