DOUBLE your impact for people and planet this Christmas!
“While in the forest, we used to build and live together in one place so that we don’t destroy the forest.”
Up until their eviction in the 1990s, Batwa people like Eric Tumuhebwe called Bwindi Impenetrable Forest home.
And for centuries, they were guardians of the forest. Using their deep knowledge of local trees, plants and wildlife to help both them and the forest to thrive.
Since their eviction, most Batwa people have lived in neighbouring host communities where they they face daily hardships including extreme poverty, food insecurity and marginalisation. And for people like Eric, it seemed like all hope was lost.
Members of the Batwa community
But in recent years, their local town council, Rubuguri, granted them permission to plant indigenous trees and plants in local pocket forests for sustenance and income generating opportunities. And now, there’s a glimmer of hope in the community.
This Christmas, you can help fund a new project designed by the Batwa, to plant trees for a brighter, healthier and more sustainable future.
As someone who loves trees, you know that they have the power to transform landscapes and lives.
Batwa people like Eric are determined to use their deep knowledge of indigenous trees and plants to build healthy and thriving livelihoods. The trees they grow will help protect their ancestral home, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, from further degradation. And they’ll be able to sell some of the seedlings to create a resilient source of income.
“We need this project to support us to plant medicinal trees like African cherry and food trees so that we can live a healthy life.”
Eric Tumuhebwe.
But life changing projects like this rely on the generosity and support of people like you.
Please join our Christmas Big Give campaign today and support the Batwa people to plant trees and create lasting change.
Your kind gift this Christmas, will help the Batwa to plant 7,500 transformational trees in local pocket forests and create lasting change.
Trees like ‘nyakibazi’ whose bark was traditionally used by the Batwa to treat infections from parasitic worms that cause malnutrition. And native trees like African cherry, which are at risk from over exploitation.
With your support, the Batwa will not only plant trees to create sustainable livelihoods. They’ll preserve and pass down their valuable ancestral knowledge of indigenous trees and plants from generation to generation.
And they’ll ensure that Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the local wildlife that depend on it, like endangered mountain gorillas, thrive for decades to come.
One donation, twice the impact!
We’re thrilled to be taking part in this year’s Christmas Big Give Challenge. And for one week only, every donation, no matter the size, will be DOUBLED by our friends at the Big Give. Donate to our campaign between 28th November and 5th December and make twice the impact for people and the planet this Christmas.