Empowering the Batwa Through Sustainable Livelihoods

During our family's gorilla trekking adventure in Uganda, we encountered the Batwa people, an indigenous hunter-gatherer tribe who were displaced from their ancestral forest homeland to create a conservation area for mountain gorillas. Without access to their traditional way of life, the Batwa were left struggling to support themselves in an unfamiliar world.

When we met our lodge owner, Seith, we noticed he wore a Rotary pin and asked if he knew of a worthy project for Be A Rosie. Around a campfire that evening, we shared Rosie's story and her deep love of art and crafts. Seith's face lit up with inspiration: what if we could train Batwa community members to create handmade souvenirs that they could sell to the thousands of tourists who visit the gorillas each year? This would provide them with a sustainable, dignified source of income while preserving their cultural heritage.

Seith, who founded AfriCODE to support the Batwa and helped feed them during the COVID-19 pandemic, developed a budget of $1,800 to train fifteen Batwa women in arts and crafts production. AfriCODE contributed $800, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters through t-shirt sales and donations, Be A Rosie raised the remaining $1,000.

We are thrilled to share that the training has now taken place! More than fifteen Batwa women completed the program, learning to create beautiful handmade crafts they can sell to the tourists who visit them each year. What began as a conversation around a campfire has become a real, lasting source of income and dignity for the Batwa community.

This project beautifully honors Rosie's creative spirit while empowering the Batwa people to rebuild their lives with self-sufficiency and pride. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible. Your kindness traveled all the way to Uganda. 🌍💛