Visits to OVCs and Families

The Batwa People

The Batwa are a people living in Ituri forest, which joins the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. In the 1980s, the Batwa numbered approximately 10,000 but the current population is estimated to be 6,000.

This high death rate is due to:
• Hard living conditions, having no access to health services
• Malaria, diarrhea and other preventable diseases
• HIV / AIDS prevalence

Poverty and Struggle
The Batwa are a minority group. They are the poorest community in sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of food, income, and education compounds their vulnerability. Many live in the forest of the DRC (The Congo). The Batwa residing in the Congo come regularly to visit their relatives in Bundibugyo (Uganda). This community has requested support to empower themselves.

Problems and Constraints in the Batwa Community

• Lack of income-generating activities
• Vocational training is unavailable
• Lack of start-up capital
• High attrition rate for primary education
• Lack of scholastic materials
• Human rights abuses
• The Batwa are stigmatized as minorities
• Civil strife
• Rebel activity undermines stability
• HIV/AIDS prevalence
• Lack of health services (eg, Prevention of Mother to Child Treatment programs)
• Increased sexual activity due to a myth that a person having chronic backache gets healed after having unprotected sex with a Mutwa

What can be done?
The Batwa’s needs fall into the following categories:

Economic:

• Start-up capital and entrepreneurship development
• Vocational/agricultural training
• Setting up a cultural boma with museum, resource center, music and dance

Academic:

• Scholastic materials
• Child-participation program to improve school retention

Social:

• Third-party intervention to promote peace/halt human rights abuses
• Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programs

Health:

• Clean water
• HIV prevention campaign and support to people affected and infected by HIV
• Basic health services (control of malaria / worms, promotion of nutritional education)
  
  

The European Union
In 2007, the EU established a resettlement program for the Batwa, who had been residing in the forest. The project was largely successful and provided the following:
• 15.7 acres of arable land
• Agricultural training and farm inputs
• 21 modest houses
• Peace building and conflict resolution program

The Batwa King, Queen and the Prince















Ituri forest the ancestral home of Batwa















The district provided tarpaulines to stop leaky roofs
















The Batwa King and the Ambassador of the European Union
















A Mutwa woman farming

A family in their new home constructed by the EU


Further Activities of the EU
The EU has outlined the following development plan for the Batwa community:

• Crop and livestock farming
• Handcraft enterprises
• Promoting education
• Setting up a cultural boma for tourists containing Historical and cultural sites, a museum a resource center and a drama group
  
  

RWIDE’s Involvement
We are committed to further collaboration with the Batwa to improve their livelihood. RWIDE is working to implement sustainable income-generating activities among the Batwa community RWIDE is also working to ensure Batwa youth receive quality education. “Support us by educating our children. Education will transform their lifestyle.’’ --Batwa King

The Batwa need your support. Please join us and our partners in advocating for the welfare of the Batwa. Our vision for this unique community is one of economic, political, and social security. Financial contributions are welcome. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

About Us

Rural Welfare Improvement for Development (RWIDE) is a non-profit organization serving Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) and People having Aids (PHAs). We operate in western Uganda in Kyenjojo and Bundibugyo districts. We are posting our brochure for the benefit of our readers.



Our Vision
A healthy, productive, and prosperous community

Our Values
Care, compassion, love, transparency

Our Mission
Empowering the community to develop holistic strategies which promote healthy practices and improved productivity

What we Do
We serve the following groups: youth, adults, Most At Risk Persons (MARPS), couples, mothers, men, the Batwa community, and Orphans/Vulnerable Children (including child-headed families). With all target groups, we emphasize healthy sexual practices to reduce HIV transmission. We also develop community-empowering programs such as education, psychosocial support, gender equality, and financial independence.

Our programs include: vocational and agricultural training, Prevention of Mother to Child (PMTCT) services, Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT), developing support networks among HIV-positive persons, condom distribution services, and promoting the ABC (Abstain, Be Faithful, Condomize) model.

Our Partners
RWIDE works in conjunction with the following agencies:

JSI / USAID
European Union
Bantwana (World education)


Looking Ahead
By 2009, we hope to serve youth in all 72 parishes of Kyenjojo district with HIV prevention messages. We are also seeking to expand our agricultural and vocational programs for OVCs and HIV-positive adults.

Donations are welcome. Thank you for your interest in improving the lives of Ugandans

For more information, please contact

Vincent Mubiru,
Technical Advisor
Rural Welfare Improvement for Development (RWIDE)
P. O. Box 1048 Kyenjojo, Uganda
E- Mail: fosimubiru@yahoo.com
Telephone: 256 772 977 314

Photo gallery