Batwa Life
As the original dwellers of this ancient jungle,
the Batwa were known as “The Keepers of the
Forest.” The Batwa survived by hunting small
game using arrows or nets and gathering plants
and fruit in the rain forest.
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The Forest Keepers
Rich History
The history of these small-statured people is long
and rich. Some anthropologists estimate that
pygmy tribes such as the Batwa have existed in
the equatorial forests of Africa for 60,000
years or more.
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Lessons in bravery & honor
Hard Working
The Batwa lived in harmony with the forest
and its creatures, including the mountain
gorillas, for millennia. In 1992, the lives of
the Batwa pygmies changed forever. The
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest became a national
park and World Heritage Site to protect the
350 endangered mountain gorillas within
its boundaries.
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Living in harmony & peace
Batwa Development Program Initiatives
Education
Education is one of the surest ways to combat extreme poverty. The BDP sponsors hundreds of students in school, at every level from nursery to university. We have over 400 children in school.
Healthcare
The Batwa and their neighbors are ensured of high-quality, low-cost healthcare, and they benefit from regular visits to their communities for health education and local outreach.
Home Building
Once Batwa families have acquired land, the next step is to build a home. The BDP has built approximately 150 homes for Batwa families in which about 47 are interlocking brick homes. Recipients fully participate in the construction, along with their community members.
Income Generation
The BDP is empowering the Batwa to become self-sufficient by helping them discover and establish self-sustaining income generation projects, including the Batwa Experience.
