Ellie writes about RIC-NET work with the Batwa

Adapted from the article by Eleonora Tomassi, https://faces2hearts.eu/east-southern-africa/the-batwa-peoples-struggle-for-tomorrow/

“Today the Batwa people are a marginalised minority of environmental refugees. They have little access to farmable land and many have been reduced to a life of extreme poverty, with begging as their only means of survival. As an ethnic group they face a real danger of complete extinction.

Learning about these people's recent history made me feel more conflicted than any of the projects I'd visited thus far. Their desperate turn to drinking and the resulting violence are easy to condemn, but sadly also easy to understand. Seeing the physical toll their situation had taken on them was heartbreaking, but it paled in comparison to the emotional suffering written in the lines of their faces.

I was relieved to learn of the wonderful work local NGOs, funded heavily by the European Union (EU), are doing to help improve their situation. RICNET, which stands for Rwenzori Information Centres Network, is one of these organisations. They work with fringe communities to help them overcome poverty, social exclusion and give them a voice.

RICNET is a member of the Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) whose main aim is to empower citizens in the Rwenzori region. The consortium was formed in 2008 as a coalition of Hivos partners in the region, but their projects depend on generous EU support.

The Batwa people are not the only community these NGOs are working to support. Their focus extends to women, youth, people with disability and those living with HIV/AIDS. They are also striving to help different tribes in the area get along, mediating past conflicts and setting the foundation for easier cohabitation.

They have set up a clever network of so-called "foot peace ambassadors". These community members are trained to promote peaceful co-existence through activities like drama performances, sports matches and cultural events.

But it was the Batwa people whose story truly tugged at my heart strings. The fear of being ostracised is one all of us can relate to. No human can thrive when they are made to feel unwanted at every turn, shunned by the outside world. Perhaps this is why the difficulties these people face as they try to integrate into the local community were so tough for me to swallow.

Theirs is an uphill struggle, every step forward met with resistance. After thirty seven of their children finally began attending a Catholic school in the area, they were faced with harsh bullying from their classmates for anything from their smell to their old clothes.

Yet for the first time in many years you can see glimmers of hope in the people's eyes. They are done allowing others' prejudice to define them and are beginning by addressing some of the harmful stereotypes. They have passed a bye-law that prohibits alcohol consumption during day time. They have started producing handmade crafts to sell to visitors. They have even started a church in hopes that it will help them back on their feet.

That's not all - ten of their youth even undertook vocational training in hair dressing and tailoring. Their next challenge is obtaining the hair styling tools and sewing machines necessary to open their own businesses.

These improvements would not be possible without the help of RWECO, RICNET and, of course, the EU. The Batwa community's gratitude was obvious as soon as we arrived. Their King, Nzito Jofuley, even honoured us with a ceremonial dance. As I watched the determination on his people's faces I knew they were ready to fight for the rights they'd been denied for so long.

After much clapping and laughter, I bought two ornate bowls from the selection they laid out in front of me shortly after my arrival. Despite their hardships the Batwa people clearly know a thing or two about beauty. Their ability to transform something ordinary into a thing of magic gives me confidence that they'll be able to transform their lives as well.”

By Ellie