Origins of Friends of Bwindi
When Jo visited Bwindi in 2006 she took dolls and other gifts for children at a local orphanage. When she returned a year later she was walking in the village and saw this little girl, clutching one of the dolls as if she had never let it go - just one of the children who inspired Friends of Bwindi.
Our group was founded by Jo Burton, a childcare professional from the UK who first visited Bwindi on a trekking holiday to see rare mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable Rainforest in April 2006. She made friends in the village, and returned in April 2007 with gifts and donations for local groups from friends,family and colleagues.
Like many people, when Jo first visited Bwindi she was shocked at the poverty and at the number of orphaned children and child-headed families, but her main impression was of the optimism, motivation and mutual support in the community.
Community groups run by local people do a huge amount to support the most vulnerable, with very limited resources, mainly contributed by people with very little themselves. Since starting Friends of Bwindi we have found research confirming that local groups are the most important source of support for orphans in African communities with high levels of poverty - 'the poor helping the destitute' (source: Save the Children 'Bottlenecks & Dripfeeds', 2005)
They often find it difficult or impossible to access outside resources despite the effectiveness of their projects. Adult literacy is low, access to computers and the internet is difficult and expensive and it is difficult for local groups to prove their credibility to potential supporters.
Finding that both fellow travellers and friends in the UK were keen to support community led organisations in Uganda, Jo realised that a charitable organisation based in the UK would be able to help local groups to overcome some of the barriers they face and give visitors a way to donate and raise funds with confidence.
Jo and several friends and family members have experience of running small charities in the UK and we decided to set up Friends of Bwindi after Jo returned from her second visit in April 2007. Our first meeting and signing of our governing document took place on 14th June 2007.
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