I met this community of Batwa Pygmies in 2018. I heard how they had become marginalised & destitute after being evicted from their lands when the government set up Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. By holding fund raising concerts with the Gurt Lush choir, other events and through JustGiving I was able to raise funds for materials for the construction of the Virunga Masif Community School which opened in February 2020 for 55 Batwa Pygmy children & children from the local community. I work through Kisoro Concern for Marginalised People. I’ve set up this page to continue to support the Batwa community as soon as the school re-opens. Funds will be used to provide a daily meal for the children & pay the salaries of the cooks, teachers & night watchman. The next essential item is a large water tank to harvest rain from the school roof in the wet season (from August) to avoid having to buy water. Additional funds will be used to set up a school garden to grow their own food & for teacher training.

As I’m not able to organise events I’ve been trying to complete my lockdown challenge: to cycle solo a total of 1,000 miles by the end of lockdown. This has been very hard so far as I like to cycle in a group, my navigational skills are non-existent, only short rides were originally allowed so it’s going to be a lot of rides & hills to complete this challenge. Many rides have had a purpose like delivering cakes & scrub bags to NHS staff.

100% of money received from JustGiving will go directly for these projects administered by Kisoro Concern for Marginalised People Organisation.