International partners in hope: Haileybury Youth Trust
The Kellermann Foundation works with over 50 international and local partners in its mission to provide hope and health in Uganda. These partnerships cover the whole spectrum of life, including healthcare, education, homes, land, agriculture, spiritual care, social work, and the journey to self-reliance. This summer, we heard from two of our international partners after their field visits to Bwindi.
Haileybury Youth Trust (HYT) is an award-winning UK-based charity working with the Kellermann Foundation to train Batwa in climate-friendly construction while building homes and other basic necessities in remote settlements. KF is has been privileged to work with HYT and director Russell Matcham since 2019, when we purchased our first interlocking stabilized soil block-making machine. Since that time, 74 homes,
6 latrines, 16 free-standing kitchens,
2 water tanks, and a 2-classroom block school building have been constructed
in partnership with HYT. Just as important, HYT has trained Batwa to complete the process on their own, providing a vocation, source of income, and dignity. Learn more at kellermannfoundation.org/blog.
We are now exploring an expanded partnership with HYT that includes solar power, in-house kitchens, and a more efficient floor plan. A formal needs assessment to plan for future collaborations is in progress. When Russell visited the Batwa Development Program (BDP) in Bwindi earlier this year, he wrote to us with insightful and positive news about true transformation.
“My recent visit was hugely informative and instructive—and humbling and heartening, too. Rurangara settlement was a hive of activity. There were about 20 people in the team of HYT and BDP masons and managers, local porters and block-makers, and, of course, the Batwa themselves, all actively engaged in transforming the settlement.
“The beneficiary families were clearly delighted with what they are to receive and are working hard to make it happen. I like the men and women of Rurangara greatly: They are cheerful, hardworking and determined to make the most of this opportunity. The settlement is clean and tidy, despite its remoteness and poverty.
“Seeing Kihembe settlement a year after the work there was completed, it is clear just what a difference this project can, and has made. The houses are extremely well-maintained, tidy and immaculate in their own simple way. The Batwa here were healthy, clean, smart and thrilled with their houses, latrines and water tank. The earlier, rather poor carpentry on a few windows and doors has been rectified, and the quality of construction is mostly excellent.
“It is an outstanding project which will bring dignity, health, and sanitation to the Batwa, while bringing several indirect benefits, too: renewed confidence, improved school attendance, a sense of self-worth and even a belief that they can now do more to lift themselves out of poverty.
“I am determined to see if we can extend the work into other settlements. Donors’ generous support, personal interest and motivation to transform lives, while offering skills and employment to Batwa, has been at the heart of the work, as has your enthusiasm and willingness to lend a hand.”
—Russell Matcham