From Uganda (Nteko Batwa): Mud Houses

The last month working for the Batwa Development Program (BDP) has been full of excitement, exhaustion, laughter, success, failure, and everything in between. We mudded a house, started a garden at a primary school, spent half a week running a camp to empower the Batwa youth, and of course had time to roast a goat and celebrate all the work we have done. My time is starting to come to an end here and it makes me sad every time I think about having to head home. On the positive side, it means I have had a wonderful summer here in Uganda and all the memories I have made will not soon be forgotten.

Mudding A House in Nteko Batwa Settlement:

A group of us took a three-day backpack trip through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to a Batwa settlement called Nteko. “Up hill both ways” has never been truer than for this backpack trip! When we finally reached the settlement, we were exhausted but had little time to rest as the next morning we woke up early to start mudding a house for a family of six. The family’s previous house had a leaking roof and the mud was sliding off the walls letting in the heavy rainfall. Not only was the house falling apart, all six of the members lived in one small room that was about 15’ by 15’.

Everyone in the settlement helped us mud the house and by afternoon we finished in time for a goat roasting. It was great experience and even better knowing that we were leaving the settlement after really helping a family.

Sutter Allen, undergraduate student, Human Development, UC Davis

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