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| one of the children presented me with this lovely picture that he drew - as soon as I am back home - I will frame this and hang it in my office |
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As a part of my tour/travel out to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest where I had planned to see the mountain gorillas -- I also booked a community tour for later in the day (not knowing that our trekking would be SIX AND A HALF HOURS, up and down the slippery and rugged terrain.....)
When I returned from the trekking, all I wanted to do was to have a hot cup of tea, sit on the porch of my cabin, and enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains. Honestly, I did not think I could walk one more step.
But the tour guide arrived at our lodging (the Gorilla Mist camp: https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/gorilla-mist-camp-our-lodging-at-bwindi.html) - so off I went (!?)
Our first stop on the community tour was the school/orphanage -- the Ruhija Vulnerable Children's School. This school serves the children of the Batwa people/Pygmy tribe (that was displaced when the government created the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park for the conservation of the mountain gorillas) as well as orphans from the region. We visited the boys dormitory, a few of the classrooms, and the kitchen/dining room. Because it was about to rain, the students did their singing and dancing performances in the dining room. I am sorry that I am having "issues" uploading my videos - the music and singing in the videos is far superior to the still photos.
After their performance, they invited me to dance with them. I was so moved, that I got up and danced. I have no idea where the burst of energy came from - or how my legs could suddenly "bust a move" when moments before I felt thoroughly busted (!) - but - the joyous spirit of these precious children moved me.
I tucked some shillings in the donation box, but, after I return to the US, I will brainstorm possible service-learning projects to support the children at the Ruhija Vulnerable Children''s School.
For more about the school. visit their website:
https://ruhijaorphanagechildren.sc.ug/activities/
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| one of the dances was the "gorilla dance" complete with this gorilla |
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| overlooking the playground and the girls dormitory |
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| the pathway outside the boys dormitory |
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| one of the classrooms |
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| my tour guide Susan in one of the classrooms |
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| the children met us in the kitchen/dining room and performed songs and dances |
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| the administrative offices of the school |
The Community Tour also included visits
the Batwa people (https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/11/meeting-with-batwa-pygmies-cultural.html
a coffee plantation
learned basketweaving
https://drjsmafricanacademicadventures.blogspot.com/2025/10/basket-weaving-experience-in-bwindi.html
Thank you to my knowledgeable guide Susan!
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