Rafiki Conservation Youth, Buhoma
Thanks to incredible support from our PICC friends, we were able to purchase resources designed to expand opportunities for youth that are working towards developing skills in guiding – bird watching, gorilla trekking, and nature walks — as a sustainable and conservation-compatible career in their communities.
Image by Isaiah Natukunda
The Sahaya Rafiki Guesthouse, on the edge of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, was a perfect location to gather together the 4 local youth and Mushamba Moses, Director of Rafiki Memorial Wildlife Conservation Initative. We held a photography workshop, discussed mountain gorilla behavior, natural history and conservation, and practiced both our technical skills with the cameras and integrated concepts of ethical wildlife photography and “attentive stillness” into our plans for visiting the mountain gorillas. A special guest speaker was Gad Kanyagyeyo, a retired ranger of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, who shared his 20-year expertise on mountain gorilla behavior, preparing the students for their gorilla trekking experience. Gad informed and entertained us with stories about his experiences as a UWA ranger habituating mountain gorilla families and leading groups of visitors, and made sure that the students were well prepared for a successful gorilla trekking experience.
Participating in the 2024 PICC photography workshop were: Isaiah Natukunda and Onesmus Rutaro, artists and conservationists from the local Buhoma community, and Melorine Kembabazi and Elizabeth Tumuwine from the local Batwa community.
On the day of the trek, each of the students had a Canon DSLR camera with a zoom lens and was able to capture incredible photos of the Muyambi mountain gorilla family that we visited high in the Bwindi mountains. The 8-hour hike was filled with interesting discussions, animal sightings and a lot of cheerful fun. They took in the experience fully, from the orientation and dancing at the Visitor Information Center, to learning all they could from the trackers, rangers and guards, to receiving the certificate from the head UWA Ranger, John.
The financial support we received was key to us being able to purchase guiding resources for the group and a UWA trekking permit for each of the students. Included in a professional, waterproof canvas bag we brought good quality binoculars, the East African Wildlife Field Guide, the newest edition of the IUCN Guide to East African primates, the IUCN documents for Primate Guide Professionals, a metal, reusable water bottle, and blank notebooks. Gorilla trekking was an opportunity that was deeply meaningful to them as you can read in Onesmus Rutaro’s handwritten letter, transcribed here:
“Dear Donors: I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation towards my gorilla trekking adventure. Your support has enabled me to experience something truly unforgettable, and I am forever grateful. As a local artist dedicated to gorilla conservation through my carvings, this experience has deepened my connection with these magnificent creatures. Witnessing them in their natural habitat has inspired new ideas and creativity, which I will channel into my art to continue raising awareness and funds for conservation efforts. Your contribution has not only supported my passion but also the conservation of these incredible animals. Your kindness has made a significant impact on my life and the lives of the gorillas I am dedicated to protecting. Thank you for believing in me and my art. I am honored to have supporters like you who share my passion for conservation and art. Sincerely, Onesmus Rutaro”
We had an amazing time viewing each student’s images on a monitor, and discussed what makes a “good” photo and where we could improve our skills. Isaiah was excited about all the new images he can use for his drawings and paintings; Onesmus was so happy about seeing the gorillas in their habitat and having images that he can use to develop more expressions and body positions for his woodcarvings, and Melorine and Elizabeth were thrilled with the enlarged prints to share with their Batwa community. Mushamba is excited about using his images in his paintings and conservation work.
Image by Elizabeth Tumubwine
