HYT marked 20 years since it started its inspirational work in Uganda with a visit from former Deputy Head of School and OH volunteer, Harry Hughes (Thomason, 2016), who spent time with his OH sister, Lizzie Hughes (Hailey, 2020), currently HYT’s Assistant Country Manager. Harry and Lizzie travelled together to see HYT projects around the country.
Harry and Lizzie visited the remote Bwindi area, where HYT is working with the Batwa, a community of former forest dwellers, who are among Africa’s oldest but most marginalised communities. HYT and the Batwa are working together, building houses and providing water and sanitation in Batwa villages. The Batwa were once hunter-gatherers in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, until their eviction in 1991, to make way for gorilla tourism. HYT is helping the Batwa build new lives outside the forest.
HYT Director, Russell Matcham, also visited in July, while the team was delighted to welcome back to Uganda its first OH Country Manager, Helen Goddard, returning after many years.
The Batwa will be the focus for this year’s school fundraising for HYT. There is also a school trip planned for next July, where Sixth Form pupils will see for themselves the remarkable work of Haileybury’s own international charity and the unique Batwa people.
