The-Accountant-Mar-Apr-2018

TRAVEL
itself, there are boats and canoes, and, if
you have booked in advance, you can go
gorilla trekking. No need to book, though
for a forest walk or a fitness programme.
However the great advantage of the
local knowledge and language proficiency
of the Resort team is that they are a treasure
trove of knowledge about the local people
and their customs. Tours can be arranged
to visit the homes of the Bakiga and the
Batwa peoples of the area. Often visitors
who do the cultural tours feel motivated
to contribute to improving the lives of the
people they have met through supporting
the Bunyonyi Safaris Resort Foundation.
Bunyonyi Safaris Resort
Foundation
The BSR Foundation is an initiative by
Bunyonyi Safaris which aims to support
community projects, conserve the
environment and aid in the alleviation of
poverty, through the practice of responsible
tourism and philanthropy. Visitors and
guests at Bunyonyi Safaris Resort are
given the opportunity to volunteer
their time and skills in various ongoing
community projects, or encouraged to
simply visit and experience the lives of
the local children and families who live by
Lake Bunyonyi.
The Foundation works hand in hand
with the Bufuka Orphanage community,
which is made up of elderly grandparents
who are taking care of orphaned children.
The Foundation provides them with
opportunities to make a livelihood through
agriculture and farming projects. Donors
can support the pig and chicken initiative,
which donates livestock to families who
do not have much land to farm, so they
can make a livelihood by selling the eggs
or breeding and selling piglets to make
a living. Another successful project is
organic vegetable farming, for which
the Foundation recently donated some
communal land to be used for growing
vegetables. Fresh produce is bought and
supplied to the Hotel as well as other
hotels around the area, sold in the local
markets and also feeds the families. Other
projects currently being developed include
bee keeping and honey production, tea
and coffee plantation, crayfish farming
and tree planting.
The Resort Foundation team says:
“There is so much potential in the region
that can be used to catalyse sustainable
development. We welcome volunteers
of various relevant fields to come visit
us and contribute their skills, advice
and constructive feedback on any of
our projects or even start some of their
own. We offer volunteers full board
accommodation at a special discounted
rate, and an opportunity to experience
life around the pristine shores of Lake
Bunyonyi, and a chance to positively
impact the lives of the surrounding
community.”
clivemutiso@gmail.com
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