Dear Friends and Supporters,
My name is Isaiah Wycliff, and I am a Batwa Pygmy—one of the Indigenous guardians of the great African rainforest. For countless generations, my people lived in harmony with the forest, sharing our ancestral home with fellow inhabitants such as the endangered mountain gorillas. We hunted and gathered sustainably, practiced herbal medicine, and protected the delicate balance of life under the green canopy.
In 1991, everything changed. When we were evicted from our forest home, we lost not only our land, but also our livelihoods, our cultural practices, and the dignity that comes from living on our own terms. Poverty, marginalization, and exclusion followed.
Today we are standing up—by ourselves, for ourselves.
We have founded the Batwa Pygmies Network, a Batwa-led initiative created to restore our dignity, protect our heritage, and build a sustainable future for the next generation. Through this Network, we aim to:
Revive and pass on our Indigenous knowledge and culture
Develop income-generating projects that respect people and planet
Advance education, healthcare, and environmental stewardship
Advocate for our rights and full inclusion in national development
Yet even the strongest roots need nourishing rain. We cannot do this alone. We humbly invite you to donate and stand in solidarity with us.
Every contribution goes directly into programs designed by Batwa, for Batwa—ensuring we are not merely recipients of aid, but agents of our own transformation. With your support, we can rise from the margins, reclaim our voice, and care for the rainforest we have long protected.
Together, we can make it possible for the Batwa to help themselves—preserving both our people and our precious planet.
With gratitude and hope,
