A total of 24 youth from Kikobero trading centre, Nteko ward in Nkuringo town, Bukimbiri County, Kisoro district have been supported with catering equipment valued at 2.5 million shillings meant to help them improve their sources of livelihood.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) through Uplift the Rural Poor (URP) provided the equipment basing on a request made by the Youth as an alternative source of employment and earning instead of heavily depending on the natural resources.
Nkuringo is a hotspot for human-wildlife conflict. Local people have suffered significant crop losses due to encroachment by wild animals, including gorillas.
As a result, human activities, including deforestation and hunting in the protected area of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is negatively affecting the biodiversity.
Beatrice Kabihogo, the coordinator for URP says the items supplied include 382 plates, 8 Serving dishes and 28 Serving Spoons.
These handed over to the group in the presence of the Kisoro District Tourism Officer Richard Munezero, Community Conservation Ranger for Nkuringo zone Byensi Sam and Community Development Officer for Nyarusiza Sub County Kellen Mahirwe.
Kabihogo says the donation is meant to help the youth find alternative ways of being entrepreneurial and discourage them from encroaching on Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
She reminded the youth to be impactful with the equipment and ensure to be creative and hardworking so that the donation is not a wasted attempt to elevate the youth in Nkuringo.
The Community Conservation Ranger for Nkuringo Zone, Byensi Sam commended the two NGOs of WWF and URP for passionately supporting conservation through empowering the locals to defend the protected areas.
Byensi said it is important to report anything suspicious or people who are illegally entering the protected areas for the sole purpose of destroying the ecosystem.
Hope for Physically Impaired
Roy Tumwizere, one of the female youth members of Nkuringo catering group was given a brand new wheelchair, courtesy of Rotary Club of Mgahinga Kisoro.
Tumwizere uses her arms to get around because she only has one leg.
Rotarian Kellen Mahirwe and Rotarian Kabihogo said the club had recently received a total of 15 wheelchairs, through Rotary Club and only thought it beneficial to support Tumwizere with a wheelchair, to ease her movement.
The Rotarians said service above self helps inspire love and cooperation in communities where people most need to see and feel it.
Nkuringo Town Council Deputy Mayor Ngendahimana Aureriya asked the youth to be more productive if they are to get more donations from partners who love to conserve the environment.
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