You must be a stubborn person to clean a place knowing that some hours later it will be filthy again! But that is exactly what Keep Bunyonyi Blue has been doing from Kachwekano to Rutindo, two trading centres on the eastern shore of Lake Bunyonyi… Thrice in six months.
“Oh yes, it will be dirty again in the evening, especially on a market day. But the support from different lodges and hotels and some community members keeps us going,” says Claire Kwesiga Gauvreau, an assistant medical doctor and hotel manager born in the nearby town of Kabale. She initiated Keep Bunyonyi Blue in 2015 and found a crucial helper in Tyler Hudacek, a Peace Corps volunteer with Bunyonyi Impact.
Each clean up day starts with a group talk about the importance of preserving our environment. A t-shirt, some tea and snacks are there to motivate the participants. It is honestly great success to make anyone willing to volunteer in a community where “how much will you pay me?” and “will you buy me a drink?” are the most common questions.
Last Monday they managed to attract about 40 people from different communities around Lake Bunyonyi. The day began with a presentation about composting and waste separation, followed by determined picking of trash in an area comprising a couple of kilometres.
The sponsor this time was Entusi, while previously Bunyonyi Overland was the main supporter. The organisers were as well given free airtime on Voice of Kigezi, the major regional radio station.
Claire also wishes to thank volunteers from Peace Corps and Bushara who have been boosting participant numbers. Her plan, however, is for local people to accept Keep Bunyonyi Blue as their own and think twice next time they are about to throw something on the ground.
Want to be part of the project? Please join the Keep Bunyonyi Blue Facebook group.
text: Miha Logar