I love Alpha!

On the far western edge of Uganda lie the Rwenzori Mountains. From the district town of Kasese you take a road that follows the Nyamwamba River and then turns into an unpaved road as it begins winding up into the mountains. The road gets more challenging and precarious as it continues to make its way up the steep-sided hills. The views as you climb are stunning – the Great Rift Valley below vanishes into the distance and the mountains behind keep rising. At around 3,000 metres above sea level you’ll reach Mbunga and will find a one-roomed office with a tin roof. This is the base for Alpha Women’s Empowerment Initiative (AWEI), the women’s group that we have been working with since 2016.

Margret Masika, chair of AWEI

You’ll meet Margret and the team who run Alpha. They’ll explain the day-to-day challenges that they and others face in this part of the world – the low tree cover that has destabilised the soil and the subsequent landslides that have destroyed houses and taken lives. They’ll explain the difficulties of farming and making a living and the effects of climate change. But they’ll also share their vision to restore the landscape – to create space for nature and improve the situation for their neighbours, particularly women, in the villages that are scattered across these hills.  

And if you follow them on one of the paths that lead away from Mbunga they’ll also show you signs of hope. You’ll see the trees and bamboo that have been planted to bind and secure the soil. In the farms, you’ll be able to pick a mango from a tree that is now bearing fruit and know that it will be sold for a profit in the local market. Vanilla is being grown to generate extra income. You’ll see the community-run tree nurseries, energy efficient cookstoves being used to prepare family meals and kitchen gardens to support daily needs.

The steep and deeply degraded slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains

The Alpha team are a dedicated, committed, resourceful and remarkable group of women. We are proud to work with them, bringing our expertise and guidance, but also learning from them so that together we can support long-lasting change in parts of the world that are at the frontline of the climate crisis.

And we know that it is only through the thoughtful generosity of our supporters that we can enable that their restoration vision to flourish.

Double your donation

This Christmas, your donation will be doubled at no extra cost to you. Donate today and support Margret to plant trees that restore landscapes, prevent future catastrophes and grow a future for the women in her community.