During the worst of the war years in eastern DRC the Forest Health Alliance, with a group of Congolese widows formed a cooperative to run a poultry farm. They provided protein for the school children at a time when protein was extremely scarce In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are no social safety nets for the widows of guards who protect gorillas at Kahuzi-Biega Park. In addition, local school children often lack essential nutrients and suffer from malnutrition, increasing their susceptibility to parasites and infections.
A broad range of new projects are now emerging, based directly from the stated needs of the Batwa community. This includes health monitoring, bee-keeping, rabbit husbandry and securing a fresh water supply.