*Act and Empower is working with the Batwa to purchase land and build an office for UOBDU, the Batwa self-representative organization. The office will enable the Batwa to advocate for themselves, organize community outreach efforts and classes, create a school lunch program so that the hungry can stay in school, and empower the community to work with local and national governments to pursue their rights.

*Act and Empower has established an emergency fund to assist individuals in dire need of medical treatment or other humanitarian aid, and will support a community outreach worker to visit the most remote communities to assess their needs.

*Essentials Kits -- a youth group from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recently conducted a drive to assemble essential kits for Batwa families, including sewing supplies, soap, pocket knives and other small supplies that can have a dramatic impact on these families who lives on the fringes of the forest. The 60 kits will be delivered to the Batwa in June 2009.