Date of Workshop: December 14 - 15, 2017

Workshop Coordinator: Leigh Fox

Lwanunda is one of a series of small villages near Masaka, Uganda, where most residents rely on subsistence agriculture for both food and income. Despite this agricultural focus, forests also play a significant role in daily life, though most natural forests have been harvested. Today, much of the forest cover consists of colonial-era plantation operations. As in much of Uganda, economic pressures and rapid population growth have led to forest loss and complicated forest management. Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 55% of its citizens under the age of 18, making youth central to the country’s future development.

In December 2017, Lwanunda hosted the tenth Youth Visioning Workshop, led by coordinator Leigh Fox and co-facilitator Godfrey Kateregga. The workshop brought together local youth to explore their community’s future, focusing on agricultural livelihoods and forest dependency. While agriculture was a key theme, forestry remains closely connected to daily life. Every participant had collected firewood for household use, and many had worked in charcoal production or had family connections to nearby Eucalyptus or Pine plantations.

During the workshop, participants brainstormed ideas for Lwanunda's future. They expressed a desire to maintain the village’s natural beauty, attract investment, and uphold human rights while moving away from issues like dictatorship and family neglect. Their vision included replacing bars, cinema halls, and betting companies with more constructive spaces like internet cafes and radio stations.

One participant shared their aspiration, saying, "I want to help my society members to have a better lifestyle. I want to teach my fellow society members and to develop the community." Another highlighted the challenge of opportunity in rural areas: "People would rather work from the village, but the city has more opportunity."

A video was produced during the workshop, capturing the participants' experiences and the vibrant discussions about the future of their community.