Bodyboarding in Uganda with Think People Think Story

In the summer of 2022, Tommy Hatwell – a photographer and founder of the creative charitable organisation Think People Think Story – happened upon a chance meeting with Two Bare Feet in the Devonshire countryside. 

The occasion planted the seed of an idea, which resulted in a bodyboarding adventure with the children of a riverside Ugandan village.

Having returned to the UK after a successful and rewarding excursion, Tommy has kindly agreed to share his waterborne experiences with us – and with you.

Take it away, Tommy!

At a farming show somewhere in Devon, towards the end of summer 2022, I saw a chap selling inflatable bodyboards. I guess it wasn’t so strange, with the ocean less than a five-minute drive from the field I was standing in. But it did trigger an idea.

I noted down the brand, and then went off for some overpriced countryside fare.

The beginnings of a rewarding venture

Since 2008 I have been travelling to Uganda to indulge my passion for photography, travel, and adventure sports.

Whitewater kayaking was the initial reason for loading my six-foot long plastic kayak with kit in Devon, squeezing it inside an aeroplane, and then arriving 30 hours later in Bujagali Village – on the banks of the White Nile river in Uganda.

I would join a growing number of locals, alongside kayakers from across the world, for long days on some of the best whitewater rapids in the world.

The access was easy; there were no crocodiles. The sun was usually shining, and the people were truly incredible. I knew I had found somewhere unique and special. Little did I know, at this stage, the journey that would unfold in the years to come.

Shifting motivation

With my third journey in 2017, my passions continued to fuel the adventure. However, my reasons had flipped somewhat. Photography projects were becoming a larger part of my time in Uganda.

Kayaking may have taken me to the place, but the camera certainly connected me to the people who are now my friends, family, and teammates.

The founding of our mission

The following year, I set up Think People Think Story: a small organisation which uses photography to support projects within the communities that gave me so much over the years.

We also use photography to creatively inspire and empower every human we meet, so that they feel a little less fear and a lot more self-confidence.

We do this through education, offering Ugandan photographers:

·        the opportunity to grow as creative humans while mentoring their journey

·        support, when we can, with digital cameras so they can begin to make a small income from their passion and skills.

Our projects are a great way to share a common goal, but use our individual perspectives to document stories.

The Sleepwell Project is our biggest, with the straightforward aim of upgrading families from their old unhealthy foam mattresses to brand new ones, giving them healthier, happier, and safer sleep.

In 2020, 52 humans worldwide supported 60 mattresses for 60 families, and in 2022 we delivered to 123 families.

Preparing for the 2022 Uganda trip

With the seventh trip in 2022, I was set to return for 12 weeks. The first four weeks would include guiding six fresh faces, as they experienced the challenge, beauty, and pure joy of such an amazing part of the world.

The group would be experiencing village life while staying with host families, exploring the river, learning photography, and delivering many photography-based projects, including the incredible second Sleepwell Project.

After seeing the Two Bare Feet bodyboards at the show, I immediately knew I wanted to take them to Uganda. Not only would they be great way for the group and myself to access the water, but in my mind, I could see them being perfect for the local kids to enjoy.

They would also offer the younger children at the local Bubugo Kayak School access to the smaller rapids. A ‘level up’ from swimming would be an exciting way to begin learning how to navigate the wild waters safely, given that they were still too small to control a kayak.

After our trip, these boards would be given to the school so they could continue using them for training.

This would all be photographed along the way, with some of the sessions being used to teach the photographers on our team about making more considered images for potential commercial clients.

After a quick email exchange, Two Bare Feet were on board. They kindly sent two of their bodyboards down the road from Paignton to Tavistock. These were rolled up and easily packed, alongside two paddle boards, my kayak, paddles, and 14 kit bags. And with that, off we went.

Arriving in Uganda

Having made this trip many times, it was fun to watch the journey unfold for the group.

David, Morriz, and Ambrose – our Ugandan team – met us at the airport. We would be together for four weeks, sharing adventures and projects between the capital Kampala and Kyabirwa Village: three hours east on the banks of the Nile river, shortly after it drains north from Lake Victoria.

It wasn’t long before the excited faces of the smaller village kids saw the bodyboards for the first time. They inflated the boards, picked them up, and took off to the river, along the dusty orange roads lined with banana trees.

Many of the youngsters fear the water, so strapping them into new buoyancy aids and giving them the body boards was a great way for them to access the water. Soon they were loving life, safely afloat and exploring the water.

We enjoyed many days on the flat water, and the local kids would venture further from the banks each time, gaining in water confidence and playing… which is what all kids are best at!

The Banana Kayak School

When the time was right, the team took the bumpy one hour drive downriver to the village of Bubugo, home of the Banana Kayak School.

Initially set up, supported, and funded by kayakers, local legend Bosco has taken it on and continues to train, coach, mentor and inspire youngsters and local kayakers on and off the water.

Many have gone on to work for local rafting companies, thanks to Bosco’s efforts and their passion and determination.

Kayaks, paddles, and safety gear have been left by kayakers from around the world, in support of the work Bosco does. However, much of it is old when it is received, especially the buoyancy aids. Each year I bring a bag full of brand-new and safe ones for the club to use.

Arriving to meet Bosco once again was a joy. The kids at the school were quite small to very tall, and we greeted them all. Each one received a new rash vest.

Paddling in the White Nile

Bubugo village is a decent frisbee fling away from the large, but relatively safe, rapids on the river. Islands separating the flow create waves for the more proficient kids to kayak in, and for everyone to jump off the rocks and enjoy the smaller rapids.

The paddleboards and kayaks made their way out into the main flows with two or three children attached. The body boards were enjoyed by the youngsters on the flows closer to shore.

I could see the energy and confidence of the kids without boards. It wasn’t easy to surf with the power of the water, but once they had boards under their bellies, new experiences and challenges were laid down for them. This was precisely why we delivered them to this group in this moment.

We eventually got everything back to shore at the kayak school and promised Bosco we would return the boards to the club when the trip was completed.

Adventuring on other waters

In the following weeks, we used the boards in the lake, and on some of our river adventures. On one of the days, some university students decided they also wanted to have a go. It was a hilarious moment, especially for Chris, who became the coach – and extra buoyancy.

Later, the boards were taken down the middle of bigger rapids – to the delight of the local boys, who enjoyed a different way to navigate their home river. Without fins on our feet, it was pretty difficult to cross the powerful eddy lines and surf some waves, but that didn’t stop us from trying!

Reflecting on the journey

I was happy that from a farmer’s field in Devon, an idea had grown – and with a little bit of positive energy, nurturing, and teamwork, the idea had come to life. To see the boards with the kids in Uganda was truly brilliant.

When all is said and done, these boards took on the waters of the mighty White Nile, giving youngsters more confidence in themselves and their ability, and will continue to bring joy to the club.

Even more impressively, the boards had survived the power of the little legends who had strapped in to ride the rapids of the longest river in the world!

Big thanks go out to the team at Two Bare Feet for joining us on this journey; we are all excited for our next adventure together.

Perhaps you will join us for the next one?

To learn more about Think People Think Story’s adventures, projects, and initiatives; offer support; or perhaps to even join the team in Uganda, visit the organisation’s website.

Words and images: Tommy Hatwell / Think People Think Story