7 February 2026
Tommy Hatwell and the Think People Think Story team have returned to the banks of the Nile with a mission that has only grown in heart and scale since their 2023 adventure. This time, their journey combined the life-changing work of The Sleepwell Project with a renewed commitment to the Bubugo Kayak School. While the Two Bare Feet team remained on UK soil, we were proud to arm Tommy with a fresh consignment of boards and safety gear to transport directly to the river’s edge.
As expected, Tommy has returned with incredible images and stories from this unique community. Over to you once more, Tommy!
In 2025, Think People Think Story and Two Bare Feet teamed up once again, bringing a fresh wave of support to the Bubugo Kayak School on the banks of the Nile River in Uganda.
Two years after our first collaboration, the team returned to Uganda with adventure on the agenda—and with an even greater mission at heart: delivering The Sleepwell Project.
Supported by people across the globe, The Sleepwell Project offers a simple but powerful opportunity: the ability for anyone to purchase a mattress, blanket, and mosquito net, at three different levels, which will be delivered directly to a family, individual, or health facility in Uganda. Since 2020, the project has provided over one million nights of sleep. The team is on track to deliver many more in 2026.
A community on the current
Beyond the large-scale initiatives, the team has a long-standing connection with the Nile River and the communities that live alongside it. One particularly special community is found in Bubugo, home to the Bubugo Kayak School.
While small, the school is remarkably organised. It supports young people of all ages in safely exploring the warm waters and iconic rapids of the Nile. Positioned beside Superhole, one of the river’s best waves, the students train each evening in kayaks, on paddle boards and, more recently, on inflatable bodyboards provided by Two Bare Feet.
These smaller boards give even the youngest paddlers the chance to get on the water safely, building confidence as they learn to manoeuvre on flat water and gentle rapids. With equipment difficult to obtain in Uganda, donations from visiting kayakers remain essential in keeping the school thriving.
New gear for the next generation
As we drove towards the river, a few of the kids from the school were already gathering. Many others were still in class, finishing their exams before their long two-month break over Christmas.
This year, we brought two fresh boards to add to the pair delivered on our last trip, which are still in great condition despite the daily use. We also carried ten Two Bare Feet rash vests in a range of sizes; gear that will help make the young paddlers more visible and, hopefully, a little safer on the water.
Photography sits at the heart of everything we do at Think People Think Story, so as the sun set, the team handed over the new equipment and created portraits and unique images in this very special place.
Tommy, the team, and all the boys and girls at Bubugo Kayak School extend their heartfelt thanks to Team Two Bare Feet for their continued support and generosity.
About Think People Think Story
Founded by photographer Tommy Hatwell, Think People Think Story is a creative charitable organisation that uses the power of photography and storytelling to connect communities and drive positive change.
At the heart of their current mission is The Sleepwell Project, an initiative designed to provide essential comfort and protection to families in Uganda. Through this project, supporters can assist families with upgrading their old unhealthy mattresses to brand new ones, giving them healthier, happier, and safer sleep. Since 2020, the project has provided over one million nights of safe sleep through the provision of mattress, blanket, and mosquito nets to those in need of help.
To learn more about Tommy’s work or to support The Sleepwell Project over the coming year, visit: https://www.thinkpeoplethinkstory.com/
Words and images: Tommy Hatwell / Think People Think Story
