A journey through reforestation and interconnection
Angal is far away. And for the first time, so was I – leaving Europe to step into a world I didn’t know. In the days leading up to the departure, people asked me, “Feeling excited?”
I live in Berlin, surrounded by a metropolitan jungle. What would I find in Africa? Could I rely on others’ stories, the movies I’d seen, or the books I’d read? I didn’t know what to answer.
When the day came, I realized I had made a few rookie mistakes. I should have packed lighter pants. But more than anything, I still wonder if my spirit was truly ready. I wanted to face this journey with humility, though I’m not sure I managed to. I brought my camera, knowing it wouldn’t just be a tool to take pictures but also a way to try to understand what surrounded me.
Why was I in Angal?
For the past year, Amici di Angal has been running a reforestation project with a clear goal: to plant trees not just for the sake of the environment but to improve the lives of those who work the land. The initiative is called The Trees Project, and it aims to boost both reforestation and agroforestry, creating a balance between nature and agriculture.
Through fundraising efforts, we distribute seedlings to local farmers. This helps strengthen the local economy, reduce deforestation, and bring new life to a land that has lost most of its forest cover over the past century.
The numbers speak for themselves. Between 2001 and 2023, Uganda lost 1.1 million hectares of forest – 14% of its tree cover – releasing around 500 million tons of CO₂ (Global Forest Watch). It’s as if every year, millions more people were added to the planet’s carbon emitters, without the benefit of new trees to absorb it.
While I was there, someone asked me: “Why are you doing this?”
Out of altruism? In part. But there’s also a personal motivation. I’ve been studying GIS (Geographic Information Systems), a tool that helps analyse geographic data to make better decisions. In simple terms, it’s like Google Maps, but with the power to figure out where and how to take specific actions, like planting the right trees in the right places. For me, geography is a way to connect the elements of reality.
Everything is interconnected. One person’s well-being depends on collective well-being – which includes nature, ecosystems, and communities. Planting trees isn’t just symbolic; it’s an investment in the future.
A forward-looking project
The Trees Project is just getting started. Our goal is to continue fundraising and spreading the word to those who might support it – companies, local groups, and people who believe in giving something back to the Earth.
We don’t just want to plant trees – we want to build a system where reforestation and agriculture support each other. We want these seedlings to grow strong and become, one day, a forest that lasts.
A journey of wonder and reflection
On a more personal note, I feel incredibly lucky. I had the chance to travel, meet amazing people, and live through moments that left a deep impression on me.
Every moment in Uganda pulsed with a constant blend of wonder and reflection.
Society still bears the scars of a difficult past and continues to face the challenges of the present. I sensed a deep-rooted spirituality – expressed in powerful religious songs, sermons at crossroads, and messages of faith painted on vehicles. At the same time, the visible presence of armed guards was a silent reminder of unresolved tensions.
Nature, instead, revealed its raw essence. I saw trees teeming with bats, savannahs filled with baboons, buffaloes, elephants, gazelles, giraffes, lions, crocodiles, hippos, brilliantly coloured birds, and leopards perched on tree branches. The bumpy roads wound through villages with huts and solar panels, while the air was rich with the scent of burning wood, sweet fruit, and fireflies lighting the night beneath a full moon.
I shared unforgettable moments with Amici di Angal: dinners at Piero’s house, a visit to St. Luke’s Hospital, meetings under the trees with Deogratias, building a roof with Ivan, walking with Pablo along a path that seemed to stretch endlessly. And then, the awe I felt walking alone through the market, among curious faces and intense gazes… They were moments of deep sharing and reflection.
This journey wasn’t just a change in geography. It was a deep immersion into a place, its people, and the invisible connections that bind everything together. A reminder that everything is interconnected, and that every action – even the smallest – can leave a mark.
Maybe next time someone asks me, “Feeling excited?”, I’ll know what to say.
