To the uninformed passerby, Zanzibar is an island paradise with its crystal clear azure tides lapping at creamy white sand beaches laced with delicate palm trees. However, communities here are struggling to lift themselves from chronic poverty, frequently at the cost of this beautiful environment.
THAF’s new Marine Conservation project in Zanzibar plans to empower communities through environmental and skills development education so that they can flourish without harming the fragile ecosystem around them.
The Marine Conservation Club has recently recommenced with a classroom of 24 secondary school pupils learning about the importance of the environment, specifically the nearby ocean. The students plant trees and learn about their ecological significance and care, as well as try their hands at using recycled materials to make books and paper!
Skills development courses will also be offered to fisherman, boat drivers and other locals emphasizing sustainability, and environmentalism. Soon the focal area of Kizimkazi will also be home to a mobile library, encouraging literacy in the area, helping inform the residents about the remarkable environment in which they live, and slowly changing the mindset of the community to one where respecting the health of the ecosystem does not threaten their livelihoods or sense of long-term economic stability.
We look forward to the continued development of this new project, and any further updates!