How tourism could be a force for change in Zanzibar

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As I take a sip of my fresh coconut water and watch the orange sunset melt into the horizon on my last evening in Zanzibar, the glowing sands of Kiwengwa Beach beneath my feet, my fingers trace the woven patterns of a beach bag on my shoulder which I’d purchased from Chako, a Zanzibari social enterprise.

 

Crafted from an old rice sack and skilfully put together by local artisans, my bag looks like a rare vintage find, with the original rice brand boldly displayed. I’d been carrying it proudly all week, a reminder of how sustainability is woven into the fabric of this island. The eco-friendly vibe of Zanzibar was unexpected, yet everywhere.

 

When people think of Zanzibar – an archipelago of more than 50 islands that sits 22 miles off the coast of mainland Tanzania – the word “sustainability” probably doesn’t spring to mind. 

 

But in 2019, the government banned plastic bags and now hotels and NGOs across the island are adopting initiatives to help tourism become greener. I visited Zanzibar with the Tui Care Foundation, an independent charitable organisation founded by the Tui Group, that uses tourism to create lasting impact through holidays.

 

Artisans recycling glass in Zanzibar. Image credit: Tui Care Foundation

 

Upcycling at Chako

 

I see this in action at Chako, a creative enterprise founded in 2012 by Zanzibarian-Dutch couple Suleiman and Anneloes, and now a Tui Care Foundation partner.

 

Located on a lush spice farm 30 minutes from the capital, Stone Town, Chako’s workshop employs 45 artisans to create beautiful handcrafted, upcycled items from things that would otherwise be thrown away.

 

Chako, a Zanzibari social enterprise. Image credit: Tui Care Foundation

 

Every Monday and Tuesday, they travel around the island to collect plastic waste and glass bottles from hotels, which are then turned into gorgeous lamps, drinking glasses and kitchenware available to buy in their workshop and in a shop in Stone Town.

 

Around two-thirds of Chako’s employees are women. I speak to Najma Ali, a 24-year-old carpenter, and watch as she expertly carves an ornate wooden cap at her workbench, which will eventually be attached to a storage jar upcycled from a wine bottle.

 

Chako, a Zanzibari social enterprise. Image credit: Tui Care Foundation

 

“If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be selling chapatis on the road, which I did before,” she says. Carpentry is a male-dominated job in Zanzibar, a Muslim destination that has historically placed emphasis on women having more traditional roles in the home. But Ali tells me things are changing, saying: “Chako doesn’t [worry] about employing women to do woodwork.”

 

Hotels such as The Mora Zanzibar or Tui Blue Bahari Zanzibar – both five-star, all-inclusive resorts in the north of Zanzibar (Tried & Tested, page 48) – often buy back Chako’s designs, making it a circular business model that also helps keep the beaches pristine.