Tourism Impact Projects
See how tourism can create positive change for women through our sustainable impact projects. Starting with our flagship project in Tanzania, our goal is to create accessible and replicable educational resources from each initiative for others in the industry. Learn from our progress and adopt practices that advance equality.
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Empowering Women Farmers Through Tourism
In 2018, we joined forces with the Kilimanjaro Women's Information and Education Community Organisation (KWIECO) to pioneer a groundbreaking women's empowerment initiative in Tanzania.
Made possible through donations and sponsorship, this project bridges the gap between Kilimanjaro's booming tourism industry and local subsistence farmers. These women have historically been disconnected from the economic benefits tourists bring to their region.
Here's how the Wamboma Co-operative is giving women farmers the tools, skills and opportunities to build a sustainable business and lift their families out of poverty.
Transforming Lives, Transforming Communities
Training: So far we've trained 150 impoverished, marginalised women from five villages, teaching them advanced farming techniques, entrepreneurial skills and women's rights and saving.
Resilience: Wamboma supports these communities as they face complex challenges, such as the devastating impacts of the climate crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Collaboration: Principles of cooperative farming, teamwork and mutual support guide the co-operative. Instead of competing at low prices, these women now collaborate to produce high-quality goods to sell on to the many local hotels.
Innovation in the Face of Adversity
Digital Empowerment: The farmers are now selling produce through a WhatsApp group and Facebook page. This has given them a broader customer base and a place to market their farm boxes – the first of their kind in Tanzania.
Diversification: Training in fruit and vegetable drying has given the women another potential enterprise for the future. They'll be able to supply delectable packets of dried pineapple, mango and banana to tour operators, visitors and hotels.
Creating Sustainable Partnerships
Hotel Training: We've trained over 20 hotel managers to build greater understanding of mutually beneficial community partnerships and a consistent supply of top-quality local produce.
Sustainable Tourism: A 'kite mark' for hotels linked to Wamboma and immersive farm tours for tourists are future plans, to strengthen the connection between the farmers and the tourism industry.
A Sustainable Legacy
Sharing Knowledge: This project isn't just a development initiative, but a sustainable business model. Sharing gained knowledge far and wide ensures more women farmers in Tanzania and beyond to access market opportunities.