Wild Impact in partnership with &Beyond has been working with the Matemwe Community since 1998. The community is situated on Unguja Island, commonly known as Zanzibar Island. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous state within Tanzania and has a population of approximately 1.8 million people. Tourism is the major economic contributor; aside from the tourism industry, employment opportunities are limited, particularly for those living outside the capital of Zanzibar City, with its historic centre of Stone Town.
Most community members engage in small-scale fishing and subsistence farming to earn a living. Wild Impact has worked collaboratively with the community to promote sustainable development with a specific focus on the development of ecotourism initiatives that align economic growth with the preservation of Zanzibar’s natural resources.