Zuri Zanzibar SUSTAINABILITY
IN CONTRAST TO THE TREND TOWARDS URBANIZATION AND CONSUMERISM, MANY PEOPLE ARE SEEKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET CLOSE TO NATURE.
ZURI ZANZIBAR KENDWA VILLAGE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FOCUS ON EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT.
Zuri Zanzibar is implementing several long-term initiatives together with communities, other companies and organizations for cleaner environment and ocean, and for promoting employment, education, and awareness in Zanzibar.
Learn more about our initiatives in our ZURI MINDFUL EXPERIENCE BROCHURE
PACK TO GIVE
Our neighbourhood communities are not wealthy and the living conditions of many of them are very basic. Instead of giving money to individuals, or sweets to children, we want to encourage our guests to bring specific in-kind donations to support the people in a positive way, without promoting begging or skipping school in the hope of receiving gifts from tourists.
If you have space in your luggage, here is a list of some of the beneficial items:
- Educational toys and games for children of any age
- Books in English, English dictionaries, English-language practice books, stationery, and pens
- Clothing and shoes, sportswear, backpacks in good condition
- Eye-glasses, first-aid kits, toothbrushes and toothpastes
Please inform our reception if you bring a donation, and they will direct you to the CSR Team.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
In Kendwa village, the education level is low, which means that jobs in the tourism sector tend to be filled by skilled people from elsewhere.
At Zuri Zanzibar, we have aimed to be inclusive right from the beginning, starting a tourism training in Kendwa project, together with the Jambiani Tourism Training Institute (JTTI) in 2015 in order to ensure that we will have skilled young people joining our team.
Today we have students working at Zuri for their third year after completing their two-year education for a certificate in tourism and hospitality. Both the students and their trainers received a monthly stipend to allow them to focus on the training. We believe youth employment and creating a decent livelihood is vital to the well-being of the community.
ZANZIBAR MAISHA BORA FOUNDATION
At Zuri Zanzibar, we believe that sustainable change begins with empowered women. This year, we deepened our partnership with the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), founded by the First Lady of Zanzibar, Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi, to support the health, dignity, and livelihoods of women and girls.
As part of this collaboration, we distributed 130 Tumaini Kits, reusable menstrual health kits including pads, underwear, and educational guides, to schoolgirls in Kendwa and Nungwi. But the initiative went beyond donation.
Our team facilitated open, supportive discussions around menstrual health, mental well-being, and self-care. These sessions created safe spaces for girls to ask questions and share their experiences. This project reflects our broader commitment to equality, community development, and sustainable impact.
MWANI ZANZIBAR
Mwani Zanzibar is a socially responsible business based in Paje, Zanzibar, that empowers local women seaweed farmers by turning sustainably harvested seaweed into natural soaps, creams, and skincare products.
Rich in nutrients, seaweed helps hydrate, detoxify, and restore the skin. Through a meaningful partnership, Zuri Zanzibar Hotel sources its bathroom cosmetics including shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and soaps directly from Mwani Zanzibar. This allows the hotel to offer guests pure, locally made products, while supporting women’s empowerment and ethical community development.
Together, they share a vision: to provide exceptional quality while making a positive impact on people and the planet.
KEEP KENDWA CLEAN
The Keep Kendwa Clean project was launched in June 2016 and is designed to run on a long-term basis with the goal of maintaining a clean and healthy Kendwa. The project is a joint initiative: Zanrec is responsible for community waste management, environmental education, and village cleaning activities, while the Zuri Zanzibar Hotel & Resort provides the funding for these efforts.
A clean community fosters a healthy environment by reducing the spread of disease and creating a safer space for children to play, and for animals such as cows and goats to live. The implementation of structured waste management services also brings job opportunities and additional income to the villagers.
The Keep Kendwa Clean project is a proactive response to the growing waste problem, the degradation of the natural environment, and the pollution of the ocean.
CHAKO
CHAKO is an initiative based in Zanzibar that transforms waste mainly from tourism into recycled and upcycled products while supporting local artisans, mostly women, by providing skills training and access to markets. A key collaboration is with Zuri Zanzibar, for whom CHAKO has created paper bead curtains and jewelry, used in guest rooms and offered as gifts, as well as colorful lighting made from upcycled glass bottles for the Peponi Bar. Together, they contribute to a cleaner island and a better future for the local community.
ZURI COMMUNITY PROJECTS
Zuri Zanzibar supports local communities by improving basic living conditions through targeted donations.
We believe that access to water and electricity enables better education, health, and future opportunities.
The project has supported local schools with menstrual kits, food, clothes, and school supplies. We have partnered with health institutions to provide medical aid to HIV-positive children. Our team has donated essential lab equipment to enhance science education. We support local sports by sponsoring community football teams. We also offer free eye exams and distribute prescription glasses to those in need.
Zuri is committed to making a lasting, positive impact in the Kendwa and Nungwi areas.