United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Sierra Leone Next Stage for Tribe Wanted
Wednesday, 15 May, 2010
0
Tribewanted, the controversial social experiment on a Fijian island that since 2006 has injected more than $1m into the local economy by setting up an online tribal community of more than 10,000 people is to launch its second project in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
In October 2010, a new group of visitors will arrive on Sierra Leone’s John Obey Beach, 20 miles south of the capital, Freetown, and begin to build a new life alongside the local fishing community.
Tribewanted Sierra Leone has formed a partnership with the government, landowners and the local John Obey community in Sierra Leone to create an eco village community over the coming years to support sustainable development in the area.
For the visiting tribe members it will be an opportunity to experience a peaceful, beautiful and vibrant country seeking a new beginning a decade after being ravaged by civil war.
Tribewanted Sierra Leone is a local organisation and its non profit partner, Shine On Sierra Leone has been working in the region successfully for five years, sponsoring 6 schools and computer centres around the country as well as providing microfinance to over 5,700 women across the country.
Tribe members will have the opportunity of joining in with the development of the new village alongside the local team and community. The project will be pioneering a new building technique called ‘Superadobe, a technique that uses only local earth and material.
Ben Keene, Tribewanted founder and author of the book with the same name said of the project,
“Tribewanted on Vorovoro in Fiji has become a way of life for visiting members and the local community. People find it very hard to leave – they feel like they’ve come home. It’s been clear for a while we should try and take the model elsewhere.”
“Tribewanted Sierra Leone aims to do this and more. When you take part in the project you’re not sacrificing your hard earnt time-out for an intense volunteer programme nor are you replacing a much-needed beach holiday. You can sunbath, build, swim, cook, canoe up river, trek, fish, play beach football, share skills, teach, drum round bonfires, and eat great seafood. You’re living alongside a local community whilst connecting with a global network of like-minded people.”
“For millions of years, tribes have played a huge part in human evolution, and the advent of the internet enables us to rediscover the kind of communities we feel like in some small way we belong to – be it on the west coast of Africa or an island in the South Pacific.”
“We want people from all walks of life with all kinds of skills and interests to join the tribe; from gap year students, career breakers and adventurous travellers to those with specific building, design and environmental skills to help develop the community. Tribewanted Sierra Leone is your chance to play a part in kick-starting the right kind of tourism in a country that needs it. It will be an amazing adventure, so don’t miss this opportunity to be one of the pioneering visitors.”
Filippo Bozotti, Tribewanted Sierra Leone’s founding partner said,“I’ve been visiting and working in Sierra Leone for five years. It’s not only one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to; it is also one of the most relaxed. The negative perception of the country is very different to the reality. It’s an addictive place – tourists don’t often come to Salone, as the locals call it, but we are looking to change that.”
Another partner of Tribewanted Sierra Leone is West Africa Discovery which will act as an information portal for tribe members looking to find out what other sustainable and responsible tourism projects are available in surrounding countries.
The West Africa Discovery web portal is a reference point with expert knowledge of the west African region and is in the process of creating an extensive database of tourism projects which concentrate on offering unique experiences to the traveller whilst benefiting the local communities in the destinations they visit.
Thomas Armitt, founder of West Africa Discovery, comments: “We are excited to be part of such a great project. We really feel that tourism can be a tool to develop local communities in a sustainable way, raise awareness towards the rich local cultures in the destination, and change the image of a country which is generally known for the wrong reasons. Tribewanted Sierra Leone aims to do just that, and I think that it will have a positive impact on all those involved. ”
Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, special offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1142003.php
Valere
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Sustainable Tourism: Don Welsh on Community Values and Global Collaboration
Jane Cunningham: Enhancing European Engagement in Tourism
Kristin Dunne: Navigating Destination Strategy
Revolutionizing Mobile Connectivity: Boris Bijlstra on HUBBY eSIM
Capturing Glasgow’s Vibrancy: An Interview with Susan Deighan, Chief Executive of Glasgow Life
Lebua Hotel & Resorts: Rajan Khurana on Hospitality and Bangkok’s Charms
Sustainable Tourism and Growth: Insights from Chiravadee Khunsub from Tourism Authority of Thailand
Revolutionizing Travel: SmartSIM USA’s Dale Takio Unveils the Power of E Sims
TravelMole Interview with Hishan Singhawansa, Deputy CEO of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, Sri Lanka
Unveiling the Essence of Magari Tours: A Dive into Authentic Italian Experiences
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Gatwick braces for strike
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’