Creating and selling traditional handicrafts is providing community members from Bazaruto Archipelago in Mozambique with alternative sources of income, and reducing their dependence on fishing.
Established in 2023, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park’s community arts and crafts group has inspired a renaissance in local handicrafts, with women and men adding to their skills portfolio to create beautiful, functional objects for sale.
Having a new source of revenue that is not dependent on catching fish has multiple benefits. Fishers need to spend fewer days at sea, reducing the pressure on marine resources. They also get to spend more time with their families, and participate in community activities they would otherwise miss out on.
Increased skills are prompting renewed pride in people’s cultural traditions, and providing tangible financial rewards for hard work and creativity. Even relatively modest amounts can make a difference in the lives of community members.
In addition to crafting skills, the park is also providing financial literacy and business education, enabling the crafters to grow their enterprise through marketing, investing in raw materials, and sharing their story.
The community arts and crafts group currently has 18 members, of whom 14 are women who particularly appreciate the opportunity to contribute financially: “What motivated me to join this group was the desire to contribute to my family’s expenses and support my husband in providing for our home,” explains Deolinda Manga, a mother of 10 from Sitone village.
It’s a great example of how sustainable business models that draw on traditional skills can have a positive impact on both community development and conservation initiatives.