Immersion in Makunduchi: Meeting between Tourists and Local Residents
In the charming village of Makunduchi, located in southern Zanzibar, every Tuesday, we organized a meeting between tourists and local residents. This initiative, proposed by the hotel, was often the most appreciated by the guests. Today, I will focus on the benefits and drawbacks of this type of excursion according to me.
An Inspiring Village
Makunduchi is a village that greatly inspired me. The village itself is unlike any I've seen in my life: most of the houses are made of stones, mud, sticks, and woven palm leaves, yet the cheerful presence of the children who followed us throughout made it vibrant and much more alive than many other places. The excursion was divided into two parts: first, we bought products in traditional shops to redistribute while strolling through the village. That's what I will tell you about today. Then, we visited Mtende Beach, one of the most beautiful beach I have seen.
An Authentic Encounter
The local shop was not as well-stocked as the stores we are used to: just two shelves filled with school supplies, a few packs of biscuits, and various other products. On the floor, there were large bags of rice, seeds, sugar, and salt. The recurring question was: what do the villagers need?
A Rewarding Experience
This question obsessed the tourists, who wanted, to some extent, to feel useful. I always pointed out to them that there was no famine and that the goods they bought were meant to spend a good time with these people and get smiles, rather than "saving" them. Most of the time, notebooks and pens were given to the children, and soap and food to the mothers of the village. We almost always visited the kindergarten, where the children sang a song for us. The customers gave their previously purchased items, and the magic happened: the children danced and sang, and our customers joined them.
Benefits and Drawbacks of the Excursion
Drawbacks: Firstly, everyone wanted to help the residents as much as possible, for example by teaching them not to litter. However, this was of no use without defining a long-term and recurring project. Financially, the support provided was "practical" and not "essential" because the donations were scattered and mainly spent at that moment. The goal of this outing was simply to give a vision of life in a Zanzibari village. This is the topic I would work on much more if I had to do it again, to have a long-term project and integrate meaning into my own actions.
Benefits: Despite all the materials brought, the main benefits were for our clients, who were confronted with a completely different way of life (cooking on the fire, unsupervised children everywhere, no shoes, absence of property boundaries, etc.). Although they were often shocked, disoriented at first, the good humor, songs, dances, and ultimately the people who colored this landscape and this lesson, everyone integrated it.
Moments of Sharing and Learning
After spending half an hour with them, we continued the visit to "Mama Africa," a woman living in a typical house made of rocks and wood, with a thatched palm leaf roof. She showed us how to make ropes from coconut bark, milk from the inside, and finally, coconut oil.
Everyone could buy their oil. Then, we would go to the village chief, where we explained the benefits of the donations collected. The same question always came up: how can we be sure that this money will be used properly? I always recommended giving directly to the people. I don't think this money is misallocated, but I believe that no one serves you better than yourself.
Conclusion
After seeing the centuries-old baobab tree, we headed to the beach where everyone was free to enjoy the time as they wished, before returning to the hotel at 3 PM.
Ultimately, the obvious benefit that everyone gained from this day came from learning from others, sharing, and learning from each other. This outing was the favorite of travelers, as the immersion was total. The lesson in life and savoir-faire always put our own lives into perspective.
Here is a video ofmoments of life" captured during these walks!
Makunduchi