community in the quirimbas
Protecting Nature by Supporting People
For more than two decades, Fundação Quirimbas has worked hand in hand with the communities of Vamizi Island to create a conservation model that benefits both people and nature.
We believe that lasting conservation can only be achieved when local communities are empowered, healthy, educated, and able to build sustainable livelihoods. Through partnerships with fishers, community leaders, women’s associations, schools, and local organisations, we support initiatives that strengthen community wellbeing while protecting the rich marine ecosystems that surround Vamizi.
Our work is built around six interconnected pillars: Community-Led Conservation, Education, Health, Women’s Empowerment, Local Livelihoods, and Culture. Together, they form the foundation of a thriving community and a healthier environment.
Community-Led Conservation
Protecting Oceans Through Local Leadership
The people who depend on the ocean are often its greatest guardians.
Fundação Quirimbas works closely with the Conselho Comunitário de Pesca (CCP), the Community Fishing Council responsible for monitoring and protecting no-take marine zones while representing the interests of local fishers. By combining local knowledge with conservation management, communities play a central role in safeguarding marine resources for future generations.
This collaborative approach has delivered measurable benefits. Fishers have reported improvements in both the quantity and size of their catches, demonstrating that sustainable management can strengthen livelihoods while protecting biodiversity. The success of the Vamizi model has inspired neighbouring communities, with other fishing councils now seeking to replicate its achievements.
Through partnership, trust, and shared responsibility, conservation becomes a community-led effort that benefits everyone.
Education
Education is at the heart of our vision for a sustainable future.
In 2011, Fundação Quirimbas opened Vamizi’s first two-classroom primary school, providing education for up to 200 children through Grade 6. To ensure students can continue their studies, we award annual scholarships to outstanding girls, enabling them to attend secondary school on the mainland.
Every week, our conservation and community rangers work alongside local educators and students from UniLúrio University to deliver environmental education programmes. Through classroom learning, field visits, and hands-on conservation activities, children gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and the importance of protecting it.
We also support students through donations of essential school supplies, including notebooks and, whenever possible, uniforms.
Beyond the classroom, we promote lifelong learning through community workshops, educational screenings, theatre groups, agricultural training, and environmental awareness programmes. These initiatives provide valuable knowledge while strengthening the connection between education and conservation.
By investing in education today, we are helping shape the conservation leaders of tomorrow.
health
Caring for People and Communities
Healthy communities are stronger, more resilient, and better able to care for their environment.
With support from Friends of Vamizi, a community clinic was established to improve access to healthcare for island residents. Through our community support programme, we provide medical staff, essential medicines, and healthcare services free of charge to local families.
Over the years, we have also supported improvements in sanitation, clean water access, and public health awareness. Community initiatives focused on waste management have helped reduce environmental contamination while improving living conditions across the island.
From preventative care to essential treatment, our approach recognises that conservation is not only about protecting ecosystems—it is also about supporting the wellbeing of the people who depend on them.
Because caring for nature begins with caring for people.
Creating Opportunity Through Conservation
Women are central to the strength and resilience of Vamizi’s communities.
Working in partnership with women’s associations across the island’s three villages, Fundação Quirimbas has developed programmes that create economic opportunities while contributing directly to environmental protection.
Each week, members collect plastic waste, abandoned fishing gear, and other debris that washes onto Vamizi’s shores. Participants are paid for their work, creating a reliable source of income while helping to protect marine life, including nesting sea turtles that can become entangled in discarded fishing nets.
These programmes strengthen financial independence, support household incomes, and provide opportunities for women to take leadership roles within their communities.
By empowering women, we create positive change that benefits families, communities, and the environment alike.
Women's Empowerment
Sustainable Incomes, Stronger Conservation
Creating sustainable economic opportunities helps reduce pressure on natural resources while building stronger communities.
Fundação Quirimbas supports local enterprises that allow families to earn an income throughout the year through environmentally responsible activities. These include basket weaving, handicrafts, sewing projects, and other community-based initiatives that celebrate local skills and traditions.
We are committed to investing directly in Vamizi’s people by purchasing locally whenever possible. Construction materials are sourced on the island, and fisheries products are purchased directly from local fishers to strengthen household incomes and support the local economy. At the same time, we promote responsible seafood practices and do not purchase coral reef fish or other threatened species, helping ensure that marine resources remain healthy for future generations.
Strong livelihoods also depend on strong financial foundations. Through our conservation and community programme, we support three savings groups across Vamizi’s villages, providing guidance and basic savings materials that help members manage their finances, plan for the future, and build greater financial security.
These savings groups enable families to improve their homes, invest in small businesses, meet essential needs, and strengthen household resilience. By supporting both income generation and financial management, we help communities build a more secure and sustainable future while reinforcing the long-term success of conservation efforts.
Local Livelihoods
Culture
Celebrating Heritage and Strengthening Identity
A strong sense of identity fosters pride, connection, and responsibility for the places we call home.
Vamizi is part of the homeland of the Mwani people, whose name means “people of the coast.” Their traditions, language, history, and deep connection to the ocean are woven into the island’s identity and way of life.
Fundação Quirimbas supports cultural initiatives that bring communities together and celebrate local heritage. From traditional craft revival programmes and community theatre groups to sporting events and music projects, these activities strengthen social bonds while preserving important cultural traditions.
One of the most successful initiatives has been the revival of traditional basket weaving and other crafts, creating opportunities for cultural expression as well as sustainable livelihoods. Community gathering spaces have also played an important role in strengthening connections between villages and fostering a shared sense of belonging.
We believe that culture and conservation are deeply connected. When people value and celebrate their heritage, they become stronger stewards of both their cultural and natural environments.
By preserving traditions and strengthening community identity, we help ensure that Vamizi’s unique heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.
