Introduction:
 The
Jola
village, near Kafuta, operate a conservation project
area, part of which is cultivated, and the project is
centred round the Tumani
Tenda Camp.
Concept:
 This
is a community that is working together to make best
use of all its resources - natural and human. Over the
past 10 years, the villagers of Tumani Tenda have established
one village enterprise after another. Their first was
a community forest and that maturing plantation is now
a sure supply of construction timber and firewood. And,
densely planted to discourage grassy undergrowth, it
is also a fire break, which protects their houses and
89 hectares of valuable mature trees from the sudden
dry season bush fires that can sweep in from the interior,
destroying everything.
Later the villagers established a community vegetable
garden. Covering more than three hectares it is
divided into three parts. One third is planted with
cassava, which is worked by the whole village. Another
third grows banana; plots are owned individually but
ten per cent of any sales are given to the village garden
fund. The remaining third of the garden is a mosaic
of colourful and carefully-nurtured vegetables.
The area's other resource is the river: the creek is
a steady source of small fish as well as oysters, which
cling to the roots of the mangroves along the banks.
Buoyed up by their success with trees and vegetables,
the community now has its own small trawler, which recruits
a volunteer crew to venture further downstream fishing
deeper waters.
The villagers
give visitors the chance to experience their local cuisine,
traditional Jola dances, sacred rituals and sometimes
invite guests into their compounds.
The villagers give you the chance to experience the
rich complexity, self-sufficiency and tempo of village
life. Opportunities are available to visit women's projects,
the school, the poultry, the horticultural garden and
community forest. Visitors are encouraged to absorb
themselves in the atmosphere of the village through
asking questions and participating in certain activities
in order to gain understanding of life in a rural Jolla
Community. In essence visitors can experience a unique
blend of education, vacation, recreation, relaxation,
adventure and learning.
Opportunities are available to buy products made by
the people of Tumani Tenda which visitors may take home
as distinctive souvenirs of their experience, such as
soap, baskets, batiks
and tie and dye material. Day trippers to Tumani Tenda
will be able to experience the special relationship
that the villagers have with the natural environment
and witness the many examples where the villagers conserve
and preserve the environment from which their living
depend on. |
