Eco-projects

Being eco-friendly means more than just planting trees and watching waste disposal. A true eco-friendly project should involve the local community in a sustainable manner.

How can you set up a sustainable, community involved project? Use the following guidelines:

• Visit your local neighborhood, sit with the local communities and determine together what is needed in your area.
  
  
• Create a list of what is needed and ask the local elder to discuss it with the community before approving it.
  
  
• Decide together who will create the budget and control the finances. Plan for a self-supporting project within four years.
  
  
• Draft a business plan with the community leaders.
  
  
• Determine who will contact potential donors for assistance.
  
  
• Contact local and business community members to assist in the project's daily operations. Time, ideas and money are all needed resources!
  
  
• Use fliers, word of mouth and free ads in local papers to announce the opening of the project.
  
  
• Create and implement regular system checks on the project to ensure the actual project matches the business plan.
  
  
• Gather regular feedback from the local community and businesses. Is the project working as planned? How can it be improved? Who will implement the necessary changes?
  
  
• Monitor the project during the financial year to ensure it will be self-supporting as scheduled.

Helping others is very rewarding. However, helping others grow and learn, while standing back and watching the project flourish on its own, is even more rewarding, sustainable and eco-friendly! Eco-resorts has started many sustainable community projects in the Watamu area. If you would like more information, please contact anne@eco-resorts.com.

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