Arts and crafts

Empowering Artsans and Artists Around Mikumi National Park

The rural communities near Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, are home to vibrant traditions and incredible resilience. However, these communities face intertwined challenges that threaten their livelihoods and environment. ECOWICE is stepping in with innovative solutions to create opportunities and build a sustainable future.

For families living around Mikumi, limited access to markets and sustainable income opportunities locks them in cycles of poverty. At the same time, human-wildlife conflicts with elephants, lions, and hyenas damaging crops and livestock worsen financial instability and deepen the struggle to survive. These hardships drive habitat destruction, endangering the very wildlife that makes Mikumi a world-renowned tourist destination.

Despite the park’s global appeal, nearby communities see little benefit from its economic potential. Barriers like poor infrastructure, lack of training, and scarce resources prevent them from tapping into tourism opportunities. Artisans and cultural performers—key custodians of the region’s rich cultural heritage—are among the hardest hit.

• Maasai women, known for their intricate jewelry-making, and Luguru women, skilled in weaving palm-leaf crafts, struggle to reach broader markets.
• Maasai dance troupes and Luguru drumming ensembles have few platforms to share their artistry with the world.

ECOWICE believes in finding common ground: connecting tourism, cultural heritage, and wildlife conservation to create pathways for sustainable growth. By making these connections relevant to daily life, we empower communities to see the opportunities right in their backyard.

Through tailored programs, ECOWICE:

• Helps artisans and performers showcase their talents to local and international tourists.
• Provides training and resources to bridge the gap between communities and the tourism economy.
• Creates platforms for cultural storytelling, highlighting the artistry of Maasai jewelry, Luguru crafts, and traditional dance and music.

These initiatives don’t just support livelihoods—they also foster awareness about the urgent need for wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship.

Our work emphasizes the positive impact of sustainable tourism on families, culture, and the environment:

• Economic Growth: By selling crafts and performances, communities generate income that supports their families and villages.
• Cultural Preservation: Empowering Maasai and Luguru traditions ensures these unique heritages thrive for future generations.
• Wildlife Protection: By tying conservation to daily livelihoods, communities become active stewards of the environment.