To help safeguard the turtles and dugongs

Background
Kiunga Marine National Reserve (KMNR) is located in the northern archipelago of Lamu. Here, two convergin ocean currents meet, resulting in a lot of flip flops and other floating debris being washed onto the beaches. This waste poses a great danger to nesting turtles, their hatchlings and other marine and bird life. The local Bajuni people living in the area, especially women and youth, have few means of generating their own income.

Results
The collection of flip flops along the beaches and moulding them into toys and other handicrafts creates both social and environmental benefits. They clean up the beaches and from their sales they earn an income where work opportunities are few. Also, it helps reduce the pressure on natural resources. Instead of earning an income on cutting the mangroves, they turn to this project. Today, this project empowers almost 200 women and youth from five nearby villages. They run and manage a shop at WWF research station, and are setting up distribution channels for marketing.