17 October 2006 by Waithera Githaiga in Nairobi - At the far northeast of the Kenyan Lamu archipelago, stands Kiwayu Island, which is a vital ingredient of the Kiunga Marine National Reserve. This spot is predominantly fashionable with dhow trips although flip flop crafts are increasingly becoming a valuable commodity to the Bajuni community.
 

Salvaged sandals

As you walk through to explore coral reefs, mangrove and sea grasses off the eastern side of the island, crowds of children and women comb the beach, they can be mistaken for beach boys but are residents trying to clean up the shore at the same time make a living from salvaged sandals. Sandals deposited from various countries are no longer waste to Kiunga residents but a treasured and priceless gem.
A project of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) at the Kiunga Marine National Reserve in Lamu district has turned out to be a source of income for the community who use recycled sandals to make artifacts. Meet a shy looking Salim Farouk, a sandals salvager and craftsman who has been in this trade since he was only 10 years old. He says their lives have changed for the better since the flip-flop art project was started by WWF to clean up the marine ecosystem as well as earn residents a means of livelihood. Salim says it has opened up commercial opportunities for them through new product design, which for him will make them have a sustainable income.

Collecting flip-flops for crafts

Sam Weru, Project Coordinator of the WWF Kiunga Project says the project integrated both conservation and socio-economic aspects to enable the community to appreciate their environment and at the same time get an incentive, which they can identify themselves with.
The project started in 1997, though initially kids used to collect flip-flops to make toys for themselves. WWF saw the need to start a viable and sustainable project with communities living around Ndau, Kiunga, Kiwaiyu and Mkokoni villages in Kiunga division of Lamu district.
Both women and youth are involved in the collection of flip flops and making crafts out of it. The idea of crafts was the brainchild of a visiting conservationist to the WWF Project who sold the idea to the community and the project management.
The products made are mainly handbags, lampshades, hair clips, necklaces, toys and curtains among others. The markets for these products include WWF United Kingdom office, Munira &KSV Hotels in Mkokoni, Peponi-Lamu, Spinners Web, African Heritage, Blue Rhino, Vulnerable beads of the United States and UniquEco based in Nairobi.

Markets for flip-flop crafts

The community"s main challenge has been the search for markets for their flip-flops crafts as they only rely on tourists and one major supplier based in Nairobi. WWF approached Kenya Gatsby Trust (KGT) to build the capacity of women in product development and design improvement as well as market linkages over both local and international markets for the recycled sandals crafts made by the Bajuni community. KGT supports the development of the Micro and Small Enterprise sector in Kenya for poverty eradication and wealth creation.

Modernise flips flop products

In September 2005, KGT initiated the activities by capacity building the Bajuni women to develop new designs and access markets for their products, and training closely followed this on production of market-led products, and participation in trade fairs and exhibitions.
Ms. Lilyanne Ndinda Velo, product designer KGT, who works with the flip flop project and designs some of the products as well as marketing says for many years, the crafts have not been popularised, so the market is still limited to a few sources. She says the prices for these crafts are pegged on labour and transportation costs. The only means of transport to Kiunga is by motorboat to Lamu town. Sometimes the crafts are transported by air through WWF, which makes them a bit expensive.
There are four women groups from different islands in Lamu district including Kiwayu, Ndau, Mkokoni and Chandani. Faruok Salim a resident of Ndau who has worked with WWF in conservation is now a craftsman working together with women drawn from the islands to modernise flips flop products. He says it takes him a day to make one craft item.
"I used to make fish, helicopters and toy cars models out of sandals scavenged from the beach but only made them for fun and give to my friends to play with. I started making crafts with WWF in 2000 for commercial uses where I train women on this art, "adds Farouk.
He says community household income has increased since introduction of the crafts (flip flop) project as many poor residents are solely dependent on fishing activities but fish stocks are said to be declining around the island due to over fishing and use of illegal fishing gear. Many residents can now educate their children and even afford to build modern houses from the crafts returns.
Kiwayu residents are pioneers of craftwork, which has over years spanned to other neighboring islands in Lamu district. Mr.Weru says since WWF started the project, communities around the island are now becoming aware of the benefits of conserving the marine environment and are effectively taking their role as the custodians of the marine resources.

A contribute to turtle conservation

Islands within the Kiunga Marine National Reserve are the most important marine turtle breeding grounds, flip flops and debris deposition in Kenya from Indonesia, Australia, Somalia, Madagascar and other countries within the Indian Ocean due to the Somalia and East Africa Coastal currents especially during March to September season of the South-East Monsoon period, locally known as Kusi.
Mr.Weru says in 4 to 6 weeks, turtles come near shore to mate and lay eggs, they forage on sea grass and sometimes on the floating flip flop. These flip flops cannot be digested, and clog up the turtle digestive system, leading to death. A turtles takes up to 30 years to reach sexual maturity and in one breeding season, a single female may lay between 400 to 600 eggs in up to 3 clutches.
"In collecting the flip flops and turning them into cash, the project is not only providing a socio-economic benefit to the community but greatly contributes to turtle conservation and maintains viable populations for posterity," adds Weru.