Community run shop at the Beach Club
Vipingo Ridge has a long association with the community. From inception 19 years ago, Vipingo Ridge was founded on the idea of bringing value to the local communities and stakeholders.
One way that the community works very closely with Vipingo Ridge is at the Beach Club.
The Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Oceans Alive Trust that partners with the community through the Kuruwitu Community and Welfare Association (KCWA) and Vipingo Ridge, have their rent-free offices at the Beach Club, for meeting clients, potential sponsors and hosting training and other events.
In addition the community climate friendly kitchen garden is based at the Beach Club.
However the Kitchen Garden is not the only programme adding value to the community.
Buy Local at the Beach Club
In the local community fishing has always been a key source of income in the local economy. The role was traditionally filled by men and the projects for both the Kitchen Garden and the local shop aim to engage the women of the community.
We are proud to offer the community a free space to sell local products, and value to our guests and also creating a source of income for the community.
Here are just some of the reasons why we support a local community shop at the Beach Club:
1. The Shop Promotes Local Economy
A community shop creates a space for local vendors to sell their products, such as handmade crafts to a captive market of tourists and Members visiting the Beach Club. This helps stimulate the local economy by creating a marketplace for local goods, ensuring that the economic benefits stay within the community.
2. Supports Sustainable Tourism
The Kenyan coast attracts tourists from all over the world. A community shop can sell locally made goods, which not only supports local artisans and businesses but also provides tourists with authentic souvenirs. This helps to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of the Kenya Coast area while offering economic opportunities to the people who live there.
3. Improved Accessibility
For guests staying at Vipingo Ridge, there are few shopping opportunities. The community shop reduces the need for long trips to larger towns or cities, which may not always be convenient for guests wishing to relax at the Ridge. Our community shop can help reduce the price of goods by cutting out middlemen and distributors who add extra costs.
4. Cultural Exchange and Preservation
The community shop serves as a location to showcase the unique culture of the coastal region, offering arts, crafts, and other cultural products. There are also helpful items for the beach too. This can be a place for both locals and visitors to engage in cultural exchange, deepening mutual understanding and appreciation.
5. Job Creation
Providing local employment opportunities for residents, offering jobs for shopkeepers, managers, and even logistics and delivery workers. This helps reduce unemployment and boosts community welfare. All of the funds go to the community.
6. Empowerment for Local Women and Youth
As in many communities, women and young people face barriers to formal employment. Our community shop helps bridge this gap by offering them an opportunity to run businesses, sell products, and participate in the economy in meaningful ways.
7. Social Cohesion
Out community shop connects the Beach Club and Vipingo Ridge with the community. Encouraging this sense of belonging and unity is essential to harmony between the stakeholders of the coastal econony.
8. Education and Awareness
The community shop is run by the same CBO that protects the ocean. Next to the Coral Workshop and the ocean it helps to create another dimension of awareness for visitors of the complexity of a conservation area, where livelihoods must balance with protecting the environment.
They say ‘it takes a village’, and we are proud to do what we can to create jobs, revenue and connections for our local community.
This support helps to balance the temptation to ‘over fish’ and take short cuts for those most in need and preserve our ocean habitats and marine life. We have wonderful partners who lead the agenda on community-led conservation for the whole of the Kenya coast and we are proud to play our part.
BEACH CLUB BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES
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