Tiwai Health Village
The Tiwai Island Project aims to generate sustainable income and to protect culture and biodiversity in the region surrounding the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary through a Health Village based on the principles of West African ethnomedicine; and an Ecotourism Centre. Located in the last remnants of the Upper Guinea Tropical Rainforest, Tiwai Island is rich in biodiversity, with hundreds of species living in a small area. It is surrounded by traditional communities who are still actively using their indigenous knowledge of the forest and its resources. Building on existing conservation initiatives, the partnership aims to conserve this cultural and biodiversity by using it as a foundation for an alternative, modern livelihoods for the surrounding communities. Near the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary, the partners intend to construct a Health Village, both employing local communities. The Village will offer tourists unique healing arts and health services based on Sierra Leonean ethnomedicine.
- Establishing an Ethno-medicine Health and Fitness Center for tourists, TM research, and provision of local health care.
- Offering Walking tours of ancient Pujehun trails.
- Setting up animal husbandry.
- Establishing primary schools.
- Increasing awareness by reaching out to schools in the region with Environment and Culture clubs.
- Providing Resident Fellowship “prize” for research, Organizing Field Trips to the Islands.
- Conducting national and international research programmes and projects.
- Building a model “Village Life Hotel” offering hospitality training to local youths.
- Creating Tourism infrastructure projects (Museum and Health Center construction, Jetties, bridges, barries, etc).
- Harvesting and commercialising medicinal plants, forest fruits, nuts and other products.
Partners
NGOs such as Association of Sierra Leone, Environmental Foundation for Africa, and Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Association.
People of Barrie & Koya Chiefdoms
Njala University
BioSalone