Lagoamar - Get involved

LAGOAMAR

Your reliable, bona fide, “user friendly” partner in Mozambique

GET INVOLVED

To use a current definition from the social entrepreneur´s vocabulary ours is a triple bottom line project:

The simultaneous pursuit of return and investment at financial, social and environment levels.

We invest money to make money AND we invest, money, time and commitment expecting to get a positive impact in social or environmental areas.

A window of opportunity

TOURISM BY LAKE SOTIVA

We have c. 24 hectares of land where we plan to develop our main center of activities in business (eco-tourism) and non-profitable social activities (training and advice center).

A plan – nature integrated tourism

At present, LAGOAMAR seeks financial help in terms of start up / seed capital / grants / partnerships to promote its activities at this phase, to implement and develop its business project (completion and renovation of existing building infra-structure, water bore holes/wells - water is of prime need - outdoor layout, office and communications equipment, etc.).

Woman at work

There is a growing awareness about the importance of economic and social impact of small and medium sized enterprises not only in short terms at local level but also in the medium term at national level.

These type of “owner managed enterprises”, with sufficient “jump start capital”, are the key to long term sustainability and to promote indigenous private sectors which greatly contribute to the professed national and international goal of lowering the levels of poverty in Mozambique in this decade.

According to South Africa´s Standard Bank in a review of Mozambique´s economy: “In 2005, Mozambique registered the highest growth in tourist arrivals in the world.”

Revenue continued to rise during 2006, and there are optimistic indicators for an even greater growth for 2007.

In terms of its land concession, LAGOAMAR´s first business project is for a low density, nature friendly eco-tourism unit. This project will use and train local people in direct employment (ZITUNDO as an extremely high employment rate) and use locally grown organic products.

LAGOAMAR seeks partners with enough real capital, similar views, and genuine proposals to join us in this endeavour. This lake side eco-tourism project includes restaurant (how about “thinking big” and plan an over the water on stilts lake restaurant???).

We also seek business partners to rehabilitate several building infrastructures – annexes to the main project - we fear that this “window of opportunity” will not keep open for too long … We have several exciting ideas for the village of ZITUNDO: many small to medium businesses which can have quick financial return and extremely high impact in terms of local development – come and see us, we´ll provide you with a guided data collecting tour of the village!

RESEARCH

There are several fields of interest for economic development, social and scientific research about Matutuine district such as, for example:

There is a great need for research on LAKE SOTIVA. The lake and its shores, the water, the fish, the wildlife, the ecology of the whole, the potential non-destructive low impact leisure projects, the effects of land demarcation on hippo’s grazing needs.
In-depth research is also needed regarding the negative impact of cattle in eco-sensitive areas such as parts of Matutuine (particularly near the lakes, the beach front, in certain areas of indigenous vegetation, the vicinity of the Elephant Reserve, etc.).

Women at work

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

To develop our non-profit activities (awareness training of local population about the interdependence of all things – animals, plants and humans – and how to use skills in developing micro projects that can turn subsistence activities into income generating activities) we urgently need grants and donations. This here is an appeal to those who can and care. Contact us and ask us for details.

We seek funds for several activities including:

to fix and repair our project buildings;
to build a covered outdoor community meeting / training place;
to buy office supplies, computers, and communications equipment;
to resolve transportation problems including a quad bike for local use in community liaison and anti poaching activities ( to work in Matutuine, all vehicles have to be 4x4);
to get a bore hole for water (human, animal, agricultural needs- there is no regular water supply) and get a pump well for local use;
to set up regular “train the trainers” sessions: books, materials, travel expenses for volunteer trainers / expert technical assistants.

We can send you, at your request, detailed budgets, implementation calendars and project accountability procedures.

The training is urgent and important because if people do not learn about the interdependence of all things – animals, plants, humans – if people do not learn about the value of sceneries and nature in general being also an asset, which if taken good care of, can become a real source of revenue, they will continue to abuse and destroy nature at an irreversible pace.

It is urgent to develop anti-poaching and nature conservation attitudes as vital steps towards the creation of sources of income and of a better quality of life for all.

For Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana (during a 2005 visit to Matutuine): “The correct administration of conservation areas, the protection of wild life, the combat against poaching, and exploitation of resources without causing environmental damage are the fundamental elements for turning tourism into a major factor for Mozambique’s development”.

A break to pose for the picture

CODE OF CONDUCT

We have a code of conduct and would gladly supply you with any further detailed information you may require.

CONTACTS

Address

LAGOAMAR
P.O. Box 3654
Maputo
Mozambique

Fax

+351 258 981 834

E-mail

LAGOAMAR@lagoamarmoz.com

all photos in this website by PSR