Wilderness Sabyinyo, was Rwanda’s first community-owned lodge. It is operated by Wilderness Rwanda but owned by the Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association (SACOLA) community trust, in partnership with the African Wildlife Foundation and the International Gorilla Conservation Programme.
SACOLA was established to receive rental and other income from Sabyinyo, such as lease fees paid by the lodge and a community development levy paid by every guest. In turn, the income is used to facilitate community development and conservation initiatives in the Kinigi area, adjacent to Volcanoes National Park in north-western Rwanda. This unique revenue-sharing model ensures the community directly benefits from conservation tourism.
Most recently, on 14 February 2024, SACOLA donated iron sheeting to 65 families in the Kinigi and Nyange sectors whose houses were recently damaged by heavy rain and hail. The families were living in houses with very old thatched roofs, which were destroyed in the storm.
One of the beneficiaries, Jonathan, said, “The rain made me feel very anxious because we were deprived, and I would not be able to stay in the house because the roof was seriously damaged. So now I am given 25 iron sheets and I immediately put them up with my family. Thank you!”
SACOLA Chairman, Nsengiyumva Pierre Celestin, says that their activities are focused on the wellbeing of the people, their development and conservation. He said, “What we are doing for the people in Kinigi and Nyange sectors is to help them improve their quality of life. The people we supported with iron sheets are those identified some months ago whose houses were destroyed by the hail and heavy rain”.
In total, the families received more than 1,600 iron sheets worth USD17,000.
