Overview

Your partner for sustainable environmental solutions

"Stone Town Chronicles: Preserving a UNESCO Treasure" is a dynamic, multi-disciplinary heritage conservation and storytelling initiative aimed at revitalizing, documenting, and celebrating the unique cultural and historical legacy of Stone Town, Zanzibar—a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This project fuses architectural preservation, digital storytelling, community engagement, and educational outreach to protect the historical fabric of Stone Town while amplifying its living heritage for local and global audiences. It includes physical restoration of endangered structures, a digital archive of oral histories, an interactive website, a mini-documentary series, and cultural workshops for youth.

Project Objectives

• Conserve and restore select endangered historical buildings and alleyways.
• Document oral histories from elder residents, artists, traders, and cultural custodians.
• Create a digital platform with immersive experiences (3D models, maps, interviews).
• Develop a short documentary series titled "Stone Town Speaks" to air online and on local media.
• Engage local youth and artisans through training programs and cultural preservation workshops.
• Raise awareness both locally and internationally about the significance and vulnerability of Stone Town.

Key Components

1. Architectural Conservation

• Structural restoration of 3-5 high-risk heritage buildings
• Use of traditional Swahili techniques and local craftsmen
• Historic signage with QR codes linking to stories and digital content

2. Oral History & Archival Documentation

• Interviews with 50+ locals
• Digitization of photographs, music, and historical documents
• Compilation of stories into an open-access archive

3. Interactive Website & Mobile App

• Virtual tour of Stone Town
• 3D models of key buildings
• StoryMap timelines, video content, and learning resources

4. Documentary Series – "Stone Town Speaks"

• 6-part series (8–12 minutes each)
• Topics include: Swahili architecture, music & dance, spice trade, resistance history, religion & harmony
• Distributed via YouTube, local TV, and tourism centers

5. Youth & Artisan Engagement

• Skills workshops (carving, plasterwork, oral storytelling, filmmaking)
• Heritage clubs in schools
• Youth-led walking tours and digital content creation

Target Audience

• Local community members (especially youth and artisans)
• Tourists and heritage travelers
• Academic and cultural institutions
• UNESCO and global heritage networks
• Diaspora communities

Duration

18 months (with scalable modules for future phases)

Total Budget: $485,000 USD

Note: Budget can be scaled depending on funding sources or donor interest (UNESCO, EU cultural funds, private donors, etc.)

Funding Strategy

• Grant applications (UNESCO, African World Heritage Fund, Aga Khan Trust)
• Private sector sponsorship (tourism, tech, real estate)
• Crowdfunding campaigns.
• Local government and cultural ministry support.
• NGO partnerships (e.g., cultural preservation and youth empowerment groups)

Project Outcomes

• 5 iconic buildings preserved using traditional Swahili techniques.
• 100+ oral histories digitally preserved.
• A digital heritage hub accessed globally.
• A powerful documentary series showcasing Zanzibar’s soul.
• Empowered youth engaged in protecting their heritage.
• Sustainable tourism strategies aligned with local culture.

Expected Outcomes

• A comprehensive digital archive accessible to scholars, tourists, and educators globally.
• Increased local capacity for heritage conservation, with at least 50 youth trained in cultural documentation and storytelling.
• A visible uptick in responsible tourism, fostering economic benefits while preserving cultural identity.
• Enhanced global awareness of Stone Town’s significance through viral content, exhibitions, and international press.
• Preservation of over 100 oral histories and cultural assets, securing them from permanent loss.

Call to Action

Stone Town is more than a tourist destination—it's a story waiting to be told, a past waiting to be preserved, and a community waiting to be heard.

We invite donors, cultural institutions, NGOs, artists, technologists, and global citizens to join us in this vital mission. Your support—whether through funding, expertise, equipment, or amplification—can help us ensure that the spirit of Stone Town thrives for generations to come.

Donate. Partner. Share. Explore.

Be part of the Stone Town Chronicles. Help preserve a world heritage treasure—before it's too late.