In Swahili, chako means “yours.” It’s also the fitting name of the innovative social enterprise that a Zanzibarian-Dutch couple, Soulemain Mohammed and Annaloes Roelandschap, began in 2012. CHAKO transforms glass and plastic waste generated by holiday makers into beautiful, functional objects that can become yours, and creates cultural, social and economic empowerment for young, uneducated locals, mainly women.
CHAKO is dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the island through the imaginative transformation of the more than two million wine bottles discarded by tourists every year. But the mission of their enterprise runs deeper: They’re committed to strengthening the cultural and economic dynamism of formerly uneducated and unemployed residents through training, education, and the encouragement of artistry. Women constitute 65% of CHAKO’s workforce.
