On October 29, 2026, the First Lady of Zanzibar and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (ZMBF), Mama Mariam H. Mwinyi, visited the Haenyeo—traditional female divers—on Jeju Island, South Korea. The visit aimed to learn how they leverage their maritime culture to strengthen the economy and empower women.
These women harvest marine resources through free-diving; their unique culture, recognized by UNESCO, serves as both a tourist attraction and a source of income through tourism-related businesses and services.
This experience highlights opportunities for women in Zanzibar—particularly seaweed farmers—to add value to their products, integrate seaweed farming with tourism, and increase their earnings through the blue economy.
Through the ZMBF, insights gained from this experience offer a pathway to further the economic empowerment of women, thereby improving their own lives, the well-being of their families, and the community at large.
Mama Mariam H. Mwinyi was accompanied on this visit by the Director of the ZMBF, Ms. Rehema Tukai.
