Airbnb and local Hosts support conservation in Kenya

If you find a group of Airbnb Hosts walking along a beach on Kenya’s coastline, it’s not a casual stroll. They’re picking up plastic bottles and other rubbish before it’s swept into the Indian Ocean.

Pamellah, a Host and Community Leader of the Kenya Coastal Region Host Club, plans to join beach cleanups organised by a local nonprofit, A Rocha Kenya, in an effort to preserve the region she calls home. “We organise the Host community so that they can come together and make a significant impact on our society,” she says. “We rely on one another, as no one is an island.”

A Rocha Kenya works to study and restore threatened habitats and protect endangered species. Pamellah nominated the organisation for an Airbnb Community Fund donation because she was inspired by its commitment to conservation. Host Club members have an opportunity each year to support their local community through the Community Fund. 

The nonprofit is a part of the wider A Rocha conservation network, which is present in more than 20 countries. A Rocha Kenya is committed to community-based conservation, including tagging birds, planting mangrove trees and providing free tree seedlings. It collaborates with indigenous communities, local farmers, women’s groups, scientists and others to conduct research and offer environmental education.

Colin, the founder of A Rocha Kenya, is also an Airbnb Host. He has worked with Pamellah to educate their community about conservation. “We see people as very much part of the solution even if they are part of the problem,” Colin says. “We see that it’s critical to involve and include people from all sorts of backgrounds in order to succeed.”

Over the years, Colin has welcomed researchers and Airbnb guests at his ecolodge in the town of Watamu. His place is situated within the grounds of A Rocha Kenya’s conservation centre. He says the money he earns hosting contributes to the nonprofit’s initiatives. Colin’s guests often become supporters after being given the chance to participate in conservation activities.

Thanks to the Kenya Host Club’s nomination, A Rocha Kenya received a $50,000 USD donation from the Airbnb Community Fund. With the funds, the nonprofit plans to develop a new nature reserve and add another canopy walkway to improve an existing nature reserve. 

The donation will also help the nonprofit continue its ecotourism programmes through the ecolodge and offer more educational programmes, such as providing tree seedlings to the community. 

More than 50 Host Clubs nominated nonprofits around the world to receive Airbnb Community Fund donations in 2023. Nominations for the 2024 Community Fund donations are now open. Connect with your local Host Club to learn more.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.