About Us
Sabyinyo Community Livelihood Association - SACOLA, is a community based non-profit determined to conserve the local environment, strengthen the community, protect cultural traditions, develop infrastructure and practise sustainable conservation, for the improved livelihood of the local Virunga people. We offer tours and visits of the local community, environment, and culture with all proceeds going back to the development of our people.
SACOLA was formed in 2004 by communities living in the Volcanoes National Park area of Northern Rwanda. The association is primarily geared for conservation of the Volcano National Park, support the surrounding population to initiate development activities for improving their livelihoods, limit the threats to volcano National Park in general and maintain mountain Gorillas in particular. SACOLA Association, through its community projects and partnerships, has been able to help sustain day-to-day livelihood for the communities adjacent to the Park, especially through revenue collection from its projects.
Vision
Improve the community living standards and sustainable natural resources management within the Virunga zone. To also help transform the livelihoods from a poor class to a progressive sustainable income earning community.
Community Benefits and Products Accruing from SACOLA:
Higher end Eco-lodge (Sabyinyo Silverback lodge) that has at least 16 beds to accommodate tourists.
The Sacola community walk, nature walk, and cultural centre; an initiative which offers a wide range of things for sustainable development of tourism, including ecology, heritage, culture and ways of life of the community members in Kinigi, and Nyange sectors.
Increase community tourism and infrastructure in the sectors of Nyange and Kinigi.
Partners
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is Rwanda’s first ever community owned lodge. The lodge was built and is operated by Governors’ Camp Collection, but the ownership rests with a Community Trust, SACOLA, which uses rentals and community fees from the lodge to drive socio-economic and conservation initiatives in the communities adjacent to the National Park.
I.G.C.P.
The International Gorilla Conservation Programme is a unique coalition of international conservation organisations joining forces with national and local partners to ensure the long-term survival of the now critically-endangered mountain gorillas.
African Wildlife Foundation
African Wildlife Foundation's mission is to ensure wildlife and wild lands thrive in modern Africa. African Wildlife Foundation is devoted entirely to, and ever-present in, African wildlife conservation and sustainable development—recognising and responding to critical threats in a multifaceted way.
United Nations Development Programme
The UNDP work for world development. Are you passionate about world development and want to make a difference? UNDP works in more than 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion.
