Our most recent blogs were all about visiting Kenya — and in a way so is this one. But there’s a difference. In the Easter Harambee blogs, sightseeing was a sideline — albeit an enjoyable one — to the main event, which was learning about and working with the residents of Londiani. This time sightseeing is the main focus. Of course, it isn’t quite that simple. What we're talking about here is not a hotel-and-beach trip but a carefully planned, community-aware, sustainable tourism project centering on the Londiani and Kipkelion Districts. Why tourism? Partly because we were asked. In fact our first involvement with the sustainable tourism concept was in 2010 in response to requests from the leaders of local communities for assistance with economic development. That concept is now on its way to reality. The goal is to develop a community-based sustainable tourism project that provides employment and financial benefit to local communities and at the same time raises the standard of living, encourages gender and social equality, and also aids biodiversity conservation. Quite a big ask, clearly. And that’s not all. Let’s not forget that we need to find an offering that will also appeal to tourists! In fact the area has a number of features that would be attractive to visitors, among them nurseries, aviaries, forests, Londiani Falls, rivers, hot springs, fresh water springs, birds and butterflies. It’s also home to the major crops such as tea, coffee and passion fruit. There is culture, heritage, a lot of sunlight and an equatorial location too. All of which together offer a unique opportunity for tourists to access and view the environment and experience life in a remote part of Kenya. So how do you promote these attractions in a sustainable way? Well, trekking, staying in the area and experiencing the local culture and way of life are part of the experience that Friends of Londiani and the people of the area hope to offer. It’s an experience that could also include involvement or viewing of community development projects and other Friends of Londiani volunteer projects. Which brings us back to where this blog started. So perhaps this isn’t quite as different a concept as we first suggested! It’s certainly one that the area, its people and Friends of Londiani are, perhaps uniquely, qualified to offer. Of course, getting this right will take time but we are already working on a pilot trek, a business plan has been developed, a campsite is being built, and, of course, community involvement is at the centre of the whole project. And we will keep you, our readers and supporters, informed of the progress, and we, hope success of this exciting, ambitious, and, we firmly believe, sustainable approach to community development.