MOTO
Founded in 2003 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, MOTO comprises of 17 craft cooperatives and approx. 150 members who engage in the plaiting of the fibres of the wild date palm. This unique craft was nearly extinct, and within the course of the project – experimenting with contemporary designs, improving the quality of its produce and implementing a successful marketing strategy - has undergone an unforseen revival and has since contributed to the growth of the local economy. Today more than 1000 craftswomen have taken up plaiting in the archipelago, and few tourists coming to the island leave without having purchased a plaited basket, hat or mat. Furthermore, MOTO cooperatives use solar cookers for the lengthy boiling of the palm fibres, thus contributing to the preservation of the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park in Unguja Island, Zanzibar.
