Building our dream - From Holland to Zanzibar

What if you start living your dream? What if you have found a place where you can create a life you don’t need to take a vacation from. Welcome into the wonderful world of a mixed family of 3.

Who are we

We are Romano (33), Fleur (36) & Zaya (3), born & raised in The Netherlands, following our hearts and taking steps into new ways of living. From the (cold) city of Rotterdam to a warm village on the island of Zanzibar (East Africa).

We would love to take you on a journey with us. During our travels, we found out that we were longing for an environment in which we are more connected to nature, to the place where we are living. And so we decided to travel to Zanzibar in 2021, when our daughter Zaya became 1 year old. We went there to feel, explore and experience a life we desire. A more natural lifestyle, in a warmer climate with green surroundings. Where living in peace is not something to ‘work’ so hard for, but is more a natural state of being.

What happened? We completely fell in love with this village called Jambiani. What started out as a plan to explore Tanzania main land, turned into a 3-months-stay in a small village on the island of Zanzibar, where we just never wanted to leave again! The simple and slow life, the fresh foods, the community feeling, the sun, the refreshing ocean breeze, the animals all around. Even the power outages and the moments we weren’t able to flush the toilet. In short: the FREEDOM! And at the end of our trip we surprisingly got offered a piece of land.

We decided to go back as soon as possible, and so we did. Fast forward to 2022. In the first week of 2022 we flew back to Zanzibar, to find ourselves a piece of land to start building our dream. After months of dedication, searching, exploring, learning, enjoying, trusting, disappointments, adjustments, growing and also completely stepping out of our comfort zone in a new country and environment, we finally found what we were looking for. What we came here for. We found ourselves a piece of land to build our dreams, a piece of land to live, to create, to be, to learn, to find peace. A piece of land to take care of.

We dug a water well, set the foundation of the wall and our next step is to collect the money to start building our dream. Let’s go & let’s grow, pamoja (together)!

What is the plan

We want to build two family-friendly guesthouses and a creative hub and create a home away from home. A peaceful, playful, creative and cozy place where you by yourself or with your family can relax, learn and grow. A place where you can re-connect. A place to come back home to yourself.

Honouring ancient ways of building

We are inspired by natural building techniques. We want to create two buildings, created out of locally sourced and recycled materials.Therefore we will collaborate with a natural building collective from South-Africa, which we are in contact with and who are ready to start this process with us.

Building bridges

We will be facilitating workshops, events & gatherings where talented people, both local and international, can share their knowledge. Think about sound healing journeys, sewing and creating things with local fabrics and taking a stroll in our organic food garden, while learning about the variety of crops, how to cultivate and grow them.

How can you help us

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

That’s why we are asking for your support and open the portals to receive. To eventually be able to give back from our soul purposes.

And because we realize we still have a long way to go, while in the meantime saving all our money to invest in this vision, we also realize we cannot do it alone.

Your support and generosity will make a real difference. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Every little bit helps, so even if it is 1 euro, we are beyond grateful for you believing in our dream and vision.

What will the donations be used for:

- Prepare the land for construction

- The infrastructure of the land

- Maintaining our facilities

- Building two guesthouses

- Costs of the natural building collective

Rewards

We have a Dutch saying which goes "voor wat hoort wat". Which actually means "for something your receive, you have to give something in return."

And we have a special offer for donations from €150,- and above for people in the Netherlands. In return you have the option to receive a 30 minutes private Handpan concert from Romano at a time and location that suits you. It can be a birthday present for someone, a wedding, a moment to de-stress, a gathering, right before you go to bed, you name it.

Or you can choose to attend one of the workshops that Fleur hosts in her atelier (@welcome.to.my.tribe) or get a private sewing lesson.

Of course every euro is welcome and appreciated, read below to see our other offers we have for your support.

€ 50,-: We offer free accommodation for one night in one of the guest houses

€ 100,-: We offer free accommodation for two nights including a sound healing journey and a bag of local sea moss powder

€ 250: We offer free accommodation for a four nights including a sound healing journey and a sewing class with local fabrics

€500,-: Thank you so much for believing in our dream! We offer free accommodation for a week including a sound healing journey and a sewing class with local fabrics

€1000,- or more: We offer free accommodation for 10 days including a sound healing journey, a local cooking class and we will plant a tree on the land with your name on a crafted sign.

We would love to welcome you on the land! Asante sana!

You can follow our journey on Instagram!