Cintai Mantanani is a long-term effort by Reef Check Malaysia which strives to ensure the economic well-being of the community while protecting our marine environment. Currently, we have a team of three based on Mantanani Island running the projects on the ground relating to waste management, plastic recycling, alternative livehoods, and, community-based tourism.

COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM

upskilling with the community

A total of ten training have been delivered under the Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) Module which is supported by the GEF Small Grants Programme.

74 islanders participated in this series of training which involved experts and experienced trainers on different training topics such as Mandarin, English, turtle and coral reefs conservation, hospitality, digital marketing, basic computer skills and many more.

In 20 November, another CBET workshop was conducted for 50 islanders with the help of Sabah Tourism Board, FeRTAS, and MoTAC. The workshop provided an introduction and understanding on the CBET concept and some of the leading examples in Sabah.

The Homestays Mantanani operators were also able to participate in a hospitality and marketing training conducted by Sabah Tourism Board, MoTAC, and BEFF Suara, which provided the operators with skills and tactics to improve their homestays.

economic recovery programme

NEVER STOP LEARNING - KEBUN KOMUNITI

As part of Yayasan Hasanah’s Economic Recovery Programme to provide alternative livelihoods to the local community, we continue to provide mentoring and training sessions to the Kebun Komuniti members.

In October 2021, we invited Partners of Community Organizations in Sabah (PACOS) to hold an agricultural training session for the Kebun Komuniti team.

Through this training, the members learned about different ways to compost, plant, and create their own organic fertilisers!

transformation in the VIRGIN COCONUT OIL production team

With the virgin coconut oil production going strong and the help of SŌP.CO in guiding the VCO team, now the team has learned how to diversify their VCO products into making soaps, lip balm, and coconut biscuits.

These are all products of the island, made with love and care by a group of local Mantanani islanders.

In December, the VCO team launched the new products on Mantanani Local Products FB Page. Do check out their products!