Sextantio, an Italian resort brand known for its commitment to holistic sustainability, launched its first African resort Sextantio Rwanda, in 2022. As their first international and African location, the team behind Sextantio faced an entirely different set of questions when trying to build a resort that can sustainably benefit its surrounding communities and environment.
In Italy, they found that the most pressing issue was the conservation and preservation of historical sites. Meanwhile, in Africa, they had instead found that socio-cultural and economic issues had to be urgently addressed. Hence, Sextantio began to build a new resort that can bring socio-cultural benefits to natives, as aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Responsible Consumption and Production and Reduced Inequalities.
These issues largely stemmed from the apparent inequality between the resorts and locals, including unequal access to water, unequal access to natural sites such as beaches and unequal access to job opportunities. Which is why “All of these activities [by Sextantio] have to have the principal objective of maintaining the native social and cultural balance. This is done in order to preserve the dignity of the local populations,” writes the mission statement on their website.
Sextantio Rwanda Introduction Video. Video courtesy of the Sextantio Rwanda website.
Sextantio Rwanda is supported by two key components: The Capanne (Huts) Project and the non-profit Sextantio Onlus. The Capanne (Huts) Project is the experience and facilities that Sextantio Rwanda is offering for its visitors at the Island of Nkombo, a small island at the Northern end of Rwanda that is inhabited by a Muslim minority. With this project, tourists will have an ethnographic experience of life in Nkombo, as they will live in situations similar to locals.
Tourists are offered the choice of staying in two different huts, both built with local building techniques. This meant that construction had to rely on environmentally friendly non-electric tools while still employing high-quality raw materials and impressive artisanal feats. Visitors will also have the ability to interact with the nearest village, where they will be able to learn more about local customs, economy, religious rites and rich biodiversity.
Sextantio Onlus, on the other hand, is a non-profit organization that was established in 2008 to disperse the profits made by the President of Sextantio in the form of free health insurance for the people of Rwanda. This particular organization had been formed over a decade before the establishment of Sextantio Rwanda itself, using profits from other Sextantio branches to benefit almost 30 percent of the local population that couldn’t have afforded healthcare otherwise. With the establishment of Sextantio Rwanda, Sextantio Onlus will be using its initiatives to benefit the people of the Island of Nkombo. However, they have also stated their ambitious long-term goal of assisting Rwanda to be the first state in sub-Saharan Africa with access to free healthcare.
Sextantio Rwanda exemplifies a sustainable and socially responsible approach to hospitality by prioritizing local community welfare and cultural integrity over conventional luxury. The Capanne Project provides guests with an immersive experience that respects the traditions of Nkombo Island, while Sextantio Onlus offers significant social impact by supporting free healthcare for Rwandans. By addressing socio-economic and cultural inequalities alongside environmental sustainability, Sextantio Rwanda sets a benchmark for ethical tourism in Africa.
Find out more about Sextantio Rwanda on their website www.sextantiorwanda.com or Instagram @sextantiorwanda, and Sextantio Resorts on their website www.sextantio.it or Instagram @sextantio.