A new home

20.01.2020

After ten years on our private property, we have finally been able to establish a new basis for our activities. marinecultures.org has grown continuously over all this time and our shed was about to burst at the seams. By the end of 2019 our shed was accommodating up to 20 people at times.

The old location - The shed.

In the course of our efforts for a complete handover of the sponge project to the local community, it quickly became clear that the sponge farmers would need their own centre where they could meet and exchange information.

Finally, a roof over our head. (by Jennifer Adler Owen)

The sale of the natural sponges must continue to be centrally coordinated so that when an order is received, individual farmers are not given preference and others miss out. To keep up the good image of the product, quality control must also be continued. Finally, a room was needed for the training of new sponge farmers while coral farmers needed more storage space for their bulky equipment and a meeting room.

After an elaborate race renovation, a new water pipe, secured electrical lines, new floors, reinforced doors and windows and much more, we were finally able to rein in the new year. The joy of the independent women farmers as well as of our employees is great and the different rooms have been filled with life very quickly. And Ali Mahmudi, the new project manager, lives in one of the rooms, so security and daily presence is well taken care of.

Training in the new meeting room.

We are about to establish a sponge farmer cooperative and believe that the moderate rent of the new premises can be sustainably financed with the increasingly frequent sponge farm tours for tourists.

We all thank you for the great support!

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