At the heart of Zanzibar’s rising movement toward sustainable youth-driven tourism, stands Mafunda Kombo Faki, a bold, visionary change maker redefining what tourism means for Africa.
As the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ZANVACAY, Mafunda is not merely building a business, she’s leading a movement rooted in empowerment, innovation, and cultural integrity.
Mafunda, a 29-year-old professional, holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management from Near East University in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Her academic background also includes a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from the Institute of Public Administration in Zanzibar.
Throughout her educational journey, she has nurtured a strong passion for diplomacy, youth leadership, and tourism—fields that continue to shape her personal and professional goals.
Raised in a close-knit and loving extended family, she is one of several siblings and currently single. Her greatest aspiration is to empower youth, particularly in Zanzibar, through initiatives focused on tourism, entrepreneurship, and mental health awareness.
Her journey is one of purpose, advocacy and an unwavering commitment to unlocking opportunities for African youth through tourism, entrepreneurship, and the blue economy.
The spark behind ZANVACAY was ignited by a deep awareness: Africa, especially Zanzibar which holds immense untapped potential in its tourism sector. Yet, while tourism remains one of the continents biggest economic pillars, Mafunda observed a troubling paradox during her early work with development organizations as Africa’s youth, teeming with creativity and talent, remained largely excluded from the sector’s opportunities.
This disconnect led to the birth of ZANVACAY a platform designed to bridge the gap between youth potential and the tourism economy. For Mafunda, was not just about launching a company, it was about creating a vehicle for youth empowerment, sustainable development, and reclaiming Africa’s tourism narrative.
ZANVACAY has become a dynamic space where young people are trained, mentored, and connected with meaningful opportunities to build impactful careers and enterprises in tourism.
Mafunda’s personal journey is as compelling as the mission she leads. With a robust academic background in Tourism Management, International Relations, and Digital Marketing, she embodies a unique blend of technical expertise, strategic foresight, and grassroots activism.
Her leadership is further recognized through roles such as Youth Ambassador at the African Tourism Board, and as a Board Member on the AU-EU Youth Advisory Board under the Youth Voice Lab, “Power of the Collective.”
For ZANVACAY, sustainable tourism goes beyond environmentalism, it is a holistic philosophy. It includes cultural preservation, community inclusion, ethical entrepreneurship, and social equity. As Mafunda articulates, sustainable tourism is about “empowering young people to create local solutions and share authentic narratives without compromising the future.”
By positioning youth as catalysts for change, ZANVACAY is reimagining what African tourism can be. It’s not about mass consumption—it’s about authentic experiences, community inspiring and lasting impact.
ZANVACAY operates hands-on directly engaging with youth through practical training, mentorship, and immersive programming. Young participants gain marketable skills in areas such as tour guiding, eco-tourism, event planning, digital marketing, and content creation. Through strategic partnerships with investors, government agencies, and international tourism networks, these youth are linked with real-world opportunities.
One example of this is ZANVACAY’s pioneering work in MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions)—a sector traditionally out of reach for youth. Through ZANVACAY, young people gain exposure to hospitality, logistics, and large-scale event coordination, opening new pathways to high-level careers in tourism.
A core pillar of ZANVACAY is its deep integration of the Blue Economy. Being an island, Zanzibar’s identity is intrinsically tied to the ocean. Mafunda’s vision includes helping youth understand and capitalize on this relationship through eco-marine tourism, sustainable fishing, water sports, and marine conservation.
ZANVACAY leads ocean literacy programs, trains youth in marine stewardship, and champions projects that protect marine ecosystems while creating income-generating ventures. This dual-purpose model environmental conservation, paired with economic empowerment—exemplifies a future-focused, inclusive Blue Economy.
Of course, the road hasn’t been easy. ZANVACAY faces challenges such as limited funding, policy gaps, and low awareness among youth regarding tourism as a viable career path. Many young Africans continue to encounter barriers economical, geographical, or educational that keep them disconnected from tourism opportunities.
ZANVACAY counters these barriers through advocacy, capacity-building, and storytelling. The organization regularly participates in local and regional forums, leads digital awareness campaigns, and is soon launching a podcast exploring themes like tourism, entrepreneurship, and youth mental health.
ZANVACAY’s success is best reflected in the stories of the young leaders it nurtures. Noring Moshi, once an intern in the Youth Internship Program, is now Assistant Managing Director, showcasing the organization’s commitment to long-term growth and leadership development.
Wahida Hoza, a participant in Zanzibar International Youth Tourism Summit (ZIYTS) 2023, has grown into her new role as Assistant Summit Coordinator for ZIYTS 2025, leading communications and media outreach. These aren’t just job titles—they’re symbols of transformation and purpose.
ZANVACAY’s reach is strengthened through powerful partnerships. Mafunda and her team work closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage, the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce, and international entities such as the African Tourism Board, where Mafunda holds the distinction of being the youngest Youth Ambassador. These collaborations help ZANVACAY shape policy, scale initiatives, and elevate youth voices in tourism decision-making spaces.
ZANVACAY tracks progress through both quantitative metrics and qualitative stories measuring the number of youths trained, businesses launched, and income generated. On the environmental front, they track eco-tourism practices, community conservation outcomes, and waste reduction. Community feedback and personal success stories ensure transparency, continuous learning, and program refinement.
ZANVACAY champions youth inclusion in global conversations on tourism and sustainability. Today’s youth bring digital fluency, bold creativity, and a deep sense of justice. ZANVACAY ensures they are not only present in these dialogues but leading them, especially on issues like climate action, heritage protection, and economic resilience.
Looking forward, Mafunda’s ambition is clear: to replicate the ZANVACAY model across Africa, building a continent-wide network of youth-led tourism hubs.
Her ultimate goal? A tourism industry that is ethical, inclusive, and powered by young Africans telling their own stories to the world. As Mafunda says “ZANVACAY is more than a youth tourism enterprise; it’s a platform that blends culture, conservation, creativity, and commerce.”
With passionate leadership, extensive experience in international programs across Germany, Thailand, Cyprus, Turkey, East Africa, South Africa, and a bold inclusive vision, Mafunda Kombo Faki, winner of the prestigious Malkia wa Nguvu Award 2024 in the Tourism category, is proving that the future of African tourism is not only sustainable but brilliantly youth-powered.
