Innovation

An art gallery, a holiday home and a food joint, Saraya is a unique space which appeals to all of our senses at the same time. The three contrasting consumer touchpoints aim to use waste generated from each of them to fulfil necessities any of them might need at some point. The focus is on building a sustainable circular economy.

For instance, the food waste from their cafe is sent back to the earth through their DIY agriculture programs or their own backyard farms which are sources of the majority of their raw materials for the food joint.

Volunteers from across the world who are actually tourists to Goa contribute to part of the workforce here at Saraya. The place offers them a platform to give back to the community as well as share their naturally sensitive way of life with an audience. Hatha Yoga, Tai Chi, Gurdjieff workshops are conducted by interested visitors simply for the benefit of the community.

There is a near-zero superfluity that Saraya is operating on at the moment. Through experiential delivery of their core message, for instance, through permaculture courses or community kitchens, Saraya has found a way to meaningfully and impactfully communicate their mission.

Inspiration

The inspiration was drawn from the inside. The idea came to be conceptualised through mere introspection. It was more of a coincidental process where like-minded individuals came together to create an engaging space.

Saraya is a reflection of the desired way of living of the founding member, Diksha. It is more of an answer to the question, "In reality, how do we want to live our life?" Engaging our senses to the maximum extent is the optimal way to experience life to the fullest was the idea here. For this to happen, humans have to go back to the roots, the very surrounding that has nurtured us since our inception. A natural way of living is key to realising our potential as a species is a belief around which Saraya was built.

Overall impact

Saraya has created a community space for the expression of art and experience of diverse culture through its volunteering model. This has given the neighbourhood a chance at awareness regarding global climate issues on a personal level.

Also, the surrounding community is given a chance to give back to society. An example would be the "Earth Keeper's Market" that Saraya organises regularly to invite local and small-time farmers to sell their produce to the customers. Held on the last Sunday of every month, the market brings together a host of local vendors with a variety of Earth-friendly products.

Encourages individuals to take up backyard farming and homegrown produce as alternatives to raven consumerism that prevails right now. Increasing participation and the diversification of products sold in the market are satisfactory indicators of these impacts.

Increased awareness of natural ways of living such as veganism and mental well-being related activities. Significant participation and expression of interest in related events conducted at Saraya.

Business benefit

The confluence of three dimensions of holiday experiences, namely art, food and homestay options invite a diverse crowd to explore what Saraya has to offer. Goa being a popular tourist destination also lends a helping hand in terms of an increased volume of customers compared to other similar models that might exist elsewhere.

These three centres of customer engagement also translate to maximum effort to profit from an individual customer. Serving as a platform endorsing mindful living through value-added activities such as Permaculture, Yoga or the Earthkeepers market serves as additional streams of revenue from not just direct customers at the eco stay but also from a floating crowd who are locals dropping in for just part of the offering.

The focus on flow economy will decrease their expenditures on maintenance and repair in the long run thereby increasing the prospect of higher margins on their operating profits. For example, Saraya utilises used beer/glass bottles to reinforce their mud huts which improve their longevity.

Social and environmental benefit

In terms of community upliftment, Saraya is providing a platform for small-time farmers or organic enthusiasts to bring their produce to the premium market. There is increased awareness of the opportunities and advantages that natural cultivation has in store in terms of commercial success. This stage has validated the efforts of many to battle climate change or adverse ecological problems in their own small way. The community is empowered to contribute to the holistic wellbeing of themselves and those connected to them.

As for the environment, as the founder says, there is a domino effect. Bringing a circular economy to the spotlight through their business model, Saraya has set up the stage for relevant conversations to take place outside their circle of business. People are starting to take notice and this is visible through the increased volume of visitors/registrations to their workshops and in-house events.

Interview

Diksha, Founder