For many citizens, the name Sierra Leone still conjures up images of the country’s decade-long civil war and succeeding war crimes trials.

However, eight years after the end of the war, the nation is eager that tourism will be the key to its future prosperity.

One organization with an innovative strategy to catch the attention of the visitors back is Tribewanted, a project to build an eco-tourism commune on John Obey beach, 20 miles from the capital Freetown.

From October, the project hopes to be a focus for tourists paying $450 a week to live in the nation and help build a sustainable tourist village on the beach. The fee includes all meals and a contribution to the community development. In addition, visitors will pay for their flights and transfers from the airport.

Ben Keene, co-founder of Tribewanted, told CNN, “We are going to be working with the local community of John Obey. We are ready to build our village on this tiny peninsula and this is going to be our new life