Economic Development
Project name: Micro-business Beekeeping (Ubuntu Beekeeping Initiative)
Area of intervention: Franschhoek, and surrounding areas
Local Partner: Bee At Home, Ripples for Change
International Funding partners: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), in collaboration with Ripples for Change
Date: June 2024 - Ongoing
Background
The JDC lifts lives and strengthens communities, through providing disaster relief and long-term development assistance world-wide. The aim is to tackle global humanitarian challenges in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on issues of food security, health, and women’s economic empowerment. To foster women in rural and vulnerable communities to produce a sustainable income over time.
As part of the 2021 JDS Imagine More Programme, in collaboration with Ripples for Change, the Ubuntu Beekeeping Initiative has been introduced. Aimed at empowering women in rural South Africa. The project establishes women-owned honey production businesses by providing comprehensive beekeeping education and help in installing beehives. In addition, the programme bridges the gap between those with prior beekeeping and business experience and those venturing into it for the first time.
About the project
In Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, 20 women from various vulnerable and rural communities have been identified for their natural entrepreneur flair and motivation. The group forms a cohort, who are guided by an experienced mentor on an ongoing basis, learning on a personal and professional level in a hands-on way. The NPO, Bee At Home, provides training on an ongoing basis in beekeeping and hive maintenance for the group.
20 bee hives have been placed in three different locations, in and around Franschhoek. Each woman has her own beehive to care for, while learning alongside and working together with the rest of the group.
Objective
Over an initial two-year period, the 20 women participating in the project are provided a comprehensive support package, hands-on training, and mentorship.
The group meets regularly to build a supportive community of women within the program, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, environmental stewardship, and a sense of collective success that will stay connected long after the program ends.
The project also fosters a mutually beneficial ecosystem where honey can be harvested and sold directly, either to experienced mentors or to secured local markets.
The approach ensures a well-rounded skill set, equipping them with not only with beekeeping expertise but also the practical know-how to manage the various facets of a successful beekeeping enterprise.
All equipment, from bee suites, filters, scrappers, bee boxes, to honey spinners are supplied.
Project Activities
In-depth mentorship and training in harvesting techniques and hive care. In addition, troubleshooting, business, and financial management.
Participation
On embarking on this journey into the world of beekeeping entrepreneurship, participants delve into learning about honey production, not just cultivating skills, but also independence and resilience.
Participants are encouraged to bring their children to participate. The power of this program lies in the potential to be generational, as are many family-owned bee businesses, locally internationally have become. Handed down for hundreds of years.
