Serepta Onyango thought she might be too old to start an income earning project like beekeeping. But after she attended a CRWRC training in her village, she said, “I realized that I needed to keep bees to support myself adequately, despite my old age. It is something I thought I could never do. Since I received one beehive through the Mamba women’s group, I have managed to purchase three more. The Mamba women’s group in the Padyere Archdeaconry of Nebbi diocese has more good reports about the benefits of their training and learning over the last year. The group has thirty members who are adapting to modern beekeeping practices from indigenous practices tended to stress the bees and reduce the amount of honey that beekeepers could harvest in a year. The participants have made some key changes in their beekeeping practices through training in new techniques and exposure to neighboring businesses that are experiencing success.
The Mamba women’s group in the Padyere Archdeaconry of Nebbi diocese has more good reports about the benefits of their training and learning over the last year. The group has thirty members who are adapting to modern beekeeping practices from indigenous practices tended to stress the bees and reduce the amount of honey that beekeepers could harvest in a year. The participants have made some key changes in their beekeeping practices through training in new techniques and exposure to neighboring businesses that are experiencing success.
Another participant, Kareng Joyce, says, “Last year we received 30 beehives from the beekeeping program, and each participant agreed to purchase at least a second hive, perhaps more if they could afford it. Each Kenya Top Bar beehive costs $50 and each participant contributed enough to purchase another 30 hives—a 100 percent cost sharing with the program. I bought ten additional beehives, so that we now have a total of 83 hives in our group.”
Joyce says that after her first learning and exchange visit, she “appreciated that the bees were friendly. Following our second visit to Kenya, I learnt that the quality of beehives has a big effect on how they are colonized by the bees. There, I was introduced to the Langstrot beehive. I have identified the right plants to have on my garden that will attract the bees and encourage the production of more honey. I also notice that sunflower and mango trees, among others in our neighborhood, are also producing more fruit because of increased pollination in the area.”
By being exposed to new learning, the women in the Mamba group have been able to improve their beekeeping practices and increase their income. The encouragement and motivation they get from eachother and from neighboring beekeepers helps everyone learn and achieve. There is high enthusiasm and synergy built among these women viewing beekeeping as business. They have become a model in their own community.
Four artisans and apiarists have been trained to give ongoing support in beekeeping within the community. In a patriarchal society where women are encouraged to remain in the home, some men exclaimed, “Even the women can make beehives!” This has never been heard of in this community before. One of the four artisans stated that, “After attending training in Kenya, we are now connected to other beekeepers there. We have identified markets for selling our crops. We can now appreciate living beyond the borders of ethnicity and social differences to achieve a better livelihood.”
The Joy of Having Access to Financial Resources
Another savings and loan group participant in Koboko, Madi West Nile diocese said, “Where were you all this time? I could have increased my earnings so much more if I had exposure to these practices when I was younger. “ The woman has been a member of the savings and loan group for a year. She has realized the benefit of the group’s pooling their financial resources for the good of their households. They have financial resources within their village from whichthey can access loans, contribute regular, weekly savings, and provide and receive social funds to meet other basic needs. In case of death, sickness or other events, the women do not feel desperate due to lack of funds and rely on support from the members to solve their problems.
We praise God for:
Please pray that:
Blessings,
Program Consultant
World Renew Uganda
The Mamba women’s group in the Padyere Archdeaconry of Nebbi diocese has more good reports about the benefits of their training and learning over the last year. The group has thirty members who are adapting to modern beekeeping practices from indigenous practices tended to stress the bees and reduce the amount of honey that beekeepers could harvest in a year. The participants have made some key changes in their beekeeping practices through training in new techniques and exposure to neighboring businesses that are experiencing success.