May 11, 2025
News
Every year on 20th May we celebrate World Bee Day. The importance of bees for the ecosystem and the food industry has long been known. But these insects are also a source of work and livelihoods in developing regions. For example in refugee settlements in Zambia, where dozens of refugees have started to make a living from beekeeping thanks to Caritas Czech Republic.
Initial fears
When we proposed to start beekeeping in the Mantapala refugee settlement two years ago, the idea did not generate much enthusiasm at first. The possibility that they could make a living from beekeeping was unimaginable to many people. "Some people were afraid that the bees would sting them. Others doubted that beekeeping could have any economic benefit," explained Kennedy Simbao, Caritas Czech Republic's project coordinator in Nchelenge, Zambia.
In the end, a few brave refugees took up beekeeping. And it paid off. In the first year alone, they managed to produce 600 kg of honey, which they also managed to sell completely. A year later, the refugees had produced 2.1 tonnes of honey in nine months, and fifty new beekeepers had their income taken care of. And the success continues. We supported beekeeping in Zambia in three refugee camps: Meheba, Mantapala and Mayukwayukwa.
Maria is one of the refugees who took up beekeeping in the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement. She has been living in the settlement for 17 years with her family after they fled from the war in Angola. Because the refugee camps are far away from big cities, it is difficult for refugees to make a living. Beekeeping is thus an important source of livelihood for Maria. She took a beekeeping course, received 4 hives from Caritas Czech Republic and started making honey. Her husband helps her with the work and together they earn a living from the honey. "I enjoy beekeeping, I would like to have as many hives as possible," says Maria happily. "Then I could sell even more honey and earn even more," she adds.
A disadvantaged region
We help beekeepers not only in Africa but also on the old continent. Georgian beekeeper Nana from the rural region of Racha Lechhumi lacked the equipment to work effectively. "Honey extraction has always been very tedious and long. The whole process usually took us around two weeks," Nana recalls. Yet honey production is Nana's main source of livelihood.
However, thanks to the financial support from SlovakAid and the Sosna Ecocentre, we were able to buy more modern equipment for Nana. She can now manage the whole process in one day. Thanks to this, she is able to secure a sufficient income and does not have to move for work like many others.
Beekeeping makes everyone happy
Helping through bees has several positive aspects. People are happy because they have a job, and it is good news for nature, too. Pollinators are essential for many plant species, and it is estimated that we owe up to a third of our diet to them. However, bees are declining rapidly, so every new hive helps to slow this trend. Insects also help scientists - for example in understanding the human brain.
