Beekeepers for Life, Empowering 1300 Uganda Women

The project provides education and technical advice on beekeeping and relevant business skills by setting up and supporting field extension services. Training courses are also run for local beekeepers and finance trainers.  As a  organization, support can be given to beekeepers and their families wherever poverty defines need.

This groups are managed by designated, unpaid, project managers and run within a group structure. Project Managers design them to become self-funding small businesses after a defined period of time.

SCOEN uses funds for the relief of poverty and this is overseen by the trustees. Projects are bound by the legal, charitable requirement to reach the poorest sectors of society ensuring that projects can be sustainable. A group cannot depend on continued funds from outside the area or on one person’s hard work.

SCOEN promotes and supports projects that use affordable, appropriate techniques and equipment.

Objective of the review visits

After a long period of no active engagement and support to the Beekeepers groups from Bees Abroad, there was need to conduct group review visit;

• To understand the status (existing or closed) of the Beekeeping groups.
• To find out whether the groups are still willing to implement beekeeping activities,
• To capture the current challenges groups are facing and
• To learn the current activities being carried out

Review visit methodology and Approach

We employed ta few review methods and approaches which included;

• Meeting group Executive Committee members
• Sharing experiences, and discussion
• Observation

Review tool

The tool looked at capturing information on the following areas;

Existence of the group (active or closed), Active and inactive members, Active executive committee, Interest to continue working with SCOEN, Current Beekeeping activities, Other current group activities, status of apiaries (number of installed hive, number of colonized hives, colonized hives, absconded hives), group achievements in the last 12 months, challenges being faced, plan for the next 12 months, current needs of the group.

General observations

• Both groups are still existing with active members and leadership. Some small fraction of members are inactive especially for Bukaleba
• They still have interest in Beekeeping activities and they are expectant of Bess Abroad support
• -       There is a drop in production due to lack of close monitoring and support from Bees Abroad

Recommendations

• There is need for refresher and value addition training
• Continued support and close monitoring/ performance review will help the groups stay focused on the project
• Motivate groups by supporting them to acquire hives and other beekeeping equipment and tools

Regards,

SCOEN TEAM