Local Testimony
On a recent visit to Zambia, we visited one of our honey schemes owned by a local chief. Members of the Bee Sweet management team took us to the highest yielding scheme out of the 40 being managed. Onsite at this scheme, we met Pearson, who was was elected by his neighbors to be the mentor (or manager) of the scheme. Pearson has five children and lives in a mud hut with a grass roof. He has lived well below the poverty line his entire life.
Pearson greeted us at his home, and then we all gathered outside on the hot and very dry late morning. Pearson was excited to tell us about his honey business in the community. He told us that he manages 1500 bee hives, which involves overseeing approximately 300 farmers. He explained how he is responsible for assembling the hives when they arrive from the Bee Sweet factory, selecting the trees to hang them, baiting the hives to attract a colony of bees, and organizing the harvest collection. Pearson was proud of what he and the community had accomplished in such a short period of time. It appeared that he and the farmers were beginning to understand the benefits of beekeeping and the financial impact it can bring to them.
I asked Pearson what enabled him to have the highest producing scheme. He explained that he constantly monitors the hives and responds quickly when a hive is without bees. In short, he works hard and does his job. Pearson's work is extraordinary, especially since he lives in a culture where working hard and remaining diligent to a task, for an outcome that's months or years away is uncommon.
We then asked Pearson what benefits he and his neighbors had experienced from their involvement in beekeeping. He asked us to look around. He, and others, had built new brick houses with metal roofs for their families--and just in time for the rainy season. In short, the beekeeping scheme has given the community hope for a better life. And, for the first time, the community has an economic alternative to cutting down the forests to create charcoal for income. Pearson and the farmers are beginning to understand that by allowing the trees to grow, more honey and income will be forthcoming.
As we were leaving, Pearson had one request of our management team: "When can I get another 500 hives?" He believes the scheme and his team can support 2000 hives. We all agreed, as soon as possible!
Pearson greeted us at his home, and then we all gathered outside on the hot and very dry late morning. Pearson was excited to tell us about his honey business in the community. He told us that he manages 1500 bee hives, which involves overseeing approximately 300 farmers. He explained how he is responsible for assembling the hives when they arrive from the Bee Sweet factory, selecting the trees to hang them, baiting the hives to attract a colony of bees, and organizing the harvest collection. Pearson was proud of what he and the community had accomplished in such a short period of time. It appeared that he and the farmers were beginning to understand the benefits of beekeeping and the financial impact it can bring to them.
I asked Pearson what enabled him to have the highest producing scheme. He explained that he constantly monitors the hives and responds quickly when a hive is without bees. In short, he works hard and does his job. Pearson's work is extraordinary, especially since he lives in a culture where working hard and remaining diligent to a task, for an outcome that's months or years away is uncommon.
We then asked Pearson what benefits he and his neighbors had experienced from their involvement in beekeeping. He asked us to look around. He, and others, had built new brick houses with metal roofs for their families--and just in time for the rainy season. In short, the beekeeping scheme has given the community hope for a better life. And, for the first time, the community has an economic alternative to cutting down the forests to create charcoal for income. Pearson and the farmers are beginning to understand that by allowing the trees to grow, more honey and income will be forthcoming.
As we were leaving, Pearson had one request of our management team: "When can I get another 500 hives?" He believes the scheme and his team can support 2000 hives. We all agreed, as soon as possible!