Economic Development
Ubuntu Beekeeping Initiative
Micro-business Bee Keeping
Area of intervention: Franschhoek, and surrounding areas, Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve
Timeline: June 2024 - Ongoing
Main Local Partner: Ripples for Change
International Funding partners: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), in collaboration with Ripples for Change
About the project
The Ubuntu Beekeeping Initiative supports women in rural and vulnerable communities in South Africa to establish sustainable, women-owned micro-businesses in honey production. Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the project contributes to food security, environmental stewardship, and women’s economic empowerment by providing comprehensive education about beekeeping and installing beehives.
As part of the 2021 JDC Imagine More Programme, and in partnership with Bee At Home and Ripples for Change, the initiative combines hands-on beekeeping training with long-term mentorship, bridging the gap between participants with prior experience and those venturing into beekeeping for the first time.
In the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve, 20 women from vulnerable and rural communities were selected for their motivation and entrepreneurial potential. They form a cohort that is collectively and continuously guided by an experienced mentor, learning from professionals in a hands-on way. Bee At Home NPO, provided initial training in beekeeping practices and hive maintenance for the group. Each participant is responsible for her own beehive, placed across three locations in and around Franschhoek, while working collaboratively within the group. All essential equipment, such as protective gear (e.g., bee suites), tools (e.g., filters, scrapers, bee boxes), and honey extraction materials (e.g., honey spinners) is supplied.
Objectives
Over an initial two-year support period, the project aims to:
· Build a well-rounded practical beekeeping and hive management skill set
· Strengthen business and financial literacy for successful micro-enterprise development
· Meet regularly to foster a supportive network of women entrepreneurs, rooted in collaboration, knowledge-sharing, environmental stewardship, and a long-term sense of collective success
· Enable direct access to local markets through honey harvesting and sales of honey-based products
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.
Project activities
· In-depth training in beekeeping, harvesting techniques and hive care.
· Ongoing mentorship, including troubleshooting, business development, and financial management.
· Regular group meetings to encourage peer learning and long-term community building.
Strengthening long-term impact
By 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. They are encouraged to bring their children to participate, strengthening the project’s intergenerational impact and potentially creating family-owned businesses. Through the transfer of skills, environmental values and economic resilience within families, this program contributes to both social upliftment and ecosystem health.
Recognition
Nominated as part of the UNESCO Green Citizen’s Projects: The Ubuntu Beekeeping Project
