Please make a donation to support the Burundi Beekeeping Project, through Harry, The IOM Beekeepers & Christian Aid.

Harry Owens is the Islands own octogenarian (84 years young this year) adventurer! He is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime, which will change lives for generations to come. Harry the Island’s bee disease officer is going to train over 300 female beekeepers, as well as groups of youths in how to make beehives and the protective clothing. He has over 50 years’ experience in beekeeping and strongly feels the call to pass this information on to this country to empower the women to change their lives, to add nutrition to their diet and additional funds to pay for essential items like school and education.

This is an exciting and totally unique to the Island collaboration with the IOM Beekeepers and IOM Christian Aid. Funds raised will go to ensuring that from this start of Harry Beekeeping training, that the Burundi / IOM partnership and that Harry's legacy will grow and bee (!) sustained.

Louise Whitelegg visited the Burundi Beekeeping Cooperative project in Feb 2018. The project had only started in November 2017, on an incredibly small scale, with very limited internal funding. Originally, the basis of the project was modelled on a Kenyan project (a previously successful IOM Christian Aid week appeal) to utilise the precious space between crops, to supplement income of subsidence farmers with bee crops. In Burundi, cooperatives of women were set up, equipment given. The next step was to train local women and youth in the art of beekeeping. However, with a shortfall in funds, peer to peer training was devised, which, unfortunately was not effective. This was the situation Louise witnessed, sufficient infrastructure but a lack of knowledge, a Manx solution was born! Harry’s trip is to train and educate the cooperatives not only ensures how to safely and efficiently manage the bees but how to make the equipment they need locally, how to utilise all aspects of the bees precious work.

By Harry imparting his gift of knowledge, women will be able to produce their own nutritious honey, supplementing the poor diets, with any excess to be sold at profit.

.