In 2016 Mayamiko Trust funded  a pilot training for 90 members of the Natural Resources Committee (NRC) from the village of Bamba, in the north of Malawi, to become bee-keepers. The aim of the project was to give trainees an opportunity to generate a sustainable and reliable income from the sale of pure forest honey. Upon completion of training each trainee received a certificate of participation, enabling them to apply for a micro finance scheme and set up their own bee-keeping business.
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No only has this project changed the lives of the participants and their families it also paved the way for conservation too. By placing the hives on the outskirts of the forest we have been able to slow down deforestation in this area as well as reducing the conflict between elephants and local communities. 

This is due to the hives acting as a warning post to the elephants… 
Elephants are scared by the sound of bees and will stay away from an area where bees reside in masses. This helps to keep the elephants deeper in to the forest where themselves and the locals alike will be safer! 
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We hope to extend this training to more local NRC members and are exploring developing a tailored curriculum for bee-keeping and conservation with TEVETA

​If you have bee-keeping or conservation skills and would like to support our work, please get in touch