Bolstered by Bees: The Benefits of Beekeeping Spread

A beekeeper from Ganta, checking a hive with his smoke in the early morning light

Northern Liberia is a region favoured by bees thanks to its lush canopy of tropical trees and diverse nectars. We headed to this area recently to talk with the beekeepers who earn an important source of income thanks to honey production.

Beekeepers spoke of how “honey money” has sent countless kids to school, put food on the table, built houses and provided the seed money needed for other new businesses to start. They also spoke of sharing knowledge and that really did inspire! Beekeepers trained by Universal Outreach (3425 people to date) have gone on to train others as beekeepers, exponentially spreading the impact of your donation to our beekeeping training program. In a country like Liberia, where the current GDP per capita currently sits at $675, the effect of this knowledge transfer is life changing.

We'd like to introduce you to Amos whose story exemplifies what knowledge sharing can do.

Amos has been spreading his knowledge in the hope that others, too, might see the benefits he has seen

Amos, originally trained by Universal Outreach in 2018, is a pastor, carpenter, mason and a beekeeper trainer. "When I took my beekeeper training program, I planned to use the money I made to send my children to university and I have now achieved that goal. Then, I went on to master the skill of beekeeping and share what I learnt with those around me." He is now using his skills to teach nearby communities to keep bees as well as create and repair their own hives using local materials, like bamboo from the forest. Because he has reached so many people, he also plans to make his own smokers to share with new communities while they save for their own equipment.

"When we share what we know, it helps more people rise up, and Liberia needs that." ~ Amos

Amos also aims to teach honey hunters, those who look to get honey from wild hives, not to damage the hives or kill the bees. By teaching them the skills to gather honey and by showing them that bees are good for agriculture, even honey hunters can benefit from a regular source of income if done properly. If the bees are not harmed in the process, they can continue to produce honey.

When we came to the Universal Outreach community in 2011 with the idea to invest in beekeeping as a means of poverty alleviation, we looked forward to the day when beekeepers would train beekeepers. Years later that idea has become a reality in Liberia's more advanced beekeeping regions. Thank you for supporting beekeeping in Liberia and being a part of the journey of sharing.