Bees for development Journal 116 September 2015
Kwame’s latest exciting initiative in Ghana is a collaboration with Stroud Beekeepers Association’s Buzzclub in the UK which will empower more young Ghanaians to access secondary and university education than at present.
Photo © Bfd
We are delighted to introduce Dr Kwame Aidoo who has been working with us at our offices in Monmouth as Commonwealth Professional Fellow.
Ghanaian children buzz their way to university
Buzzclub Ghana will run the project which will organise 8–12 year old primary school children to learn about bees, beekeeping and the environment. The children will be supported by their teachers and parents to manage 5 sponsored honey bee colonies to raise money to pay for their ongoing education. Proceeds from the sale of the colonies’ produce will be saved into dedicated bank accounts and used solely for paying high school and university fees.
In Ghana primary school education is free. However continuing in education after the age of 12 can cost up to 60% of many parents’ annual income resulting in children from lower-income families frequently starting work before their 13th birthday and so missing out on the opportunites offered by secondary school and university.
Kwame says: “Buzzclub Ghana will offer more children the opportunity to become well educated, which could make a real difference to the lives of their families and in their communities – some of them might even become skilled beekeepers and teachers who can pass on the skills and experience they gain from the project to future generations”.
At home in Ghana, Kwame is Project Manager of the GEP/UNEP/ FAO Global Pollination Project at the University of Cape Coast, and he is a long term partner of Bees for development. Kwame has been busy since he arrived in the UK in June. His first duty was creating the Ghana stand at our Bee Garden Party held in the pollinator-friendly gardens of London’s Marlborough House on 1 July. Kwame has also worked with us on this edition of the Journal and lectured on our recent courses. The primary reason for Kwame’s visit is to finalise plans for establishing a new Centre of Excellence, Bees for development Ghana. Nicola Bradbear Director, Bees for development
Issue 116: Sept 2015 In this issue
page
Healthy bees – Fresh pollen not concentrated feed......................... 3 T Shirt Winners............................. 5 Recent Research .......................... 5 Apitrade Africa News.................... 5 Paul Mzeka.................................... 5 Honey bees bring more cash from cashew.................................. 6 Practical beekeeping: Containers for honey...................11 Chipo Gono – bees inspire me....13 Look & Learn Ahead....................14 Hive beetles with honey bees and stingless bees.......................15 Bee Bee Tree................................17 Bookshelf.....................................18 Notice Board................................19 Bfd Journal Produced quarterly and sent to readers in over 130 countries Editor: Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson BSc Subscriptions cost £26 per year - see page 18 for ways to pay
Kwame Aidoo examines bee-pollinated blueberries as he visits fruit farms in Herefordshire
© Kwame Aidoo
Dear friends
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Cover picture: Mrs Luccilia Dayuori leads a group of 20 women beekeepers in Tuna, a farming community in north Ghana. With support from GiZ African Cashew Initiative they have developed apiaries in cashew farms belonging to their husbands, families and friends. This combined effort has resulted in improved pollination of the cashew crop and additional income from the sale of honey and beeswax. Luccilia manages 20 colonies in top-bar hives on her husband’s farm and the other women in her group each keep five colonies to support their families.
