ASSOCIATIONS

Pascaline Umulisa, Executive Secretary for Rwanda Girl Guides Association (centre) with girl guides.

Could Girl Guides all over Africa become beekeepers?

When people who have never met are brought together for some common purpose, sometimes magic happens in unexpected ways. After all, so much of the world’s innovation is spawned by chance meetings, people making connections and new enterprises emerging. A case in point was a recent meeting of the membership committee for the African Society of Association Executives (AfSAE.)

By Gary Grimmer, executive chairman, GainingEdge.

We were there to discuss growing the association. The goal is to strengthen association management professionalism and to advance civil society in Africa. AfSAE requires more African associations to be aware that it exists and to understand that becoming a member has benefits – for the member association leaders and for Africa.

While we were waiting for everyone to join our Zoom call, we were chatting. One person on the call was David Mukomana, from Zimbabwe who is the President of the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa — Apimondia is the global organisation representing and promoting beekeeping and honey-related issues. While waiting to discuss AfSAE membership, a few of us began speaking about bees. Bees are fascinating creatures so we had much to talk about, especially regarding human wellness through use of hive products and environmental conservation.

David Mukomana, President of the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa.

Then Pascaline Umulisa joined the call. Pascaline is the Executive Secretary for the Rwanda Girl Guides Association. While we were waiting for others to join, we explained to Pascaline that we were discussing beekeeping.

Then one of us said, “Hey, Pascaline, maybe beekeeping would be a good activity for girl guides to learn about!” And Pascaline said, “It’s interesting you would say that, because last week, in a meeting, we were discussing possible activities for the girls and one of the suggestions was beekeeping.” That’s when David said, “Well, one of Apimondia’s goals is to empower women and girls in remote villages through beekeeping, to develop small enterprises that create employment opportunities and help them earn livelihoods from their environment.”

So here were two African association leaders who barely knew each other until they met through their connection to AfSAE’s Membership Committee, who realised they had a shared interest. Because of a chance conversation, they figured out that they could work together.

Girl Guides World Thinking Day 2020.

As a follow-up to the conversation a formal virtual meeting was held where the possibilities were explored with AfSAE. That discussion has led to the creation of a legacy project for AfSAE, the Girl Guides in Rwanda and the Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa which may be rolled out to other countries in Africa. It was agreed that Apimondia and the Girl Guides could partner to set up a pilot project assisting girls to engage in beekeeping as an income-generating activity. If it works, the Girl Guides may develop a program which empowers girls to learn a fun and useful skill — keeping bees, collecting honey and well, who knows where all that could lead? Maybe Girl Guides all over Africa will become beekeepers.

This is often how change happens. Chance meetings, interesting discussions, new revelations, new connections, new directions.

The goal of AfSAE is to strengthen Africa’s association community. But, its greatest value to members may be in helping them make connections with each other. Making connections that lead to new ideas and new undertakings which bring real benefits through collaboration. There are endless possibilities of African associations connecting and innovating to their mutual benefit and to Africa’s benefit. But, not if they never connect and have a conversation. Maybe this is the ultimate power that AfSAE will bring to African associations so they contribute towards building the Africa we would like. But, only if African associations choose to connect.

Who is Gary Grimmer?

Gary Grimmer is executive chairman of GainingEdge a global convention and association industry consulting firm. Mr Grimmer is one of the original founders of AfSAE and GainingEdge provides ongoing pro bono strategic support to the organisation.