Inspiring change in the younger generation through honeybees

In rural Ghana, where subsistence agriculture and community life are deeply intertwined, Buzz Clubs have emerged as an innovative response to the environmental challenges posed by these livelihood activities.

Rooted in the knowledge of indigenous honeybees and nature-based beekeeping, our Buzz Clubs are designed to nurture knowledge, character, and responsibility among children to create environmental stewardship. Buzz Club Ghana began in 2016 with two schools in the Greater Accra and Bono East Regions. Today, with six recent clubs established in 2024, there are 16 clubs across four regions of Ghana.

A group picture of Atakora clubbers together with Rejoice displaying their sketch of honey bees with ‘bee attitudes’ labels

In the Buzz Club model, two teachers from the beneficiary schools are selected and trained by Bees for Development Ghana and equipped with handbooks, bee hives, beekeeping equipment, and other tools to guide young learners. Children join the club at Primary Four (about 9 years old), and as they move to Primary Five, a new group begins at Basic Four, so two sets of buzzing learners grow side by side until graduation from primary school. Every fortnight, club sessions are held in each school.

As the club coordinator, I visit all clubs in every school term to encourage the teachers, interact with the clubbers and monitor the club’s progress. During the last school term’s visit, I engaged the clubbers in varied activities such as sketching of bees, learning songs and poems about bees and beekeeping, dancing, tree planting, movies, apiary visits, among others. Club lessons were brought to life through storytelling, art, and firsthand activities that made learning memorable.

Donkorkrom E.P. Sch. Buzz Club members observing bees in their study apiary

Atakora Buzz club members watering mahogany seedling in their study apiary

In the last school term, we also organised a refresher training session for 20 club teachers and an awareness-raising session for parents of new clubbers. Sessions with parents ensures that lessons learned by children are reinforced at home. During the Nyamebekyere session, one parent, Mr. Noah Kwame said “I used to spray bees with insecticide whenever I saw them, unaware of their vital role in crop production. After today’s session, I am better informed and enlightened.”

The impact of Buzz clubs has been enormous. Teachers (including other teachers in the schools) have established personal apiaries, earning extra income from honey and beeswax sales. Host communities are becoming more environmentally conscious. For me, the greatest joy is seeing children think differently about nature. A clubber, Ntim Sammuel, at Donkorkrom E.P. School shared, “I used to be afraid of bees and killed them whenever I saw them. Now I protect them instead.” Another clubber from Abotanso, Woeledzi Bless said, “I thought bushfires were normal and was fun to burn because I enjoyed bushmeat during bushfire seasons. Now I know they destroy our forests. I told my parents to stop bushfires.” These testimonies show how deeply the clubs are shaping values.

Awareness-raising session for parents of new clubbers at Nyamebekyere

Refresher training session for Buzz club teachers at Techiman

Looking ahead, we plan to expand to 20 more primary schools in 2026, as demand keeps growing. Our dream is to see Buzz Clubs integrated into the Ghana Education Service system, so every school benefits from this model.

In a world facing the effects of climate change, initiatives like Buzz Clubs give us hope. Buzz Clubs inspire children, enlighten parents, empower teachers, and transform communities. Through bees, we are building a generation that values the environment and leads with responsibility.

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A sketch of honey bee with a bee attitude label ‘be joyful’ by a buzz clubber