This September, Bees for Development is helping train the next generation of beekeeping leaders.

Every year, students at Mzuzu University in Malawi and Makerere University in Uganda discover that beekeeping is about far more than producing honey. Through practical training, field visits and academic study, they gain the knowledge and skills to improve livelihoods, support biodiversity and strengthen their communities.

As part of our September campaign, every donation will be doubled, helping even more students access life-changing beekeeping education and practical experience. This year, we’re delighted to be taking part in a Big Give new regular giving programme, giving supporters two simple ways to make twice the impact.

There are two ways to give this September.

“I never realised beekeeping could change lives. Today, I understand that beekeeping is much more than honey production.”

Issa Assibu is a Forestry and Environmental Management student at Mzuzu University in Malawi. He discovered through beekeeping that bees can do far more than produce honey, they can create livelihoods, empower communities and help protect forests.

Through his beekeeping training, Issa gained practical skills in hive management, honey harvesting, bee health and sustainable beekeeping. He now volunteers his time supporting local beekeepers and sharing what he has learned with his community.

With your support, we can train the next generation of beekeeping leaders like Issa, giving young people the skills and knowledge they need to build sustainable livelihoods, support their communities and protect the environment.

Tom Kisoboyi is a final-year Agriculture student at Makerere University in Uganda and a team leader with the Makerere University Bee Club. Through his studies and beekeeping, he has seen first-hand the challenges faced by smallholder beekeepers, from empty hives to declining bee forage.

University beekeeping education has given Tom the skills and confidence to turn knowledge into action. He now leads fellow students, trains others and works alongside beekeepers to develop practical, climate-smart solutions that strengthen livelihoods and protect the environment.

“Training the next generation early transforms them into active environmental mentors, helping to build a resilient and sustainable beekeeping industry.”

Thanks to your generosity, we can empower more young people like Tom to learn, lead and share their knowledge — helping to nurture the next generation of beekeeping leaders and inspire lasting positive change for their communities and the environment.

Why University Beekeeping Education Matters

At Mzuzu University in Malawi, beekeeping education goes far beyond honey production. Students combine classroom learning with hands-on experience, developing practical skills in bee biology, hive management, honey harvesting and processing, business development
and bee health.

Students from forestry, agriculture and other disciplines gain experience managing colonies, building hives and understanding the realities of the honey industry. This prepares them for careers in commercial beekeeping, honey processing, research, consultancy and development, while equipping them to support beekeepers in their communities.

Beekeeping offers young people an accessible way to generate income and employment, while creating opportunities for value-added products such as beeswax candles and soap.

It also connects livelihoods with environmental conservation. Healthy forests provide bees with food and shelter, while bees support pollination, agriculture and biodiversity.

By training young people, Edwin, Lenson and Mzuzu University are helping develop the skills, knowledge and leadership needed to shape Malawi’s future beekeeping sector.

How studying beekeeping changed my career

Dr Biryomumaisho Dickson, Executive Director of the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO), discovered the power of beekeeping as a young boy, using income from his bees to help pay his school fees.

At university, studying Community Forestry, a beekeeping course opened his eyes to the wider potential of bees – from livelihoods and enterprise to environmental conservation. He began keeping bees, trading honey and training communities, eventually joining TUNADO and becoming its Executive Director in 2011.

Dickson believes university beekeeping education can give young people the practical skills and confidence to create livelihoods and become leaders in their communities. He also sees beekeeping as a pathway to conservation: understanding what bees need naturally encourages people to protect trees, habitats and biodiversity.

Throughout his career, he has witnessed families use beekeeping to earn an income, educate their children, improve their homes and build more secure futures.