In June 2019, Strive Foundation Rwanda organized full week training in modern beekeeping. The training objective was to help its Child Headed Household beneficiaries around the Nyungwe Forest acquire relevant knowledge in modern beekeeping techniques, specifically on beehives setup and maintenance, caring for bees and beehives, apiary management, honey harvesting and storing techniques. These Participants were members of Strive Foundation Rwanda vulnerable beneficiaries in Rusizi District. Bee-keeping is an-ultimate household and low-capital business for rural societies. On both the national and international markets, the Rwandan honey is in high demand due to its diverse use.

Strive Foundation Rwanda’s Butare Sector-Rusizi District CHH- beneficiaries have the opportunity to future beekeepers and honey harvesters that are bound to multiply productivity and gains from bee farming and honey harvesting, and this follows the acquisition of modern hives that will see them migrate away from using traditional ones. These beneficiaries say they have been trained to reap from forests in a sustainable manner, abstaining from felling the trees but to, instead, use them for apiculture.

With the skills acquired, Butare Sector Beneficiaries are now keen to produce first-quality honey in the country. They are ready to sell the honey in addition to other products like body lotions and candles.

This training equipped the CHH with modern beekeeping practice skills, specifically: materials and needed equipment; characteristic of a good site for beekeeping practice; transferring bees from traditional beehives to modern beehives; apiary management, bee diseases prevention and pest management; techniques to control and improve the honey quality; Queen rearing and bee colony multiplication, and improving the value of bee products especially beeswax.

For all the CHH participants that attended said that skills gained during the practical training will enable them, gain professional skills of beekeepers, and to take care of bee life because when bees are not healthy honey and other bee products decrease. They also mentioned that controlling bee colony fusions and bee colony multiplications through queen rearing are new skills that will help them to increase quantity of bees and the production in their community and the country at-large.