This October, Greencore Group Technical Director, Helen Sisson, as part of a team of intrepid women from the food industry, will be embarking on a challenge of a lifetime in Tanzania: The Big Beehive Buildin support of Farm Africa. Working alongside female beekeepers in Tanzania’s Nou Forest, they will be putting their DIY and endurance skills to the test by building over 100 beehives in just 72 hours!
Who is Farm Africa?
Agriculture is the backbone of Africa. And Farm Africa is the leading charity specialising in growing agriculture, protecting the environment and developing businesses in rural Africa.
Building on over 30 years’ experience of helping Africa’s people thrive, they help farmers grow more, sell more and sell for more, while protecting the environment for years to come. Last year, their work helped over 1.9 million people towards a more prosperous future for themselves and their families.
The Big Beehive Build is a Farm Africa challenge event under the banner of our Food for Good fundraising campaign: uniting the food and hospitality industry behind Farm Africa’s vision of a prosperous rural Africa.
Building a lasting legacy for women in Tanzania
Thousands of people living in Tanzania’s Nou Forest are reliant on the forests around them to survive. But deforestation has become increasingly common as people chop down trees for timber to sell as firewood, and to clear grazing land for their animals. Poverty is the main driver of deforestation so Farm Africa works with the communities teaching them how to make money through forest-friendly businesses.
This challenge will kick-start new honey businesses for women in the Bermi community. The beehives are specifically designed with women in mind – unlike the traditional tree-top beehives that are considered socially unacceptable for women to use, these hives sit on the ground and give women the opportunity to grow their own businesses and sustain their own livelihoods.
Building a legacy with your support
And the team need your help to make the challenge a success! Not only do they want to leave behind the beginnings of sustainable businesses for women in Bermi, they want to give Farm Africa the means to carry on their life-changing work across eastern Africa.
As a team they are aiming to raise £80,000 – this will make an enormous difference to Farm Africa’s ability to reach more farmers across eastern Africa to unleash their potential.
You can support the challenge by making a donation at our team fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/BBB17.
Every gift will truly help build a more sustainable future for farmers across east Africa.
Keep up to date with the build:
- Web: www.farmafrica.org/BigBeehiveBuild17
- Twitter: @FarmAfrica #BigBeehiveBuild17
- Facebook: Facebook.com/FarmAfrica #BigBeehiveBuild17
