Description
Project deals with three aspects of beekeeping in Central Slovakia: 1. extinction of beekeeping in the region 2. low general awareness about beekeeping 3. income generated from beekeeping for people in poverty. Therefore the project BEEsiness wants to revive the tradition of beekeeping, increase the awareness of general public in the field of pollination and to create new employment possibilities by beekeeping of unemployed people in long term in particular marginalized groups. The project has a goal to solve environmental problem by improving economical and social situation. For better information of public, we plan to make special lectures for teachers who became “experts on pollination”.
Summary of project results
Project was focused on beekeeping as part of sustainable livelihood and as provider of income to low-income and/or excluded people. Therefore the project BEEsiness was oriented on reviving of the tradition of beekeeping, increase the awareness of general public in the field of pollination and on creating new employment possibilities by beekeeping of unemployed and excluded people in long term. In addition, the project aimed also to solving of environmental problem by improving economical and social situation. Main outcome of the project is proving that beekeeping may be efficient part of both rural economy and environment protection. In addition, project clearly showed that Roma people are interested in beekeeping (what disproved one of known prejudices). 20 rural people were trained in middle term courses and they launched beekeeping with equioment purchased within the project. Another 27 people, mostly mentally disabled, learnt making of products of bee wax and the project promoter intermediates selling of products on fairs and markets. More than 2800 peoples - kids, teachers and general public - passed first-hand experienced with bees in the beekeeping places of project promoter and learnt about beekeeping and its importance for economy and environment The donor partnership brough mostly learning of work with mentally disabled people in beekeeping.
Summary of bilateral results
No similar project was implemented in Slovakia before that is why foreign experience was needed. NGO Bybi has got rich experience in involving of marginalized/excluded groups in beekeeping and development of beekeeping in problematic areas. They provided this experience and know-how to Slovak partners, e.g. work of Down's syndrom disabled people in beekeeping what was very well applicable on the Slovak side when working with mentally disabled people in Slovakia. It allowed to achieve one of the project outputs, to provide income opportunity to excluded people. On the other hand, Slovak partner is more experienced in environmental education (especially combination of practical beekeeping and creative workshops) and it shared this experience with the Norwegian partner, so know-how exchange was mutual and bi-directional. Two publications were also prepared and published jointly (one about beekeeping as tool of employment of marginalized groups and second one about environmental education via beekeeping).