Empowering Vulnerable Communities through Beekeeping and Experiential Learning

For people in peri-urban spaces and rural areas of less developed nations, beekeeping is quickly becoming a profitable agricultural practice. Beekeeping offers a food source with high nutritional value that is otherwise lacking in traditional diets. It is particularly well-suited to rural areas with a nearly endless supply of pollen and bees supporting organic cross-pollination of nearby crops. Apiculture and honey production have enormous potential for cultivation in Tanzania, particularly In Mwanza, due to the abundance of nectar and pollen. Although this industry is still in its infancy, it offers exciting economic, nutritional and environmental benefits to nearby communities and exciting opportunities to engage local students and youth through Experiential Learning and community development.

In Tanzania and throughout much of Africa, young people, including those enrolled and recently graduated from colleges and universities, are pervasively un and underemployed, and struggle to gain high-value skills, competencies and experiences that can lead to jobs or employment. Accordingly, by engaging local college students from St. Augustine University (Mwanza Tanzania) in beekeeping and related activities, project leaders from CLAO (Community Life Amelioration Organization) seek to cultivate broader impacts related to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals and targets.

SDG #10: Reduced inequalities within and among countries

10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

SDG #8: Decent work and economic growth

8.6:  By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training

SDG #17: Partnership for the goals

17.17 Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

Through a 2023 Winter Session study abroad course co-led by UB faculty member Chris Romano and Empire State College faculty member Dr. Dan Nyaronga, students worked with CLAO to construct 10 beehives, laying the foundation for this project. UB students are invited to collaborate with CLAO and students from St. Augustine University to continue to build capacity around this exciting initiative.

This project seeks to support development around the 10 hives established on the St. Augustine University of Tanzania’s forest land. These hives, along with the first training of students and local community, will serve as a platform for training and support of up to 500 students and local individuals interested in beekeeping each year.

The primary goals of this initiative are thus twofold:

1. to create a new source of income for the university and surrounding local community
2.  to reduce poverty through the teaching and assistance of students and local people in the practice of beekeeping

UB students who wish to support this initiative and associated goals and targets will be paired with St. Augustine students for collaborative projects and engagement. Individual projects will be customized to support strategic needs while also supporting UB student goals and interests.

• Community Life Amelioration Organization
• St. Augustine University, Mwanza Tanzania

UNSDG, ELN