Bees for Development Ghana trains teachers to launch Beekeeping Clubs in basic schools
Dozens of selected teachers from across Ghana have completed a five-day intensive training workshop in the Techiman Municipality, equipping them with the skills to run Buzz Clubs, school-based beekeeping and conservation programs, in their respective basic schools.
The workshop was organized by Bees for Development Ghana (BfDG) as part of its mission to use apiculture to improve rural livelihoods and protect biodiversity.
By the end of a five-day intensive training workshop in Techiman, the teacher from Nsuta DA Basic School in the Shai Osudoku District had not only conquered that fear — she was ready to build a business.
"The training has helped me do away with the fear of bees, and I'm going to venture into beekeeping due to its economic benefits," she said.
Ahiable is one of dozens of teachers from across Ghana selected to participate in a training program run by Bees for Development Ghana (BfDG) through its Buzz Clubs initiative — a project designed to introduce primary and basic school children to sustainable apiculture, biodiversity, and environmental conservation.
For Dr. Papa Kwodwo Mbroh, Programmes Director and Apiculture Development Coordinator for BfDG, the answer is simple.
"The mission of the program is to use beekeeping to improve the lives of the people, especially rural folks," he explained.
"The idea of the Buzz Club, which targets school children, is to introduce young children to beekeeping."
"Bees are very important and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity," Dr. Mbroh noted. "The pollinating activities of bees are the reason why our forests are preserved, and they contribute a lot to food production."
In other words: healthy bees mean healthy forests, healthy farms, and healthy communities.
The five-day workshop, held in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region, blended classroom instruction with hands-on field experience. Participants were trained in:
· Traditional hive-making using freely available natural materials such as bark, logs, bamboo, and grasses
· Apiary establishment and management, including site selection, water provision, feeding, and pest and bushfire control
· Safe handling of bees, including lighting and using smokers properly
· Basic business and entrepreneurial skills tailored for young learners
The training didn't stay indoors. Teachers were taken to the field, where they observed beehives up close and learned exactly what to do when visiting hives with active bees inside. They also practiced constructing hives from different locally sourced materials.
For Abel Manu Kwaku from the Tain District, the workshop opened his eyes to possibilities beyond the hive.
"I'm thankful to the organizers," he said. "I'm going to tap into value addition to reap the benefits of beekeeping."
That entrepreneurial mindset is by design. Organizers say teachers are given entrepreneurial skills and shown the real economic opportunities in beekeeping, not just so they can benefit themselves, but so they can nurture the young minds they teach.
The model is straightforward but powerful: train the teachers, and they will train the children.
Teachers who complete the program return to their respective schools to run Buzz Clubs, engaging pupils in practical beekeeping and conservation activities. So far, dozens of teachers have been trained across multiple basic schools, with hundreds of pupils already participating.
The result is a ripple effect, young Ghanaians learning early that bees are not a threat to be feared, but a resource to be protected and harnessed.
As the workshop in Techiman came to a close, participants left with more than certificates. They carried new skills, new confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
For teachers like Ahiable and Kwaku, the journey is just beginning, and the next generation of Ghanaian beekeepers may soon be sitting in their classrooms.
For Bees for Development Ghana, the hope is that this sweet, sustainable venture continues to grow, one hive, one school, and one Buzz Club at a time.
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