About

Vision

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 174 of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. Over half the population lives in poverty, and one-fifth in extreme poverty. Access to clean water, sanitation, and healthcare remain significantly challenging for many Malawians, especially in rural areas. Our vision is a country in which people and wildlife can co-exist and where people have a solid economic foundation, ensuring food security and access to education and healthcare. The Honey with Heart project aims to build a viable honey production business with smallholder farmers, that provides long-term economical sustainability for those involved.

Our story

Malawi is nicknamed “The Warm Heart of Africa” because of the friendliness of its people and that is what we experienced in 2012 at our first stay in Malawi where we visit Dzaleka Refugee Camp. It was then when we realized that Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world and we felt an obligation to do something. After supporting some projects around Malawi for a few years, a Dutchman was inspired to found Honey with Heart Ltd. in 2018, in a formal collaboration with African Parks (the NGO responsible for the management of the three national parks and reserves). The partnership provides a vehicle to develop and provide a sustainable, self sufficient, income generating business for those communities living around the parks. So, we have a long-term mindset!

Communities

Currently Honey with Heart supports over 70 communities, employs seven people and works closely with more than 1,900 beekeepers. Situated in some of the most remote areas in Malawi, these communities, who are living adjacent to national parks and wildlife reserves, have limited access to employment opportunities and have previously relied heavily on natural resources for their survival.

Honey with Heart aims to:

  1. Help local farmers generate income thus improving living conditions in these communities.
  2. Build the honey business in such a way that it ultimately doesn’t require financial help from third parties.
  3. Create an environment in the communities that helps protect the natural resources of the park.

Our partner

The Honey with Heart company, incorporated in Malawi with a Board of Directors, was set up to formalize a partnership between the Dutch foundation, Stichting Njobvu, and African Parks Network, to facilitate the management of beekeeping activities within communities living around three African Parks managed parks in Malawi. African parks support communities in numerous ways, from initiating income generating activities to investing in public health programs. In this partnership African parks supports in and around the three parks communities with the skills and resources to be able to produce organic honey.

Board Members

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Jes Gruner

 Chairman Board

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ROBERT RENSHAW

BOARDMEMBER

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CHIFUNDO JEAN KHOKWA

BOARDMEMBER

Project Officers

INNOCENT MANDA

PROJECT OFFICER MAJETE

CLEMENT MNANDI

PROJECT OFFICER LIWONDE

Patel Chiundira

PROJECT OFFICER NKHOTAKOTA

Copyright 2023 Honey with Heart. All Rights Reserved

Jes Gruner

Jes is the Regional Operations Manager of African Parks for Rwanda & Malawi. Raised on a farm in Malawi, Jes has worked in conservation for 13 years. He is of Swiss and Danish nationality but studied in the UK where he obtained a BSc in Applied Biology and Animal Science. After helping to set up a community game ranch in Malawi, Jes joined African Parks Majete in 2006, later moving to Akagera where he was initially appointed as Operations Manager and later, in 2012, became Park Manager. His primary goals for the park include working to restore and protect its wildlife, and continuing along the path towards self-sustainability. Knowing the enormous importance working together with the local communities is of great importance Jes joined the Board of Directors of Honey with Heart as Chairman of the Board in 2022.

Robert Renshaw

Born in Edinburgh in 1945 and educated in Business Administration and Marketing. Worked in the Retail industry before moving to Malawi in 1974 as Marketing and Training Manager for the Import and Export Company of Malawi. Moved to Guthrie Malawi as Chief Executive of two of their operation divisions in 1978 and stayed there until 1989. Started own trading business same year and acquired Farmers Organization in 1991 with two business partners. Run the Company for 24 years as Managing Director and acquired majority shareholding in 2008. Sold the Company in 2015 to a South African Public Company. Stayed on as MD for 30 months and then retired. Now a non- Executive Director. Also non- executive Director of Continental Asset Management and Continental Pension Services Company Ltd. Was a member of Endangered Species of Malawi (originally J&B Circle) from 1994 to 2014 which was responsible for the reintroduction of Black Rhino into Liwonde National Park Malawi. This was a voluntary association which managed the Black Rhino Sanctuary in Liwonde. Joined African Parks Majete as Board Director in 2003, appointed Vice Chairman 2005 and became Chairman of the Board in 2008 until present date. Joined the Board of Directors of Honey with Heart 2020.

Chifundo Jean Khokwa

Born in 1985 in Malawi and educated in Agriculture in Animal science (HAG) at the university of Zimbabwe but also studied in Switserland and Japan. Worked as Assistant Technical Advisor in the Government -GTZ School Health and Nutrition (SHN) Permaculture Programme and as animal health and livestock Development Officer at Machinga Agriculture district division in the field of animal disease control programmes. Today Chifundo works as National Coordinator for Schools and Colleges permaculture (Scope). An agroecologist whose interests lie in teaching people to produce enough quality food for themselves and creating sustainable livelihoods whilst caring for the environment she joined the Board of Directors of Honey with Heart in 2023.