HwH/AP BEEKEEPING PROJECT TRANSFORMS JAILOSI OUT OF POVERTY
Namidiya Jailosi is a middle-aged man. He comes from Makawa village, T/A Nsanama in Machinga District. Jailosi was instrumental in the formation of Makawa Beekeeping Club in 2018, under African Parks. Makawa Club was one of the clubs in Machinga District that benefited from the Langstroth Hives from Honey with Heart under Liwonde National Park. Jailosi through this club, demonstrated his Beekeeping and Leadership skills such that this club became the most outstanding in their area. The Beekeeping Training which Jailosi and other members were given, played a very big role in transforming lives of the club members including Jailosi.
4 years down the line, Jailos’ life has changed. He has bought land of his own, where part of it is allocated for Beekeeping. He has built a better house through proceeds from honey sales. He is able to send his children to school without looking for bursaries for them. He is also able to diversify at this household, such that he is able to grow different crops as well as raise livestock like goats and chickens. Another interesting thing with Jailosi is that having interacted with AP staff for 5 years now, he has developed very high interest in environmental conservation. He is able to manage trees around his home, as well as being instrumental in influencing people in his area to take part in managing Liwonde National Park. When Jailosi was visited to narrate his side of the story, he had this to say, “Initially I was very blank on Environmental Conservation until AP came in with this Beekeeping Project in my area. With time, the Beekeeping Project gave us income through honey sales while we conserve the environment in our area. In the past years, our source of income was the park through poaching and charcoal making, but now, our income comes from honey sales and other interventions brought in by African Parks, a very good balance up’’. I am very grateful to our Extension Officers from HwH/AP who are able to advise us the importance of taking part in managing the park, while also imparting us with Beekeeping Management skills. Our lives have not remained the same, we are moving forward’, concluded Jailosi.