Beekeeping Centre for Mine/UXO Survivors Opens in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The opening of the beekeeping center on 29 March 2023 was a key milestone within a project, which aims to utilize beekeeping as a tool to empower mine/UXO survivors and is backed by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs through Slovenian Aid. Partnerships with NGO UDAS, the Beekeeping Academy of the Republic of Slovenia, and Kmetijski inštitut Slovenije play a key role in making this possible.
Beekeeping is a fantastic way to establish stable household income and improve the quality of life for vulnerable social groups, particularly survivors of mines and UXO. It requires little start-up investment and does not demand complex technologies and techniques to begin, making it an enterprise with low-cost investment requirements that can be constructed from local materials. Overall, beekeeping is highly suitable for small-scale agricultural activity in localities where capital and technological resources are limited, making it an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities as it allows them to work from home.
The beekeeping center has several objectives, including the inclusion of mine and UXO survivors in the process of producing bee products, developing social skills, encouraging social activities, facilitating mutual assistance and cooperation, and providing workshops on beeswax-candle-making for women. These activities also raise awareness of living in harmony with nature and the need for environmental protection. Additionally, the beekeeping center offers opportunities for rehabilitation and tourism.
The opening of the beekeeping center marks a significant step forward in empowering mine and UXO survivors. The project's success is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of providing vulnerable social groups with opportunities to take control of their lives and work towards a brighter future.
The official ceremony on 29 March 2023 was attended by many important figures, including the State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Republic of Slovenia, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Republic of Srpska, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Director of ITF Enhancing Human Security, the Director of Agriculture Institute of Slovenia, the Head of the Beekeeping Academy of Republic of Slovenia, representatives of the NGO UDAS, mine/UXO survivors, and others.
