This Honey is Buzzworthy

Nokuthula was no stranger to hard work. A subsistence farmer, she spent her days tending cattle, goats, vegetables, and honeybees to provide for her husband and their seven children. Her family lived in rural Ndlandlameni, Eswatini, a small nation near the southern coast of Africa.  

But without a reliable market for her honey, Nokuthula struggled to afford school for her children or repairs for her leaking roof. And because she lacked essential beekeeping equipment, caring for her hives often meant upsetting the bees and getting stung.  

Weighed down by worry, Nokuthula didn’t know what she would do to provide for her family. Things changed when she found a partner. 

The Beginning of a Partnership 

Nokuthula heard through the grapevine that AfricaWorks Swaziland (AWS), a local partner of Partners Worldwide, was busy equipping beekeepers in a neighboring community with training, market access, and technical support. Inspired, Nokuthula and her fellow beekeepers in Ndlandlameni asked AWS if they could receive the same assistance. 

AWS equipped Nokuthula with a bee suit, a smoker, a moisture meter, and the skills to construct her own beehives. Crucially, she learned effective bee management techniques, which helped to improve hive productivity. 

But Nokuthula’s relationship with AWS didn’t end with training. Ongoing support—including hive inspections—helped her maintain healthy colonies and boost honey production, leading to higher incomes. Even more, Nokuthula signed a contract with AWS to sell her honey, ensuring she always has access to the market! AWS processes, bottles, and distributes the honey to supermarkets. 

“I have been trained and empowered as a woman to improve my finances and gain confidence in what I do,” Nokuthula said. 

Increasing Her Honey Harvest 

Equipped with new hives, know-how, and market access, Nokuthula was ready to start improving and expanding her business.  

Weekly, Nokuthula inspected her 40 hives for pests or disease. And during the honey flow season, she identified honeycombs ready for harvest, gently brushing off the bees and placing the combs into buckets. Then, all she had to do was contact AWS and tell them her harvest was ready! AWS coordinated the collection, weighed the buckets, and paid her based on the quantity of honey delivered. 

Nokuthula used the earnings from her honey to repair her roof, send her children to school, and ensure food security for her family. “God has favored me, and I see him in all that I do,” Nokuthula said. “We are truly blessed as a family.”