The Liberty Development Foundation (LIDEFO) is a community based organization based in Kasese, Uganda. Established in 2002, it contributes to eradicating poverty and extreme hunger in Kasese District by enhancing income-generating activities; one of which is beekeeping.
The project came about from a meeting with the Reverend Noah who is devoted to caring for and helping the widows who live in his parish. His compelling description of the circumstances in which they live persuaded Bees Abroad to help them.
This group is led by Ezra, an outstanding young beekeeper who learnt beekeeping from his father. When we met, he was making and using traditional cylindrical hives made from wicker covered in mud and dung. With the right skills, which he possesses, these hives are very successful. However, he understands that adopting top bar hives will make beekeeping more accessible for the others in the association. Members of the association wanted to increase production in order to make the sale of honey a worthwhile part of their income.
Until very recently the Batwa forest people lived as hunter gatherers in the Bwini Impenetrable Forest. The Forest is home to giant gorillas which are a valuable tourist resource. The Batwa were forced out of the forest to reduce the risk of disease transmission from humans to gorillas. They were given no land or support by the government and depend entirely on goodwill. They struggle to adapt to their new conditions.
A registered youth self help group founded in 2007. It uses modern and innovative approaches to provide work for the long term benefit of women, children and youth in Bukedea District.
The work in this region started in 2006 in the Soroti Region, through the charity Global Care. The UK project manager, Dave Bonner, whilst working with this NGO, recognised that his beekeeping skills could provide a new income stream for households and give the young people another skill and another source of income.
This began in 2012, to help vulnerable women in Uganda’s Hoima District to provide an income stream for their households through beekeeping.
This group really impressed Richard and Jane Ridler when we first met them in February 2018. Its leaders were competent, the management team included the young people and they had realistic goals.
