bigdeal in mozambique
DESCRIPTION
Remegio lives in Mozambique, where CAFOD supports his family to keep bees for a living. Find out more about Remegio's family, and the honey business!TRANSCRIPT
In Remegio’s village, burning trees to In Remegio’s village, burning trees to make charcoal used to be the main make charcoal used to be the main trade. Now a CAFOD-supported project to trade. Now a CAFOD-supported project to set up beekeeping has provided an set up beekeeping has provided an alternative, environmentally-friendly alternative, environmentally-friendly business…business…
Remegio from Mozambique…Remegio from Mozambique…
Remegio (15) and his little sister Calcida who’s eight are from Mozambique in the south east of Africa
Remegio’s home in the village. It’s made up of two traditional thatched huts for sleeping and shelter, with an open kitchen in between.
Remegio keeps his pet bird under a tree. Everyone here is being encouraged to look after the trees and not cut them down to use for charcoal. Trees are used for so many purposes – this one’s for pet birds.
Here’s Daniel, Remegio’s grandfather. He’s never retired and is still working hard everyday although he’s 86! He tends bees and sells honey.
Daniel’s off to work at the beehives. He’s the community leader for honey production. He learnt all about keeping bees in a CAFOD-supported project to train people in beekeeping.
Now Daniel’s bees are a good source of income for all the family
Daniel works with his daughter Madeline. Some of the honey is sold and some they use. It’s delicious to eat, but Daniel says the honey is also good at fighting illnesses like flu, and for putting on cuts and grazes.
To collect honey from the beehives, Daniel lights a fire and places burning twigs in a metal ‘smoker’ that has an opening for smoke to escape from. This makes the bees drowsy and less likely to sting! But they still have to wear special protective clothes…
Daniel and Madeline gather the honey – carefully! Because of the success of the beekeeping business in the village, burning the trees to make charcoal is reduced. So the beekeeping is a sustainable trade, which protects their environment.
They lift out the honeycombs then place these in a barrel with a vice at the top. The vice is tightened and the honey is squeezed out.
Sustainable farming to protect the environment – and a great business for Remegio to learn when he finishes school – all supported by CAFOD.
For more about CAFOD and young people in Mozambique go to:
www.cafod.org.uk/bigdeal