INCOME Generation
Eswatini kitchen | honey | friends of myc and salesians | SAPPAS

Honey

Statistics show that more than 20% of all rural households are now headed by children under the age of 16 or elderly grandparents due to HIV/Aids related deaths of parents. These households comprising of orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) are suffering from lack of food, education, parental guidance, psycho-social support and inability to engage in children's pursuits. There is limited ability for them to generate income to support themselves and siblings and as such are falling further into poverty. Communities are unable to cope with the growing number of such households and to date have limited means of supporting these child headed families.

MYC is currently undertaking a feasibility study with African Development Foundation (ADF) to investigate the viability of introducing beekeeping and honey production into orphan or grandparent headed homesteads as a means of generating income so as to meet the basic requirements of food, health care, shelter and if possible, education. This income generating activity will ensure survival and self-reliance, strengthening efforts towards sustainable development and minimization of dependencies.

At the same time, this new product line will allow for growth at the successful Eswatini Swazi factory, a non profit business offering employment to marginalized people and making produce purchases of small scale local producers. Honey product will allow for access to new markets. Increased profits within this business, generated from the processing, packaging and sales of honey, will be channelled towards Manzini Youth Care and allow for an increase in the number of social outreach and youth focused services of the organisation.

If all continues well and the grant is approved, this project should begin around the middle of this year. An update on this initiative will follow.