Hi, my name is Julian. My partner Ruby and I are very honoured to share with you our exciting initiative to make an impact in Zimbabwe.

Message from Ruby"

"I am a Zimbabwean/Canadian filmmaker using my skills to make an impact in my birth country, Zimbabwe. Since returning home for the first time in over a decade, I've joined the mission of the non-profit Simukai Trust.

Together we are fundraising for the Simukai Wild Honey Project, an initiative that empowers rural women financially through beekeeping. In partnership with Jacqui Gowe and her company Sweet Maungwe Honey, we will be providing the training, equipment, monitoring, and facilities necessary to launch many small-scale apiaries in communities across Zimbabwe.

We are so grateful for all the support we've received behind this campaign."

The changing climate in Zimbabwe has meant that traditional farming practices and economically viable crops are not performing in the same way they used to. This drives families to engage in alternative methods to earn a living like selling firewood or charcoal. Unfortunately this causes significant deforestation, creating a host of spin-off problems for the local biodiversity. With out-grower beekeeping, individuals with hives become stewards of the forest because the bees need the trees to thrive, requiring few inputs and minimal time commitment. Honey also performs well in dry conditions so long as the bees have a source of water. Our selected project areas meet that criteria. With the income generated from the hives, many women are able to break the negative economic cycles through sending their children to school, starting businesses and accessing medical care. Honey production can change many lives.

Our goal is to place 2000 hives in the hands of rural women by the end of the project!

Please help us to change the lives of vulnerable women by donating to this campaign and sharing it with your friends and family.

Let's make a difference together!