In the calm countryside of Talinofc, Besnike had a dream to create a beekeeping business that would not only support her family but also contribute to the environment. Besnike was an enthusiastic advocate for the preservation of bees, understanding their critical role in pollination and the ecosystem. However, she needed a boost to turn her passion into a thriving business.

The financial support she received from CARE allowed her to invest in essential equipment – beehives and tools. Through the CARE project, she has also enrolled in training to gain a deeper understanding of beekeeping. Besnike was determined to make a positive impact, not only on her own life but also on the declining bee population in her community. By receiving this grant, Besnike renewed local agriculture, shared her knowledge, and empowered others, especially women, to follow her example.

As her honey production increased, Besnike decided to turn her success into a business. She began selling her honey at local farmers’ markets and soon built a loyal customer base. Word of her exceptional honey spread quickly, leading to requests from nearby grocery stores to stock her products.

Thus, the CARE grant empowered Besnike to generate additional income for her family.

Her dedication to nurturing her bees and promoting a deeper appreciation of their importance within the ecosystem had a profound impact not only on her personal life but also on the community and the environment as a whole. Besnike’s success was a testimony to the power of determination, and passion, and empowered her to generate additional income for her family.

“CARE donated to me 58 beehives, a duplicator, and a honey extraction machine, enabling me to substantially develop my business in beekeeping, considerably increase the number of beehives and diversify my potential to produce a greater variety of products such as honey, wax, creams, and propolis and engage in honeybee multiplication“, said Besnike.

Besnike was supported by the IWKA project with an in-kind grant of 10,000 EUR. She now cultivates more than 150 beehives and is one of the leading beekeepers in the village of Talinofc, Ferizaj/Uroševac Municipality.

The project “Inclusion of Women in Kosovo Agribusiness – IWKA” is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Economic Development (BMZ) through Engagement Global gGmbH, and implemented by CARE International and local partner organizations: Kosovo-Women 4 Women (K-W4W) and the Civil Right Program Kosovo (CRP/K).