New Year, New Honey: The sweet promise of a hopeful tomorrow!

Tessema Wochamo, member of WEEMA-supported beekeeping cooperative tending to his garden!

“I lost all that I had just to restore my health. Now that I am healthy and part of the cooperative facilitated by WEEMA, my life has meaning once again.”

-Tessema Wochamo, proud member of WEEMA-supported beekeeping cooperative

Stories like Tessema’s serve as a reminder of why access to economic opportunity is the key in providing hope for communities in need!  Read on to learn more about Tessema’s story:

Tessema Wochamo is 47 years old and lives in Kembata Tembaro Zone. He lives with his wife, three sons and six daughters. He has more than 8 years of experience in traditional beekeeping. Before he joined a cooperative supported by WEEMA, he was severely sick and in need of medical attention. For the sake of his medical expense he sold all his cattle and bee hives. Fortunately, his health improved and he joined the Semien Ambukuna Beekeeping cooperative where he was trained on modern colony management and producing transitional hives at home through local materials. 

Today, Tessema owns 16 traditional and 5 transitional hives. He is known for his hard work in the Semien Ambukuna cooperative as he harvests twice a year and earns a monthly average of 2,975.00 Birr (approximately $80). Additionally, he saves 10 Birr per month in his cooperative, sustains his family and is able to afford school fees for his children. His economic status has been completely transformed. 

“I am very thankful WEEMA mobilized us in cooperatives for modern honey production and created a market so that we can get income to improve our lives”, said Tessema when asked about his experience with the beekeeping cooperative.

We pass on this gratitude to YOU, our donors and supporters who enable us to do the work we do!  Together, we continue  to help communities in Ethiopia thrive in hope for a better tomorrow!