OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2008. The Public Foundation Barsem held a press conference to report on its project Bee-farming as a Sustainable Income Generating Activity in Orphanages.

Financed by Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Kazakhstan, the project was implemented in the Kelechek orphanage as part of EFCA’s Supporting Income Generating Activities among Socially Vulnerable Groups program.

Within the project, orphans and staff at Kelechek orphanage were trained in bee-keeping as a way to generate income. In addition to training, participants also received bee-families and jars of honey to help them launch their bee-keeping activities. The head of the orphanage, A. Baratova, said, “We are very glad that this project is carried out in our orphanage. Our kids have been taught bee-keeping, and they’ve learnt how to collect honey. Honey is health!”

A fair was also organized in Kyzylsuu village to raise funds for the orphanage. Project participants sold honey to local villagers, raising 12,000 soms (almost \\$350) for Kelechek. The head of Kyzylsuu village administration participated in the fair, expressing his approval and support of the project. He noted that these types of initiatives make a positive impact on socio-economic problems not only in the village, but throughout the entire country.

EFCA’s Supporting Income Generating Activities among Socially Vulnerable Groups program works to develop income generating activities, provide information on how to improve household budgets, promote the rights of socially vulnerable populations and increase the capabilities of NGOs to better assist these groups.