GUERLAIN has launched a female beekeeping entrepreneurship programme entitled Women for Bees in order to support beekeepers across the globe. In collaboration with UNESCO and Angelina Jolie, who is Godmother of the programme, it also aims to empower women through sustainable professional activity.
The programme will teach both theoretical and practical aspects of beekeeping, successfully equipping participants with the ability and confidence to maintain their bee colonies, become professional beekeeper-entrepreneurs and be a part of an international female network to help guide other beekeepers.
Photograph: Nathan Wiley, Workhouse
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, stresses the dual mission of the programme. “The Women for Bees Guerlain x UNESCO programme not only highlights our interdependency with other living species, but also encourages women to be “designers of change” to create, educate and experiment with sustainable beekeeping in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as a way of living on Earth in harmony with other species”, she says.
With her own Foundation in Cambodia, aiming to improve poverty and conserve wildlife, Jolie was excited to partner with Guerlain who also possess a strong desire and dedication to protect the environment.
Angelina Jolie. Photograph: Alexei Hay, Netflix
As Godmother of the programme this year, Jolie’s role is to meet with female beekeepers and track their progress. “I’m excited to meet the women taking part in this programme from all over the world. I look forward to getting to know them and learning about their culture and environment and the role bees play in that. I hope the training will strengthen their independence, their livelihoods and their communities,” states Jolie.
Angelina Jolie. Photograph: Nathan Wiley, Workhouse
Beekeeping is often used as source of income in disadvantaged rural areas, where agricultural production is often minimal. Due to this, in the first two years, the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves involved will be; Iles et Mer d’Iroise (France), Sila (Italy), the Central Balkans (Bulgaria), Kozjansko & Obsotelje (Slovenia), Katunskiy (Russia), Tonle Sap (Cambodia), Kafa (Ethiopia), Volcans (Rwanda) and Xishuangbanna (China). By 2025, UNESCO aims to have built 2500 hives within 25 Biosphere Reserves, successfully restocking 125 million bees.
Photograph: Nathan Wiley, Workhouse.
Guerlain has always recognised the importance that bees play within our ecosystems and have subsequently celebrated their wonderful existence as demonstrated by the Bee Bottle design created in 1853. Guerlain continues to help make a difference in the world through their programmes and partnerships, hoping to inspire future generations.
Angelina Jolie. Photograph: Nathan Wiley, Workhouse
by Amie Bawa
Training for the Women for Bees programme will be over a 30 day period and take place at the French Observatory of Apidology (OFA) in Provence, France. It is set to begin June 21, 2021