When, in 2018, we introduced beekeeping to Okun Owa Multilateral Grammar School, with support from INTO Giving, the goal was to give students a skill that could support them beyond the classroom. The outcome however was far larger, a ripple effect that went beyond the school and into the community.

We don't often talk about how small our project budget are. This three-year project cost less than £5,000 to run. Yet its impact will be felt for years and generations to come.

The project began with just ten students, two teachers, and two local community members. By the end of the project, 64 students were trained in beekeeping. Students learned not only to manage hives but also to make bee suits, build equipment, and even create secondary products like candles and creams. For many, it was their first opportunity to contribute to family income in a sustainable way.

Girls in the project stood out thanks to their own skills and initiative. One trainee with tailoring skills became the club’s bee suit maker, producing suits for fellow students and generating her own income, while others gained the confidence to process beeswax into products like polish and creams, exploring other economic opportunities. These successes show how beekeeping can open doors for young women in rural communities.

Young tailor interviewed after learning how to make beesuits, feels confident she can produce one beesuit within a day.

The change spread outside the school too. A local honey hunter abandoned destructive practices, choosing instead to manage colonies and share his new knowledge with other honey hunters. Farmers who once destroyed wild hives, considering them pests, began offering land for colonies, since recognising how bees improved their harvests. Even the neighbourhood watch group, once a source of tension, joined efforts to protect the school apiary from possible vandalism and theft.

An article was even published in local news magazine Atotodaily, emphasising how knowledge in beekeeping makes better students and better farmers.

Teachers also grew through the project. Ajayi Joseph Ajibola, who coordinated the beekeeping club, has since trained as a Bees Abroad trainer. He now supports other schools, including Luba Comprehensive School, another Bees Abroad project, passing on skills and knowledge to the next generation.

And the students? They continue to inspire. Young people like Paul Lawrence, who began in the very first year of training, are now using beekeeping to support their families and fund further education. His story is just one of many - proof that youth empowerment is taking root. Do read about it here.

Eight years on, the school club remains active, more students learn about the importance of bees and the opportunities that beekeeping can offer. The community continues to benefit from healthier crops, new income streams, and a greater respect for bees.

As we mark Remember a Charity Week from 8th-15th of September, Okun Owa is a reminder that even the smallest act of giving can create a legacy. Less than £5,000 helped power change through empowering young people, strengthening communities, and protecting the environment for generations to come.

No gift or act is too small, if it has the potential to create a lasting change.