Rwanda’s youthful population presents both an opportunity and a challenge. With over 60% of the population under the age of 25, rural communities face intense pressure to create meaningful employment for young people. Limited access to education, vocational training, and formal job opportunities leaves many rural youth trapped in cycles of underemployment and poverty.

These challenges are particularly visible in communities surrounding Umutara Deaf School, where unemployment among young people has historically contributed to social and economic tensions between the school and neighbouring villages.

The project

In 2025, Bees Abroad started a new project that builds on the success of the Umutara Deaf School. The project expands the beekeeping activities at the school to include unemployed non-deaf youth from neighbouring villages.

An initial group of 22 young people (12 men and 10 women) from Gatunda and Rukomo villages began training in May 2025. Only four had any prior experience of beekeeping. Training was delivered over 10 days across five weeks, allowing participants to continue managing daily responsibilities while gaining practical and theoretical skills.

On the first day of training, participants observed deaf students confidently working in the apiary, an experience that several trainees described as eye-opening.

This comment should be understood in context: people with disabilities, including deafness, face significant stigma in Rwanda and many other countries across Africa, where they are seen as ‘consumers of care’, unable to contribute to society. For a deaf person to not only be skilled but also be teaching, is a significant thing for many to see.

“Before this project, many of us were unemployed and lacked hope for the future. Through the training and the beekeeping equipment we received, we have acquired practical skills and confidence to sustain our activities. ”

- Member of the Gatunda Project Youth Beekeeping Group

Both village groups, Gatunda and Rukomo, have established apiaries, installed active beehives, and demonstrated strong teamwork and commitment to modern beekeeping practices. Collaboration between the groups has strengthened problemsolving skills, built confidence, and increased interest in beekeeping among other local young people.

This Case Study features in our 2025 Annual Report. To read more about our impact, click here.