From the Caribbean to Uganda

My trip to Uganda was so extraordinary; it’s hard to figure out how to convey it all. I definitely want to begin with thanking all the people who helped make this trip possible. Your donations of time, money, merchandise and good will helped make us successful beyond expectations. And in Uganda, people (sometimes strangers) also contributed their time, vehicle, merchandise and good will. I could write an entire blog about the world community that came together to make this trip possible! 

So what did this mean for the Wampiti Beekeepers? I took suitcases full of items that were donated and bought; including silicone candle molds and wicking, beekeeping books, beekeeping video and presentations on DVD, and materials relevant to beekeeping. We used funds to have smokers made by a metal worker and bee jackets made by a tailor. These items were Made in Uganda and what a win-win situation: the price for each was slightly less than average market price and we employed local people to make the items, helping the local economy.

A brief rainstorm greeted my first meeting with the Wampiti Beekeepers Association, and we met in a local school room. The members were able to taste honey from the USA and Caribbean and compare the flavors. This helped make members more aware that their own honey can be just as varied in taste and there was a discussion of what makes honey taste different. Silicone candle molds from the USA were opened and examined, and we talked about increasing income by making candles and where the candles could be marketed.  A block of wax was presented to the group by Kyeyune Stephen for the purpose of making candles as gifts to the people who donated towards the trip.

We left the school room for the cooking fire where the beeswax was melted over an open fire. It is dangerous to work with beeswax and an open fire but this group is aware of how flammable beeswax is. I also melt my beeswax over an open (propane) fire and never leave it alone in case of fire.

I think the most fun we had was when we made our candles. We learned the importance of having clean beeswax when making a candle, because the impurities settle in the candle and the result is not beautiful or very marketable. We also discovered several reasons why it is important to allow candles to cool completely before taking out of the mold! Members also learned how to make dipped candles, which do not require a mold. We made small candles as a sample and it was discussed how to make a frame for larger candles or to attach weights to dip individual pairs. Madam Norah brought her soap mold for us to examine and we set a date for the next meeting, when we planned to make soap and lotion. 

The meeting ended with a group picture.

 

Thank you to the Wampiti Beekeepers Association for hosting me with such friendliness. I visited several members’ beeyards and was invited into manyhomes during my visit, experiencing a lot of Ugandan Culture. I will continue to expand this report in the coming weeks and talk about the rest of my visit.