Bee project has people buzzing
A Syrian refugee has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 about the beekeeping course he runs at Huddersfield Meeting House.
A Syrian refugee and beekeeping expert has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4 about his beekeeping and the course he runs at Huddersfield Meeting House.
Ryad Alsous, a former professor of agriculture at Damascus University, spoke to Radio 4’s On Your Farm about the Buzz Project, which he set up with the help of Sanctuary Kirklees, and some Huddersfield Friends, after being donated a hive of native British black bees. The Buzz Project teaches refugees and job seekers how to keep bees and produce honey, while also learning English. ‘Beekeeping in Syria is a very serious business as many industries make products using honey, including natural medicine and cosmetics,’ Ryad Aslsous told On Your Farm. ‘Eighty-seven per cent of bees have been destroyed because of the war. There are no plants, trees or flowers.’
Ryad Alsous, who was known as ‘professor of bees’ by his students, stayed in Syria for two years during the war, but fled in 2013. ‘Everyday life was dangerous,’ he said. ‘I arrived in the UK with just a jacket. We lost everything we had established: our jobs, our money, our property, but not our life. I hope now to build again.’
Kim Strickmen from Sanctuary Kirklees told the programme that Ryad Alsous came to them with an ‘inspiring’ proposal: ‘The vision we loved was not just helping refugees but also job seekers, to build confidence and skills, and dispel some myths about refugees in the wider community. Also, to produce some jolly good honey.’
