It is hard to spend time in Kenya and not fall in love with its beautiful and diverse landscapes, magnificent wildlife, and especially with its warm and generous people. After nearly 10 years of collaborative research on honey bees in Africa, I retired but did not want to give up spending time in this amazing country. My husband, who participated in the research there, suggested to our Kenyan colleagues, Elliud Muli, and Joseph Kilonzo and I  that we consider developing a tour for beekeepers who wanted to experience African bees and meet African beekeepers, firsthand.  Hats off to those brave individuals who were part of our first tour in 2018, which was not without its challenges. It was a steep learning curve for we beekeeping specialists turned travel agents! But learn we did, and in 2025, we completed our fifth tour. By all accounts, the tour has improved significantly each year. This has been confirmed by a number of “repeat customers” and is due in large part to our engagement of Casolodge Travel and Safaris Limited (ask for Caroline)!

     Not surprisingly, many individuals who have participated in these annual two-week treks to Kenya have developed a strong attachment to and affection for the country and its people.  Through the generosity and willingness of individuals and the group as a whole to share their resources, we have been able to make some small improvements in the lives of rural Kenyans.  These include the completion of two water projects, the construction of a girls' dormitory, and the installation of playground equipment (thanks to fundraising efforts by a fourth-grade class in State College, PA whose teacher joined us in 2025) at a rural school in Ukasi. We are providing ongoing support for nine secondary school students. Two of these students have graduated to university and are  pursuing diplomas in education and electrical engineering. A third university student receiving sponsorship is pursuing a degree in nursing. In addition, we have provided support for beekeepers in the form of equipment and training, most recently in partnership with Apiconsult LTD, a newly- formed socially conscious business that is focused on improving the lives and livelihoods of rural Kenyans. And we have provided support to the Apiconsult model farm  through the purchase of a biodigester that turns goat poop into methane fuel for cooking!

     Over the years, we have considered ideas that would make our commitment more enduring and allow us to do more.  At the conclusion of our 2025 visit in March, a core group of knowledgeable and committed individuals agreed to form a nonprofit and serve on its board; thus, BEE (Beekeepers and Educators Engaged) in Kenya was conceived.  In September 2025, we officially became a registered 501(c), nonprofit in the US.

     What started out as a simple effort to share with a few Americans the beauty of Kenya, the warmth of the Kenyan people, and the uniqueness of African honey bees, has become something much more meaningful.   We are profoundly grateful to all of the individuals, both Kenya and American,  who have brought us to this point.