24 aspiring beekeepers, including 17 women, complete hands-on programme focused on sustainable beekeeping practices
The Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA), in partnership with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, successfully delivered the beginners beekeeping training in Egypt under the PLANBEE project – a €2.8 million Euro-Mediterranean initiative co-funded by the European Union (89%) under the Interreg NEXT MED programme. The training was implemented by Heirloom Egypt.
A total of 24 aspiring beekeepers with little or no prior experience participated in the programme, of whom 17 were women – a notable majority that created a light-hearted parallel with the highly female-dominated structure of a honey bee colony and became a memorable characteristic of the group.
Spanning 16 hours across two in-person days (29–30 August) and one online session (6 September), the training combined theoretical instruction with extensive hands-on practice. Participants engaged with beekeeping equipment, assembled frames, practiced using a smoker, and explored various hive products including honey, beeswax, propolis, and royal jelly.
The curriculum covered bee biology, hive equipment, colony inspection, apiary establishment, seasonal management, honey harvesting, bee health, Varroa control, Egyptian forage plants, and legal responsibilities. The hands-on sessions – particularly those involving honey tasting and product exploration – generated especially strong engagement, demonstrating that sensory and practical experiences are valuable tools for introducing participants to beekeeping and its commercial potential.
Strong Engagement and Interactive Learning
Trainers observed that participants came with a genuine emotional connection to bees and a strong sense of compassion for their wellbeing, creating a highly positive learning environment. This facilitated rich discussions around bee biology, colony health, and responsible beekeeping practices.
Participants demonstrated high engagement through active participation in quizzes, group discussions, and problem-solving exercises conducted after each session. The interactive approach proved effective in maintaining attention and reinforcing key concepts.
Pathway to EU-Supported Business Support
Graduates who complete at least 75% of this training and the separate Entrepreneurial Skills Training may apply for the PLANBEE Tailored Services Voucher Scheme (launching 2026–2027). Through an open, competitive call, selected entrepreneurs will receive personalised business support worth up to €5,000 – including mentoring, technical advice, and networking – to help launch or grow bee-related enterprises. Participation in training does not guarantee selection; beneficiaries will be chosen based on published eligibility criteria.
Last Update
14/09/2026
Next Med