A Rebirth Hope Through Beekeeping
“MaYEA restored my strength, hope, and livelihood.” Workineh Aregawi
Workineh Aregawi at his newly established bee shelter in Endabaguna, Shire. September 15, 2025.
Workineh Aregawi, 34, lives in the quiet hills of Shire Cluster, Tsimbla Woreda, Endabaguna Kebele, Nenamba Got. He is a dedicated farmer and beekeeper. He grows tef and dagusa (millet), but his true passion is beekeeping.
“I began beekeeping in 2011,” he recalls with a smile. “Back then, I had only three traditional hives. I used to harvest just 12 to 15 kilos of honey per hive — but with better care, I once managed to harvest up to 45 kilos from a single hive.”
Before the northern conflict broke out in 2021, Workineh owned 10 traditional and 10 modern hives. “At the time, I didn’t know much about hive management,” he admits. “We just produced honey as it came — sometimes good, sometimes bad.”
When the war reached his area, he lost everything. “All my hives were gone,” he says quietly. “I had no choice but to rent land and go back to farming.” Yet, even then, his love for bees lingered.
Everything changed for him when the kebele development committee selected him to join the MaYEA program, implemented by The Well in Action, led by ORDA Ethiopia, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. “At that time, I only had three hives left,” he recalls. “I was about to give up on beekeeping completely — I even thought of turning to trade instead. But joining the MaYEA program renewed my hope.”
Through the training provided by The Well in Action, Workineh learned practical beekeeping skills that transformed his approach. “I learned how to multiply colonies, identify day-old eggs and larvae— most of my colonies died because I worked by guesswork. Now, I can identify queens and manage my hives with confidence.”
Workineh Aregawi’s beekeeping site, showing some of his 47 stocked hives. Endabaguna, Shire — September 15, 2025.
He also changed how he harvested and stored honey. “In the past, I used to cut honeycombs with a knife and mix everything,” he says. “Now, I separate white honey from red honey, and I store honey from traditional and modern hives differently. The difference in quality is huge.”
That new knowledge soon paid off: in June 2024, he harvested 60 kilos from three colonies; after joining MaYEA, he added 15 more; by November 2024, he had 18 colonies and had harvested 300 kilos in total; afterward, he expanded further by adding 35 hives and building three transitional hives.
Beyond his personal progress, Workineh is also giving back. “I visit other participants, help them multiply bees, and even assist in building hives,” he explains. “I also advise young people who are not part of the program — especially those who are interested in starting beekeeping.”
From November 2025 to January 2026, Workeneh harvested 350 kg of honey and is on track to reach 500 kg, earning ETB 533,750 to date. He credits MaYEA’s training, loan support, and technical assistance for his success, saying, “I lost everything during the conflict, but MaYEA restored my hope and livelihood.” Now rebuilding his life, Workeneh is constructing his own home and expanding his apiary.
Workineh Aregawi at his new beekeeping site. September 15, 2025, Endabaguna, Shire
Today, he owns 60 hives, with 47 stocked—10 traditional, 34 modern, and 3 transitional. Looking ahead, he says, “My goal is to focus fully on honey production, producing three times more honey than before—high-quality honey that meets international standards. If the market is good, I want to collect and supply honey from others, too.”
Reflecting on his journey, he adds, “MaYEA restored my strength and hope, helping me rebuild what I had lost.”
The MaYEA program is implemented by ORDA Ethiopia, icipe, and IIRR in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.