Inspired by the bees, a mother and daughter become Vita-Bee queens

Theresa and Maria Nehme are a mother-daughter beekeeping duo from Northern Lebanon who found passion and a promising source of income in the world of bee colonies. They were part of a UNDP and Canada-supported project ($10 million, 2018-2023) that trained close to 250 women in beekeeping and provided them with the tools and equipment they needed to venture into establishing their own businesses. Maria said: “From 3 hives to 100, your push helped us build an independent operation, grow and insist on achieving our highest goals.” Their raw honey and honey-infused skin-care products became increasingly popular, and they are working on launching their website, “Vita-Bee,” so they can export abroad. Inspired by the hard work and fierce determination of their bees, Theresa and Maria are voicing their support for women’s economic participation across all sectors and fields.