It’s been a week since an 84-year-old beekeeper from the island touched down in Burundi to provide training for locals.

Harry Owens, from St John’s, has been busy providing tips to help improve beekeeping techniques in the East African Republic of Burundi as part of a mission to increase the yields of better-quality honey.

As part of the three-week initiative, supported by Isle of Man Beekeeping and Christian Aid Isle of Man, Harry will provide training on how to make beehives and protective clothing for more women and young people - who would traditionally be excluded from such practices.

It is hoped that the modern beekeeping techniques will aid self-sufficiency and improve diets where famine exists.

Harry, who is the island’s bee disease officer and has been bee-keeping for about 50 years, arrived on February 21. His first day involved talks with partners of the mission and discovering the current status of the honey hubs as well as the challenges that beekeepers face, such as predators and resources.

On February 25, Harry visited Burundi beehives for the first time.

A spokesman from Christian Aid said: ’The main thing we learned was that there is so much potential, and with the right practice and resources the beekeepers could multiply their current harvest many, many times over.

’And that will really help them have enough income to provide nutrition to their households and grow a business that is sustainable for the future and lift them out of poverty.’

The following day he gave his first training day with about 50 women and men beekeepers who had travelled in from surrounding villages, which can be as far as two hours away, the charity said.

This included demonstrations and interactive quizzes to check whether the information had been understood.

Tailors, seamstresses and beekeepers turned up to another session where they learned how to make protective clothing and equipment.

Harry’s notes will be translated and shared so other provinces may benefit from his lessons.

The spokesman said: ’Many women have told us if they had protective clothing they wouldn’t fear the bees and would be able to care for them and increase their production.’

To follow his journey, search Christian Aid Isle of Man on Facebook.