Beekeeper Harry Owens will give a talk on his Burundi adventure at a meeting tonight when details of Christian Aid Week’s 2019 sunflower appeal will be unveiled.

Harry, 84, the island’s bee disease officer, flew out to Burundi in February on a three-week mission to teach modern beekeeping methods to the people of one of the world’s poorest nations.

The trip was a amazing success - life changing for Harry and life giving for generations of fledgling Burundian beekeepers.

You can hear about his adventures when he gives a talk at St Ninian’s Church parish centre in Douglas tonight (April 25), from 7pm, when details will also be announced of the appeal launched as part of this year’s Christian Aid Week, which runs from May 12 to 18.

The theme of this year’s appeal is sunflowers.

This is the second year of Christian Aid’s work in Burundi. The government’s international partnership funds 90% of the budget but through Christian Aid Week, the charity hopes to raise the remaining 10% - amounting to £76,198.

Some £30,000 has already been raised towards that target last year.

This year’s project focuses specifically on female sunflower growers. It aims to provide coaching and support to farmers with the formation of a women’s sunflower producer co-op union in Rumonge in southern Burundi.

It will help others following in the footsteps of women like Melanie Niyonzima (pictured) who grows sunflowers after being trained by Christian Aid’s local partners.

Tonight’s Christian Aid event is free with donations only but those attending are invited to bring along a raffle prize. For details of the appeal, contact Louise Whitelegg on 474275.