Hashoo Foundation’s Honey Project Wins BBC World Challenge 2008
By Praveena Lakshmanan
Last updated: December 26, 2008

HOUSTON: On Saturday, December 20, BBC World News broadcasted the final program of the World Challenge 08 series, announcing Plan Bee as the winner. The Pakistani project helps female beekeepers boost their income by selling high quality honey. “Women Empowerment through Honeybee Farming Project - Plan Bee” was declared the winner in a competition among 700 organizations worldwide.

“Agricultural School”, which trains young people in rural Paraguay how to use sustainable and organic agriculture to generate income and “ Shanti Sewa Griha”, a Nepalese initiative dedicated to giving leprosy victims and others afflicted by physical disability, a productive place in society won the first and second runner –up positions respectively.

Established by Hashoo Foundation, Plan Bee enables honeybee farmers to earn more than twice the price they would
in the local market, while making the most of their skills and environment without placing pressure on the local ecosystem. The northern areas of Pakistan are among the poorest and most isolated regions in the country, specifically the former kingdom of Gilgit. Effective development assistance has yet to reach these hilly, remote areas and it is the
women and children who are most affected.

The only workable and sustainable solution is sources; capitalize on local resources, building on what is achievable as well as culturally acceptable. Hashoo Foundation plays a role helping the women in taking the honey produced, processing and packing it and subsequently selling it in high-end shops and hotels of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Profits go straight back to Gilgit, where they have a big impact on the women’s lives. As the foundation’s Chairperson Sarah Hashwani explains,” We are not interested in just helping them earn more money – we want to see their children are better educated, that they have access to healthcare, that they have better sanitation in the houses and that they have better nutrition.”

Now in its fourth year, World Challenge is a major global competition that rewards businesses and projects that put something back into their communities. It is run by BBC World News, the BBC’s international news and information television channel, and Newsweek, the weekly global current affairs magazine, in association with Shell. The Plan Bee project received a prize grant of US $20,000 from Shell at the awards ceremony hosted by BBC’s Zeinab Badawi.

Additionally, the Plan Bee project was selected among 1200 organizations as one of the four “Featured Commitment” on the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Website during the 2008 Annual Meeting. Hashoo Foundat ion USA, located in Houston is currently contemplating associating with Rice University Owl Microfinance and University of St. Thomas Microcredit Program. Josh Ozer, President - Rice Owl Microfinance, and Elena White, VP – Rice Owl Microfinance, are fundraising to support a woman entrepreneur through providing a credit for three beehives, while Rogelio Garcia- Contreras, Faculty Coordinator/ Assistant Professor International Studies, University of St. Thomas contemplates associating with Hashoo Foundation through the development of a coordinated social entrepreneurship projects in the region, so that the economic success of better and improved techniques in honey production translate in better standards of living and long-term business sustainability for the beneficiaries of their loans. In addition, Founders of Bee Free Naturals – Teresa and Ken Parsons are committed to provide advice and their expertise on the foundation’s inititative.

Hashoo Foundation USA is we are in the process of forming an Advisory Team and are looking forward to expand their project and increase honey production and sales to support the economic development of underprivileged communities in Pakistan and around the world.