Aalto Global Impact: Beekeeping in Kenya
For the Menengai community, beekeeping isn't just about the sweet reward of honey; it's a vibrant path toward self-sufficiency and a stronger future. Their enthusiasm and courage are brimming, yet they face significant hurdles in starting their bee farms, lacking both the funds and the know-how. The local environment throws its own challenges into the mix, from frustrating vandalism and aggressive predators to the ever-present threat of lasting droughts. What's really exciting, though, is that these bee farms can also generate a reliable income while playing a crucial role in safeguarding their local forests.
The Aalto Global Impact team is developing solutions to help the Menengai community kickstart their work. This multi-stakeholder initiative led by 6 students from Aalto University and supported by the Sustainability Action Booster, brings together Egerton University, ÉSAD Design School of Reims, and the Nakuru Living Lab organisation.
Blog posts
Aalto Global Impact 2025 - About the Project
A team of Aalto University students is working with a farmers community in Kenya focuses on enabling small-scale beekeeping as a sustainable income source amid economic hardship, environmental threats, and limited technical resources. By centering local knowledge and participatory design, the initiative aims to empower self-help groups to build resilient livelihoods and protect their forest ecosystem.
Lessons Learned: Ethical and Collaborative Engagement Fostering Local Agency with Kenyan Communities
For the Menengai community, beekeeping isn't just about the sweet reward of honey; it's a vibrant path toward self-sufficiency and a stronger future. Their enthusiasm and courage are brimming, yet they face significant hurdles in starting their bee farms. A multi-stakeholder initiative led by a group of 6 students from Aalto University is developing solutions to help the community kickstart their work.