The heart of the hive
Komonil’s impact is not measured in hives, but in the women who tend them: about 35 Q’eqchi’ and Mopan Maya women, of all ages, in more than 20 villages across the Toledo District.
Owners, not workers
Each beetender owns her hives and runs her own business. Komonil provides the training, the equipment and a route to market; the work, and the honey, are hers.
They are also the experts. The beetenders know what each bee is called in their own language, how it behaves and where it nests. When their knowledge and a textbook disagree, Komonil goes with the beetenders.
Working together
“In Blue Creek, we had a wonderful training there. Everybody is happy and we work together. Everyone participated.”
— Emelina Caal, Komonil beetender
More stories to come
We are gathering the beetenders’ own stories: in their own words, in their own languages, and only with their permission. They will appear here as each one is ready.