A MONMOUTH charity has been awarded £50,000 to help people in Ethiopia become beekeepers.

Bees for Development was granted the money by UK Aid’s Small Charities Challenge Fund.

The charity will use the money to train new beekeepers in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

There, beekeeping offers young people who do not own land an opportunity to make a living with very low start-up costs.

Dr. Nicola Bradbear, the charity’s director, said: “Bees for Development helps the poorest people earn extra income through beekeeping.

“We are a specialist organisation, with a niche set of skills.

“This grant from the Small Charities Challenge Fund will enable us to help families in Ethiopia keep bees profitably, so they can earn extra income to buy school uniforms, pay medical costs, buy food and pay off debts”.

Secretary of state for Wales, Alun Cairns, said he was “delighted” at the news Bees for Development was to receive the grant.

“I hope that the funds awarded will go a long way to continue the great work they do across Ethiopia”, he said.

Penny Mordaunt, International Development Secretary said: “Small, UK-based charities up and down the country, often staffed by volunteers, are incredibly valuable in making a difference around the world.

“Bees for Development is a great example of how a small community in Wales is helping to make a huge difference in Ethiopia. They are providing an invaluable entrepreneurial experience to young people, helping them thrive and support their own community.”