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Our Vision
Our vision is of an ethical, equitable, inclusive and progressive society in which people live with
dignity and have power over their own lives.

Our Mission
Our mission is to enable and empower communities to be independent by facilitating equitable
access to opportunities, through Economic Development, Human Capital Development and Social
Protection programs.

Our Values
Hashoo Foundation draws on the values of equity, inclusivity, transparency, innovation, integrity,
respect and fulfillment.

About Us
Hashoo Foundation is a progressive and dynamic non-profit organization, leading the way in human
development and poverty alleviation by implementing viable economic development, educational
and capacity building programs in Pakistan.

Hashoo Foundation USA works locally to raise awareness, promote intercultural relations and
understanding, as it builds partnerships with other non-profit and professional organizations,
private sector and concerned individuals to promote the Foundations programs and increase its
fundraising capacity to help support the Hashoo Foundations economic development, education,
skills development and humanitarian assistance programs.
Hashoo Foundation USA is a non-profit organization under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) code EIN 20-0748173 and is registered with the following registration
authorities:
- Trust Act 1882 vide Registration No 661 Sub-Registrar T-Div II Karachi dated 16/07/1988
- Exempted from Taxes with approval by CBR under SRO 169(1)/2005 notified/published in
Gazette of Pakistan dated 15/02/2005 under clause (3) of clause (58)
- Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy 2011 registration
- Charities Commission in the UK

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Contents

Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................... 1
1- Project Summary ................................................................................................................................. 2
2- Project Goal ......................................................................................................................................... 3
3- Project Activities Under Taken ........................................................................................................... 4
Phase I ..................................................................................................................................................... 4
3.1 Culture Shock Charity Show for Plan Bee ................................................................................... 4
Phase II .................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Community Mobilization ............................................................................................................ 5
3.3 Training and Technical Support .................................................................................................. 6
3.4 Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group .................................................................................. 8
3.5 Distribution of Beehives and Production Kits ............................................................................. 9
3.6 Installation of Beehives ............................................................................................................ 10
3.7 Monitoring Visits to the Project ............................................................................................... 11
3.8 Honey Extraction ...................................................................................................................... 12
3.9 Honey Production .................................................................................................................... 15
Phase III ................................................................................................................................................. 16
3.10 Packaging ............................................................................................................................... 16
3.11 Branding and Marketing ........................................................................................................ 17
3.12 Plan Bee Honey Packaging and Price ..................................................................................... 17
3.13 Honey Sale ............................................................................................................................. 20
3.14 Presentation of Checks to the New Refugee Women Beekeepers ....................................... 20
4- Output and Achievements of the Project ......................................................................................... 21
5- Challenges and Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 22
6- Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................................ 22
7- Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 22
Annexure 1 Budget Summary ................................................................................................................ 23
Annexure 2 Contributions ...................................................................................................................... 24

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Acronyms

AMCS

Alliance for Multicultural Community Services

HF

Hashoo Foundation

HF USA

Hashoo Foundation USA

1-

Project Summary

Project Title
Implementing Partners

Partners

Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group -

Women Empowerment through Honey Bee Farming Project

Hashoo Foundation USA (HF USA)

Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (AMCS)
- Klein Forest High School Pakistani-Indian Student
Association (PISA)
- Xavier Educational Academy
- Lee High School Interact Club & ROTC
- Clements High School Interact
- Sharpstown International School Capstone
International Program
- Rotaract Galleria
- Chapelwood Foundation Community Grant
- Neighborhood Seeds for Change
- Talento Bilingue of Houston
- Mayor's Office of Education Initiatives & Mayors
Volunteer Initiatives Program
- Citizenship Month
- Community College International Program (CCIP)
- Powerful Women International (PWI)

Area of Implementation

Guy, Texas

Total Number of Direct Beneficiaries

5 Refugee women

Total Number of Indirect Beneficiaries

25 family members

Facilitator

Cristal Montaz Baylor, Executive Director, HF USA

Project Manager

Narayan Dhurali, Training & Production Coordinator AMCS

Implementing Team

HF USA & AMCS

Technical Support

County Extension Spring Green Farm Project

Fort Bend County Extension Agent- Horticulture, Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service

Project Duration

November 2013 - December 2014

Projected Budget

$10,900

Country

USA

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Project Goal

The overall goal of the project was to replicate in Houston Hashoo Foundation s globally recognized
Women Empowering through Honey Bee Farming Project Plan Bee to empower 5 refugee women in
beekeeping to enable them earn a secondary income through the sale of honey.
The refugee women are part of the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (AMCS) Community
Garden Program. AMCS is a non-profit organization dedicated to help refugees, immigrants, and low-
income residents of Harris County become self-sufficient and improve their quality of life. The women
are trained as farmers and sell the vegetables they produce to the market. However, the income they
earn is not enough. Developing the proposed honey micro-enterprises will help these refugee women
earn a secondary income and improve their quality of life.
To achieve this goal, Hashoo Foundation USA (HF USA) partnered with the Alliance for Multicultural
Community Services refugee settlement, Chapelwood Foundation, Neighborhood Centers Seed for
Change, Houston students, and community organizations.
HF USA and AMCS worked together to build the capacity of 5 refugee women and facilitate the needs of
the project in accordance to the MOU signed by both organizations. HF USA created the business plan,
raised the funds to provide the equipment needed to initiate the Plan Bee Honey Business Group pilot
project to empower 5 refugee women in honey bee farming, facilitated the branding, marketing and
sale of the honey. AMCS managed the project, identify and recruited 5 refugee women, trained them in
honey bee farming, transported the refugee women every two weeks to the farm and partnered with
County Extension Spring Green Farm Project Fort Bend County Extension Agent - Horticulture, Texas
A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
The aim of the project was to:
-
-
-
-

Train and build the capacity of 5 refugee women in Houston in honey bee farming.
Organize the refugee beekeepers in a Honey Business Group.
Distribute 20 beehives, 20 bee boxes with queens, 5 productions kits and one extractor.
Enable the refugee women earn a secondary income through the sale of honey.
3

3-

Project Activities Under Taken

Phase I
3.1

Culture Shock Charity Show for Plan Bee

Hashoo Foundation USA has provided Houston students with a platform to engage in sustainable micro-
enterprises to help women become self-sufficient as they develop a compassionate and philanthropic
perspective of the global community. In November 2013, the Culture Shock Charity Show for Plan Bee
led by Klein Forest High School PISA, brought together over seventy students from Lee High School
Interact Club & ROTC, Xavier Educational Academy Interact Club, Clements High School Interact Club and
Sharpstown International School Senior Capstone International, volunteers and community
organizations worked together to put on a truly international Show. The students and participants
representing 22 countries with diverse cultural backgrounds and faiths, including Albania, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Venezuela and United worked together and
raised $5,000.00 to help empower 5 refugee women in honey bee farming. This initiative was part of
Houston's Citizenship Month 2013 celebrations.

Chapelwood Foundation and Neighborhood Centers Seed for Change partnered with Hashoo
Foundation to support the development and implementation of this youth led pilot project in Houston
to benefit women's micro enterprise. Chapelwood Foundation awarded a Community Grant for $2,000
and Neighborhood Centers Seed for Change granted a Community Grant for $1,500.


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The funds raised were invested in 20 beehives, 20 bee packages and queens, 20 super boxes, 20 bee
feeders, 5 productions kits, each one of them included (complete one piece bee-suit, beekeeping gloves,
bee smoker, hive tool, bee brush, uncapping knife, wax pan, bottling bucket kits) and one extractor.

Phase II
3.2 Community Mobilization

AMCS recruited women who have experienced barriers to long-term employment in the US. The
challenges that many newly arrived refugee women face in the job market may include limited English
proficiency, childcare needs, and a lack of formal education.

Criteria for Womens Selection

- Lowest income household.
- Age between 40 and 64 years old.
- Date of arrival in the USA as refugee beginning in January 2010 up to date.
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-
-
-

Availability and willingness to get involved.

Lowest education and literacy level.
Project began with Bhutanese and Nepalese women. Other ethnic groups will join as the project
develops.

Refugee women Pabitra Giri, Ambika Acharya, Chandra Magar, Mom Acharya and Khina Darjee were
selected to participate in Plan Bee Honey Business Group pilot project.

3.3 Training and Technical Support

AMSC trained the refugee women in honey bee farming, extraction and packaging. Fort Bend County
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services and local beekeepers worked closely with the AMCS Project
Coordinator to ensure the quality of the beehives and honey production, and that best practices were
followed.


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The Fort Bend county agents supplied the equipment to tests the moisture of the honey to ensure that
all honey produced is of a high quality.

3.4 Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group

The refugee women were organized under the Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group following the
model implemented by HF in Pakistan.
Under this model, the Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group owns the equipment and the beehives,
which are allocated to the 5 refugee women. In case one of the refugee women decides to leave the
Business Group, AMCS will be able to recruit another refugee woman in her place. This approach is cost
effective, easily managed, provides the Business Group members the opportunity to share knowledge,
and minimizes risk factors as the women increase their capacity to face challenges collectively. The Plan
Bee Honey Business Group motivates the members of the group to develop and adopt strategies
collectively to promote the sustainability of their enterprises.
Women beekeepers in Pakistan

New refugee women beekeepers in Houston

3.5 Distribution of Beehives and Production Kits
On April 26, 2014, 20 beehives, production kits and extractor were presented to the Plan Bee Honey
Business Group and allocated among the 5 new refugee beekeepers.

Good protective clothing such as bee-suit, gloves and head protector gave the beginner beekeepers
confidence.



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3.6 Installation of Beehives

On May 5, 2014, Narayan Dhurali, Training & Production Coordinator AMCS and Mr. Tim, Peter's Farm
foreman, installed the 20 beehives at Peters Farm, located in Fort Bend County in Guy, Texas.

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3.7 Monitoring Visits to the Project

The new trained refugee beekeepers under the supervision of Narayan Dhurali visited and monitored
the beehives every two weeks.
2014 Harvest Period

The beekeepers inspected their beehives regularly to know when the colonies were ready for
harvesting. Considering that the honey-harvesting period starts a few weeks after blooming and by then
the honey should be ripe and ready for harvesting. The beekeepers observed for the following signs:
-
-

Bees becoming aggressive while guarding the beehive because they can sting at the slightest
provocation.
Presence of worker bees outside the hive in large numbers.

Routine Management
-

-
-
-

Honey bee colonies were inspected every two weeks to make sure bees were in good condition
and the colonies had adequate temperature to help increase honey producers and decreasing
the tendency to swarming in order to keep multiplying/increasing the number of colonies in the
beehives.
The beehives were cleaned and free of water leaks.
Checked for any abnormal behavior of bees at the entrance since their behavior can indicate too
much heat or beehive is full of combs or bees want to swarm.
Checked if the beehives were stable or needed any repairs to keep them in optimal condition.

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3.8 Honey Extraction

The refugee beekeepers were blessed with favorable weather conditions and abundant honey
production yields during their first honey season. Honey yield fluctuates from one year to another and
varies between colonies. The average production of honey per mature and established beehives is
approximately 40 lbs.

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Uncapping Honey Frames

Beeswax is a product of the honey bee. It is produced from the bee's own body during the warm period
of the day. The bee uses wax to build the comb cells in which its brood is reared, and also the cells in
which honey and pollen are stored. Honey bees preserve the honey by capping it in wax cells. To extract
the honey, the tops of the cells, or caps, need to be removed. Bees to produce 1 pound of beeswax
consume about 5 to 7 pounds of honey.

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The color and flavor of honey differs depending on the nectar source (the blossoms) visited by the
honey bees. In fact, there are more than 300 unique types of honey available in the United States, each
originating from a different floral source.

Honey color ranges from nearly colorless to dark brown, and its flavor vary from delectably mild to
distinctively bold, depending on where the honey bees buzzed. In SE Texas the nectar from rag weeds
and golden rod flowers makes the honey darker. As a general rule, light-colored honey is milder in taste
and dark-colored honey is stronger.

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3.9 Honey Production

The beehives of the Plan Bee Houston Business Group produced 284 lbs. from 19 out of 20 beehives
newly established hives. It is important to mention that not all the frames in the beehives were ready to
be harvested in this first season. The beekeepers are expecting at least two harvests in 2015 weather
permits.

Plan Bee Honey Business Group Production Chart
Extraction Dates
10/31/2014
11/7/2014
12/16/2014

Quantity Produced
80 lbs.
120 lbs.
84 lbs.
284 lbs.

No. of Beehives
5
9
4
19

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Phase III
3.10 Packaging

The Plan Bee honey is processed locally and packed in food graded glass jars by the new refugee women
beekeepers, HF USA and AMCS volunteers.

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3.11 Branding and Marketing

Hashoo Foundation USA created the labels and determined the price of the Plan Bee honey based on
the Houston Market Research prepared by Elena Penso, Marketing Consultant volunteer. The main
objective was to create an attractive label and packaging to compete in the market place. Another,
important consideration was to inform the buyers that the production and sale of Plan Bee honey
directly benefited the refugee women beekeepers.

Honey prices in our local market tend to be higher when the honey is being produced and marketed by a
non-profit organization. Prices fluctuate between $7 and $12 dollars for 8oz to 12oz. jars. The average
retail price for honey in Texas is $6.37 and wholesale price $4.98 for 16 oz.(September 2014).

It is important to take into consideration bottle size and material (Glass vs. Plastic) to pack and market
honey in order to increase profits. According to the Harris County Bee Keeper Association, experienced
honey producers suggested the use of plastic 16 oz. bottles instead of glass in order to minimize costs
and increase profits. However when researching for this market analysis we found out that 8oz glass jars
are cost effective instead of the 16 oz. bottles when used to target the most affluent and upscale
buyers. Suggested price for a 16 oz. bottle is $12 in comparison to 8oz bottle, which can range from $8
to $10.

3.12 Plan Bee Honey Packaging and Price

The AMCS projected to sell the pound (16 oz.) of honey at $10 per jar under the packaging. Below.

AMCS Plan Bee Cost & Profit/16 oz./ Jar
Cost/16ozJar
/Lid
0.70

Bee Fabric

Labels
0

Cost/Finish
Jar

String
0

0.70

Sales
Profit
Price/9oz
10.00

9.30
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HF USA created a new packaging and labels and raised the price of the 16 oz. glass jar of Plan Bee honey
from $10 to $13 increasing the profit by $2.33.

HF USA Plan Bee Cost & Profit Projection/16 oz./ Jar








Profit
Cost/16o
Cost/Finish
Sales
Labels
Bee Fabric
String
Profit
Increment/
z Jar/Lid
13oz Jar
Price/9oz
16 oz Jar
0.70

0.42

0.19

0.06

1.37

13.00

11.63

2.33

and Introduced the 9 oz. at $10 per jar.

HF USA Plan Bee Cost & Profit /9 oz Jar
Cost/9ozJar/
Lid
1.04

Labels
0.42

Bee Fabric
0.19

Cost/Finish Sales
Profit
9oz Jar
Price/9oz
0.06
1.71
10.00
8.29

String

HF USA determined the price of the Plan Bee honey and the size of the jars based on the results of the
Houston Market Research and by comparing the prices of the honey of other local non-profit
organizations and the most popular honey sold in the commercial retail market.

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Plan Bee Honey Label

Front

Back

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3.13 Honey Sale

The first 200 lbs. of Plan Bee honey were sold as follows:

- 100 lbs. to Marathon Oil Company for Christmas gifts (120 9 oz. jars).
- 100 lbs. in 9 oz. and 16 oz. jars to individuals for gifts.

The 120 9 oz. jars of Plan Bee honey sold to Marathon Oil Company were presented to 50 Non-profit
organizations and other corporate partners at the Marathon Oil Community giving the project great
visibility in the community.

Plan Bee honey is for sale at the AMCS located at 6440 Hillcroft Avenue Suite 411. Houston, TX 77081
In two sizes:

- 9 oz. jar at $10
- 16 oz. jar at $13

3.14 Presentation of Checks to the New Refugee Women Beekeepers

On January 20, 2015, Yani Keo Rose, Executive Director AMCS and Cristal Montaz Baylor, Executive
Director HF USA, presented the new beekeepers with the checks from the sale of Plan Bee Honey. AMCS
hosted the ceremony. Community members and other organizations attended this exciting and
important moment.

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Both organizations encouraged the beekeepers to invest 30% of their earning back into the growth of
their honey producing business by acquiring more beehives to increase their production.

4-

Output and Achievements of the Project

5 Refugee women identified, mobilized and organized in Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group.
5 Refugee women trained in beekeeping, honey production and best practices.
20 Beehives provided to Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group. 4 beehives allocated to
each one of the beekeeper.
5 Productions kits (complete bee suit, beekeeping gloves, bee smoker, hive tool, bee brush,
uncapping knife, wax pan) provided to each beekeeper.
1 Extractor provided for Plan Bee Houston Honey Business Group.
284 lbs of honey extracted from October 31 to December 16, 2014.
Plan Bee honey brand developed.
Refugee women linked to profitable markets.
200 lbs of honey sold.
25 indirect beneficiaries.

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5-

Challenges and Assumptions

-

-
-

Proposed honey production of 40 lbs. per beehive could not be achieved due to the unusual
cold weather from January to April 2014, which caused the installation of the beehives to be
postponed until the beginning of May shortening the honey production season.
Transportation of the refugee women to the farm every two weeks created a burden to AMCS
due to high prices of gasoline in 2014.
The bee colonies are growing faster then expected. More super boxes (beehives) and bee
feeders are needed to host the growing colonies to prevent swarming.

6-

Lessons Learned

HF USA and AMCS observed the following:

-

Refugee women were motivated to improve their socio-economic conditions.

Refugee women showed great enthusiasm and forthcoming attitude to learn more about honey bee
farming techniques to upgrade their businesses.
Trained refugee beekeepers played an important role in creating an enabling environment in their
communities to help to promote diversity and tolerance.
Honey bee keeping is a model of civil society enterprise development. Beekeepers learned how bees
are organized and have specific role to play in producing honey. With a clear understanding of team
work, specific tasks to achieve a desirable results and participating in the tasks can lead to an
organized society among the people particularly women and other partners like shops keepers,
traders and suppliers.

7-

Conclusion

Honey bee farming is a lucrative income generating enterprise. The Plan Bee Houston Honey Business
Group enabled Pabitra, Ambika, Chandra, Mom and Khina earn a secondary income. As a result, the new
beekeepers are empowered and more confident as they gained more economic independence and
financial management skills.

The Plan Bee Houston Business Group promotes two of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

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Annexure 1 Budget Summary

Code
1.0
1.1

2.0
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11

3.0
3.1
3.2
3.3

4.0
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4

Equipment Requirements
Beehives
Packaged Bees
Sub-total
Production Kits
Assembled Hive (Box that houses the bees/brood)
Assembled Super (Box that houses honey chamber)
Queen Excluder Screen
Bee Suits Since (Texas bees are Africanized it is
recommended to buy complete one-piece suits)
Beekeeping Gloves
Bee Smokers (Bees must be Smoked to calm them
for the beekeeper to work the hive)
Hive Tool (Breaks open the hive and helps remove the
brood/honey frames)
Bee Brush Tool Gently sweep the bees away from the
frames)
Uncapping Knife (Comb cutter cuts the caps off the
wax cells to extract the honey)
Wax Pan (Special pan for reclaiming the hives wax)
Bottling Bucket Kit (5 gallon bucket for filling retail
bottles w/1.5" gate)
Sub-total
Honey Business Group Honey Processing Basic
Equipment
Stainless Steel Hand-Cranked Honey Extractor
Stainless Steel Storage Tank W/Cover
Wax Heater (Reclaims beeswax for frame foundations
band-style for a 5 gallon pail)
Sub-total
Project Related Expenses

Cost per beekeeper $1,635.10

1
2

5
10

357.50
104.50

196.50

58.00

21.75

1
1

5
5

117.50
135.00

185.00
4,689.75

Honey bottles (each case of 12/ 9 oz. glass jar)

Gold caps (110 / bag)
Labels (Design front/back & printing full color)
T-shirts/posters/postcards/Charity Show misc.)
Sub-total
Total

Quantity/
Total
Total
Beekeeper Quantity Amount




4
20 2,700.00



2,700.00





4
20 2,200.00

4
20 1,015.00

4
20
299.00

1
1
1

107.00
790.75

250
2

417.00

266.75

200.64
57.80
290.00
2,171.06
2,738.40
10,900.00

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Annexure 2 Contributions

Partners

Contributions

1.0 Culture Shock Charity Show

5,000.00

2.0 Chapelwood Foundation Community Grant

2,000.00

3.0 Neighborhood Centers Seeds for Change Grant

1,500.00

4.0 Hashoo Foundation USA

2,400.00

Total

10,900.00

Contact information:

Cristal Montaz Baylor I Executive Director
Hashoo Foundation USA
M +1 (713) 483-4990 F+1 (713) 759-0787
www.hashoofoundationusablog.org

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