Aleksandar is the newest beekeeper in his small Roma village in Bulgaria. Whenever the church doors are open, you’ll find him there as the pastor, but after hours, he is tending to his bees.
Not only has Aleksandar spent years fighting a sickness that has kept him from working, he is also Roma, a people group that is often marginalised and discriminated against by local businesses. Without being able to work or provide for his family, Aleksandar was filled with deep hopelessness. How was he to put food on the table for his wife and children? How was he to pay for electricity, clean water, and clothing? He faced these questions every day. Then he learned about Convoy of Hope’s bee programme.
Though he’s not been a beekeeper for long, Convoy of Hope has given Aleksandar hope for a steady income to provide for his family for the first time in years. Once his bees begin producing honey, he will be able to sell it throughout the village and beyond. Aleksandar is thankful for Convoy and the opportunities it offers, reminding him of his worth, value, and capability. He is learning all he needs to learn through the bee programme when it comes to troubleshooting and how to manage his bees properly. “Aleksandar even has hopes of training others through Convoy of Hope’s bee programme so they, too, can be strengthened and provide for their families,” said Vesko, a programme coordinator for Bulgaria.
Convoy of Hope, through all of its different facets and programmes, exists to push others forward. It exists to bring hope, whatever that hope may look like, to every corner of the earth.
