A Stellenbosch University (SU) society collaborated with a non-profit organisation (NPO) to launch a two-month fundraising initiative centred around saving Cape honey bees.
This was according to Tamara du Plessis, operational manager of Honeybee Heroes.
EcoMaties and Honeybee Heroes hosted the launch at the SU Alumni Clubhouse, Die Stal on 24 August, said Du Plessis. SU’s Student Representative Council’s (SRC) social impact and sustainability portfolio also helped organise the launch, said Anaïs Breytenbach, chairperson of EcoMaties.
EcoMaties is a society that promotes sustainable practices on the SU campus, according to SU’s website.
The goal of the fundraiser is to raise money for Cape honey bee conservation through ticket sales and donations at the launch, explained Du Plessis.
Honeybee Heroes is a registered NPO situated in the Overberg that strives to protect the Cape honey bee, said Charné Rossouw, brand manager of Honeybee Heroes, during a speech at the launch.
The main goal of the Bee a Hero fundraiser launch was to create awareness for the Cape honey bee, and the role they play in maintaining a balance in ecosystems, according to Tamara du Plessis, operational manager of Honeybee Heroes. The launch was a collaborative effort hosted by EcoMaties and Honeybee Heroes at Die Stal at Stellenbosch University on 24 August. PHOTO: Jan-Hendrik de Villiers
Helping the bees
The fundraiser is set to last from 24 August until 27 October, and the overall target is to raise R24 000, stated Du Plessis.
At the time of publication, the initiative generated R13 923.82, according to Du Plessis.
The launch included prizes to incentivise students to donate towards the fundraiser, said Breytenbach.
The fundraiser was also designed to create awareness about the crucial role honey bees play, said Breytenbach.
This was done through an interactive quiz meant to get students to “think about what they do and don’t know”, said Breytenbach.
A quiz at the recent ‘Bee a Hero’ fundraiser launch, aimed at promoting honey bee conservation, served as a method to teach attendees of the event more about Cape honey bees, said Tamara du Plessis (pictured above), operational manager of Honeybee Heroes, the non-profit organisation that collaborated with EcoMaties for the fundraiser. PHOTO: Jan-Hendrik de Villiers
Generating buzz
“Without [honey bees] our ecosystems could collapse,” said Du Plessis.
Honey bees help maintain biodiversity as over 90% of flowering plants worldwide rely on honey bees for pollination, said Du Plessis.
“They are also essential to food production worldwide as they pollinate fruits, vegetables and nuts,” she explained.
The Stellenbosch University (SU) Student Representative Council sustainability and social impact portfolio member, Aphiwe Sithole (right) assisted with the “extreme” planning of the ‘Bee a Hero’ fundraiser launch, according to Anaïs Breytenbach (left), chairperson of EcoMaties. The launch was a collaborative effort hosted by EcoMaties and Honeybee Heroes on 24 August to promote the conservation of the Cape honey bee. PHOTO: Jan-Hendrik de Villiers
Approximately 40 individuals attended the Bee a Hero fundraiser launch that was aimed at promoting Cape honey bee conservation, according to Anaïs Breytenbach, chairperson of EcoMaties. The launch was a collaborative effort hosted by EcoMaties and Honeybee Heroes at Stellenbosch University on 24 August. PHOTO: Jan-Hendrik de Villiers