Between Beehives and the Diaries of Dreams

Since his childhood, Mohammed has enjoyed watching bees at a neighbor's house. He observed how they peacefully landed on flowers and returned with nectar to their hives. He also watched his neighbor, moment by moment, taking care of the bees. Since then, Mohammed has been fascinated by the world of bees, often saying, "This is an amazing world in every detail."
Mohammed Haj Ghazi is 36 years old and the sole provider for his family of five, which includes his wife and four daughters aged 11, 9, 6, and 3. At the beginning of his marriage, beekeeping in his hometown of Tal Rifaat seemed unfeasible due to the poor security and financial conditions. He eventually had to flee with his family in 2016 in search of safer areas. Mohammed recalls, "I left my hometown after losing my leg due to constant shelling. I fled to Turkey, where I was fitted with a prosthetic leg that I quickly adapted to."

After a prolonged period of displacement, Mohammed settled in Afrin, jobless and burdened by his family’s basic needs. Sleepless nights of worry about his daughters’ future and how to provide for their essential needs weighed heavily on him, and his debts accumulated. The dream of beekeeping returned to him, offering a glimmer of hope. He thought it could provide an income and alleviate the guilt he felt for not meeting his daughters’ educational needs. He started asking about the secrets of beekeeping and how to succeed at it. Mohammed said, "I encouraged myself and bought two bee colonies on credit. Honestly, I made many mistakes in raising them, but my passion for bees and constant questioning of experts helped me learn quickly."

Before long, Mohammed acquired four more bee colonies. He spent most of his time tending to his bees and felt immense joy during honey harvests, as the income provided some relief. Determined, he decided to make beekeeping his profession. However, things didn’t always go as planned. Most of his bees died due to a mistake made by the owner of the land where he kept his hives. Mohammed shared, "I was devastated. I couldn’t afford to buy more bee colonies, given my growing basic needs during displacement and the lack of job opportunities. But then, a ray of hope appeared through the WHH organization and its 'Karama' project, which supports small business initiatives financially and through guidance."
Despite his initial hesitations, Mohammed submitted his innovative idea to WHH, wondering, "This is such a unique idea. Will they even consider it "?
To his great delight, his proposal was accepted initially, and he participated in a comprehensive 5-day entrepreneurship training program. Throughout these 5 days, he acquired invaluable insights on strategically planning his business, identifying potential risks and challenges, managing financial aspects, and applying effective marketing strategies. In addition to the training, Mohammed received $1,200 in financial support to launch his business, along with $300 to cover his family’s immediate basic needs
Mohammed immediately used the grant to purchase a beekeeping suit, hives, a honey extractor, and bee colonies. Over time, the number of his bee colonies grew to over 80. He moved them from one location to another, seeking areas rich in nectar to produce natural honey.

Mohammed said, "I never expected such a significant improvement in honey production. In the first harvest, I produced more than 75 kilograms of natural honey, which greatly improved my family’s living conditions. I no longer feel like I’m failing to meet my financial responsibilities toward my wife and daughters."
Today, Mohammed’s daughters are fortunate to attend school and pursue their education. He holds the heartfelt dream of seeing them complete their studies—a dream that is now becoming a reality. Mohammed works tirelessly each day to advance his project and expand his bee colonies, especially now that he has the opportunity to return to his hometown and rebuild his home. He concluded with gratitude, stating, "WHH has bestowed upon me a golden opportunity, and for as long as I live, I will never squander it".