Angelina to establish next Women for Bees programme

Angelina Jolie was named the “godmother” of the Women for Bees programme earlier this year, which aims to train 50 women in beekeeping within the next five years, as well as building 2,500 hives in 25 Unesco biosphere reserves and restocking 125 million bees.

The 25 Unesco biosphere reserves are located in countries including France, Italy, Russia, Slovenia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and China.

Jolie, who has also completed humanitarian work as a Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency, has unveiled her plans to travel to Cambodia in 2022 to establish the next phase of the programme in the region of Samlout, where she has a home.

The ‘Salt’ star added that she finds it “insane” that a woman’s right to education is still being discussed in many parts of the world. “It’s angering, really, isn’t it? That we somehow have to keep explaining this – it’s their right. When a young girl is born, she has the right to education, it’s her life. The real question is why do we continue to limit that girls’ access to education, why do we continue to question it?” said the actor.

“For anyone, education will help them be more capable, where they can communicate and they can contribute to their family, their community and society.”

Jolie, who met with the beekeepers in training and tracked their progress, said: “When women gain skills and knowledge their instinct is to help raise others. I’m excited to meet the women taking part in this programme from all over the world.

“I look forward to getting to know them and learning about their culture and environment and the role bees play in that. I hope the training will strengthen their independence, their livelihoods, and their communities.”