The start of Fiji’s Value-added Bee Products Initiative in 2010: Workshops held in Rakiraki town and Namuaimada village, Ra with U.S. Peace Corps volunteer Leslie Currie Leonard.
The initiative aimed to increase women’s participation in Fiji’s beekeeping industry.
In 2010, most smallscale beekeepers were throwing away their beeswax cappings. We hoped that candle-making would show the value of beeswax.
We encouraged molds made from local materials such as coconut hulls and bamboo, but also had some silicone molds for teaching.







