Growing up in rural Kairouan, I have always been interested in farming and animal production. In 2006, I graduated from university with a degree in agribusiness engineering, with a specialty in animal production. With these qualifications, I hoped to produce agricultural products that would develop and bring value to my region.

I started off in the field by working as an agronomy coach for several organizations, such as the German development agency GIZ. My ultimate goal, however, was to start my own project.

I came closer to achieving this dream thanks to a beekeeping training program by Dehech des Engrais Agricoles et Apiculture (DEA), a local honey-producing company, in partnership with the US government’s USAID Tunisia JOBS program. The training exceeded my expectations, helping me learn key techniques in honey-harvesting, food safety, and bee hygiene. Now, I am a fully qualified beekeeper and feel 100% ready to launch my own beekeeping project!

Refka Leli, graduate of DEA’s "Introduction to Beekeeping" training program