New Future
Majd Saleh spoke to NOS Nieuwsuur about his work with bees, his journey to the Netherlands and the future he is building in Gouda.
Holland Bijen Team
Native Beekeeping & Biodiversity
Recently, Majd Saleh, founder of Holland Bijen, had the special opportunity to appear on NOS News Hour (NOS Nieuwsuur) to talk about his work with bees and about the journey that brought him to the Netherlands.
The interview was about bees, but the story behind it is about much more: starting again, bringing knowledge and experience to a new country, and being given the opportunity to build something meaningful.
“Bees are my connection with home.”
Majd has worked with bees for many years. Even before coming to the Netherlands, bees were an important part of his life. His experience as a beekeeper and his agricultural background gave him a foundation to start again here.
As he said during the interview:
Bees are my connection with home.
The bees connect him with his past, while at the same time helping him build a new future in the Netherlands. From that connection, Holland Bijen was born.
A story about opportunities
Majd's story also shows that refugees bring more than just their personal stories. They bring knowledge, skills, experience, ideas and dreams.
Sometimes, what is needed most is someone who believes in them and gives them the opportunity to show what they can do.
With that same idea, Holland Bijen aims to contribute to something bigger than one person: protecting the original black bee of the Netherlands, Apis mellifera mellifera, while creating greater knowledge and connection between people, bees and biodiversity.
