Beehive invests K220m in expansion drive

Beehive Centre for Social Enterprise has invested about K220 million ($1.3 million) in its expansion drive and created 80 jobs for Malawians.

The expansion initiative has created new ventures such as an information technology centre called John Paul II Leadership and IT Academy and Mother Teresa Children’s Centre, a day care service institution.

Mother Teresa Children’s Centre deputy manager David Meechan said Beehive aimed at raising the living standards of the people of Chilomoni Township in Blantyre.

The centre was opened in January this year to offer day care services to children in the township.

“But from July this year, we will expand further and start offering community services,” said Meechan.

He said the day care runs on UK-based teacher-pupil ratio.

“For babies, for example, the ratio is 1:3 and it goes up as age rises. For pupils aged three or more, the teacher-pupil ratio is 1:8.

“That aside, our caregivers have been trained based on a hybrid of the Malawian and English curriculum,” he said.

The day care has 30 children, but Meechan expects the number to shoot up to 230 when the centre is fully operational.

As a centre for social enterprise, Beehive has also opened the doors of John Paul II Leadership Academy which offers IT, leadership, personal development and entrepreneurship lessons.

The academy opened in May 2011.

Academy principal Professor Robin Broadhead said the institution showcases modern learning techniques and best practices in IT.

“Our students study in a supportive, challenging and stimulating environment. All this is achieved with the existence of well qualified and experienced lecturers.

“John Paul II has a 1:1 ratio of computer to student, a good learning environment with a well built infrastructure,” said Broadhead.