“I would like to thank the America for Bulgaria Foundation for always supporting initiatives that have a positive impact both on the environment and education. Muzeiko is just a few meters away, and I believe that together with the Museum of the Bee, there will be many joint initiatives for children and students in Sofia.” With these words, the mayor of Sofia, Yordanka Fandukova, officially opened the first Bee Museum.
The Museum of the Bee is a custom-built house in the form of hives made out of clay, while the roof has grass and flowers for the bees. Inside the museum there is an observation hive along with a wealth of information and pictures. Through a special glass window, visitors can watch how the hardworking bees live.
The event was also attended by Ms. Mariya Gabriel, Chairman of the Working Group on beekeeping and bee health in the European Parliament, and the President and CEO of the America for Bulgaria Foundation, Mrs. Nancy Schiller.
Mrs. Schiller told the opening ceremony that America for Bulgaria Foundation had invested more than $100 million in education in Bulgaria. “We believe that this initiative, while small at first glance, will be of big importance in educating children about the bees, about nature and about the environment,” she said.
America for Bulgaria Foundation is supporting the Bio City of Sofia Association’s initiative with a donation of 15,000 leva to cover part of the cost of construction, landscaping, purchase of protective beekeeper suits for children to enable them to take part in activities at the place, as well as a centrifuge for honey and other beekeeping equipment.
The Museum of the Bee is part of a campaign dedicated to the conservation of bees and increasing general knowledge about them. It was completed in December 2016. The opening hours will be from 4.30 pm to 7:00 pm daily. The museum is at GM Dimitrov metro railway station close to the Muzeiko children’s science center.
