Out and About with our Young Beekeepers
International Meeting of Young Beekeepers
FIBKA organises a team of young beekeepers to represent Ireland at this annual international meeting of young beekeepers. The IMYB is an annual meeting for young people interested in beekeeping.
The non-profit event (IMYB) started in 2010 and has grown to become the largest international meeting for young beekeepers worldwide.
It is designed for participants aged from 12 to 17 who compare their knowledge and skills, establish new friendships and discover other countries and cultures during the 4-day event.
Around 36 European countries participate as well as teams from other continents.
The meeting itself combines a competition focused on beekeeping and a diverse social and cultural programme during which participants have the opportunity to socialize and make new friends. The competition involves practical as well as academic disciplines and it tests the knowledge and skills of young participants. The main objective however is to motivate young beekeepers and promote the idea of beekeeping as well as provide them with a social and cultural experience.
IMYB recognises it is our young peoples’ passion, interest and skill that will help preserve the future of beekeeping and move it forward. For the individual participants, it offers the experience of a lifetime.
FIBKA organises the selection and training of the Irish team. The team consists of 3 young people aged 12 -17, together with a member of the Youth Development Panel who is responsible for the team members for the duration of the event. Travel expenses and the cost of food and accommodation are covered by FIBKA and the host country.
FIBKA holds special training days for the team and we encourage anyone who is considering applying for the IMYB in future to come along. These offer a great opportunity to meet the team members and find out more about the event. We are always looking for candidates to join future teams and these give potential participants a feel for what the IMYB is all about.