From Spain to the South Pacific: David’s global beekeeping journey lands in
the Kingdom of Tonga
If there’s one thing that David Cramp knows, it’s bees. From hobbyist roots in the United Kingdom to commercial ventures in Spain, and now community capacity-building in the Kingdom of Tonga, David’s beekeeping journey has taken him across continents and through unexpected challenges. But after being asked how he ended up volunteering in the South Pacific, David laughed and said, “it just kind of happened.”
David volunteers as a Beeking Advisor in Tonga
A retired beekeeper originally from the United Kingdom, David’s journey started while he was still in the military. Beekeeping was a hobby back then, but it quickly
became more than that. He and his wife moved to Spain, where they grew their family and started a commercial operation. Unfortunately, they lost it all in a
devastating forest fire. David recalls, “we had to start over.”
That fresh start led them to Aotearoa New Zealand, where David initially managed a commercial beekeeping operation, and later continued to keep bees on the side. One day, he spotted a Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) advertisement for organic farmers and figured, “why not?”
That simple decision in 2019 sparked a volunteering journey that is still going strong. David’s first placement with VSA started in January 2020 but was cut short by COVID-19. His second posting was disrupted by the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha’apai volcanic eruptions that not only triggered deadly and damaging tsunami waves, but also wiped out many of the local hives. However, setbacks did not stop him. Today, David is helping build Tonga’s beekeeping scene, quite literally, from the ground up.
“When I arrived, there weren’t many beekeepers,” David says. “Bees were around, but usually in people’s ceilings or walls.” With support initially from Ohai, a climate change NGO, and then from Tonga’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (MAFF), he’s helped to formalise beekeeping practices, run training sessions, and even built custom devices that have allowed professionals to safely remove the bees from their homes. “It makes the process less traumatic – for both the bees and the people,” he adds.
David helps to instruct the ladies’ beekeeping course
Beekeeping in the Pacific brings a unique set of challenges. “You can’t just copy and paste techniques from other parts of the world,” David explains. The varroa mite is a serious issue, but for different reasons than elsewhere, honey production is lower, and tropical climates change how hives need to be managed. Despite all the challenges, the rewards are huge.
Beyond honey, the impact is wide-reaching. Better pollination improves crop yields, beekeepers earn extra income, and the community benefits from local honey production. “It’s a win-win,” he says. “Bees help the whole ecosystem – and people.”
David helps to remove bees from the villa of Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u Tuku’aho, Queen Consort of the Kingdom of Tonga
As a VSA volunteer, David has also learned that the job description is just the beginning. “A lot of volunteers worry if they’re qualified enough, or what exactly they’ll be doing.” David says that “once you’re on the ground, you realise that you help to shape the role. You become the driver.”
That kind of adaptability has served David well, especially when it comes to working in different cultures and within new environments. “I grew up moving around with the Air Force, so I’ve always been used to moving to new places,” he says. “But you still need to take the time to understand the community you’re working in.” One lesson that has stuck with him was from a presentation that he gave in the Cook Islands. “I forgot to consider the strong religious context. It was a good reminder that you have to speak to their culture, not yours.”
David with a team of beekeepers on Mauke, Cook Islands
Reflecting on his volunteering experience, David shares how volunteering has changed his life. “Instead of sitting at home looking after my own garden, [volunteering] has changed the direction of my retirement,” he says, “and I hope to be able to do it until I can’t do it anymore.”
David’s advice for anyone considering a volunteering role is simple: “Don’t worry about having all the answers,” he says. “Go out there and teach and learn at the same time. It will go well.”
David working in Tonga