Inclusive Beekeepers Apiform Win 2015 European Commission Social Innovation Competition

BRUSSELS, November 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Bosnian organisation with idea for 'New Ways to Grow' in Europe wins €50,000 prize 

Selected from over 1,400 applications from over 40 countries, sit-in beekeeping foundation Apiform has won a €50,000 prize to test and implement their concept.

The two other winners are peer-to-peer homestay model for older people The Freebird Club (Ireland), and accessible car sharing platform Wheeliz (France). The three winners highlight social and environmental issues that are concerns for many Europeans. They are addressing our ageing population, inclusion and accessibility in creative ways.

Apiform is a sit-in beekeeping model that allows people in wheelchairs, older people, those with back pain or arthritis to take part in beekeeping. By adapting the model of the beehive, Apiform is increasing the accessibility of their organic beekeeping model. They aim to replicate the model across Europe to foster entrepreneurship and organic living, while contributing to restoring the bee population in Europe.

The project began when co-founder Haris Tahmiscic and his family launched the Forgotten Garden Foundation, encouraging young people to live organically and engage with their communities. Haris's great grandfather was a beekeeper, and he decided this could also form part of the foundation's work. Following a meeting with a wheelchair bound friend, he and his father began to develop an urban beekeeping model that would be accessible to all.

Haris said of Apiform's journey through the competition: "The Competition helped us define, refine, and expand our idea. Winning means we can move forward to develop an online e-learning platform, where we will be able to share advice, tutorials, tips and ideas on urban beekeeping and an organic lifestyle in general. We're constantly improving our model and I plan to share the prototype of our accessible hives around the world, to encourage and teach people about urban beekeeping and organic living."

Daan Weddepohl, competition judge and founder of collaborative borrowing website Peerby said: " All of the judges were very impressed with the quality of applications this year. Each of the semi-finalists and finalists should take being shortlisted as a stamp of credibility and an endorsement of their creativity and innovation."

For more information about Apiform, please visit:

http://www.nesta.org.uk/apiform-sit-beekeeping

For more information about the Competition, please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/policy/social/competition/index_en.htm

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