Becoming the Beefairy Lady

As she approached the stage to receive an award for her work as a beekeeper and educator, Meriem Hammal looked down in horror at her chosen outfit for the occasion. With a tinge of embarrassment paired with pure amusement, she laughed at herself—mostly at her bright orange flip-flops adorned with bees. Looking out to the audience of smartly dressed academics and educators, she wondered, “How did I get here?”

Meriem Hammal never aspired to be a beekeeper. Born in Algeria to a family of doctors, she was certain of two things growing up: She would not grow up to be a doctor and hated nature.

“The start of my journey isn’t inspirational - I didn’t have a passion for the environment, and I didn’t like spending time outdoors. I found it all dull.”

It might be surprising to learn that Meriem now works for One Hive, a socially responsible beekeeping company in the UAE that promotes sustainable apiculture.

Meriem originally studied veterinary medicine at university. Although she didn't fully embrace the medical tradition of her family's generations, veterinary medicine satisfied their expectations and felt far enough away from traditional medicine for Meriem.

“In my third year of university, I was required to spend summer vacation training under an animal specialist. I chose to study under a local beekeeper simply because I was under the impression that it was easy work and I wouldn’t have to show up often.”

He was middle-aged, uneducated, and Meriem thought, totally boring. She quickly told him that she was so unamused by veterinary medicine that she planned to pursue an MBA in Marketing. “He laughed at me!” Meriem recalled. “He looked me dead in the eyes and said, ‘No school, no curriculum can teach you as much about business and organisation as the bee society.’ I thought he was truly crazy.”

After only a few weeks, he had changed her mind and the course of her life.

Meriem found herself learning how society best functions, how task management is the pillar of community, and how empathy can make or break social systems—all before she even started her MBA program.

“It turns out, my mentor was not only clearly educated, he was brilliant. When I asked him where he’d learned all of this, he grinned, pointed to the beehive, and whispered, ‘Right here.’”

After graduating from veterinary school, Meriem spent time in France studying a variety of animals and exploring possible career paths. But the bees kept calling her back home.

“I don’t know why I felt so drawn to them. I wasn’t even great at beekeeping at first - I’d killed my first hive because I lost the queen! I got attacked by the bees half the time, and really felt at times I was not at all suited for this work.”

Meriem decided to listen to her gut and return to the bees anyway. She went back to Algeria and joined her mentor’s newly founded association - the National Association of Professional Beekeepers, which worked to address issues such as genetic pollution and the importation of foreign bee species. Her work was instrumental in implementing policies to promote the use of native bee species and training rural communities in beekeeping for economic empowerment.

“I felt fully passionate, fully human for the first time. I was able to help vulnerable members of my community. I learned to express myself, feel empathy, and regulate my emotions in a healthy way - all from the bees.”

“They are so smart. They will feel and react to your every move and mood.” Meriem laughed as she reflected on her beekeeping journey. "Sometimes, bees can be super quiet while you’re inspecting the hive, and then they’ll start attacking you out of nowhere. This is when you have to take a step back and ask yourself, ‘What did I do wrong? What energy am I giving off to make them feel and react to my negativity?’’ She now applies these same questions and tactics in her daily life, fostering a mindset of reflection and accountability.

After moving to the UAE in 2022, Meriem struggled to find a job that gave her the same stability as her community in Algeria. “I craved the same respect and dedication the bees give and command, and it took me some time to find that here. I finally ended up at One Hive, and I’ve never looked back.”

As Business Development Manager at One Hive, Meriem now spends her days giving workshops and leading partnerships. One Hive offers educational experiences, such as the Hatta Honeybee Garden and Discovery Center. The centre offers tours, workshops, and delicious local Hatta Honey to reconnect people with nature and highlight the vital role of honeybees. Nowadays, Meriem advocates for the localisation of beekeeping and honey production in the UAE; she’s also become an avid champion for integrating environmental initiatives with broader social and economic goals.

She can often be found in her bright yellow uniform, sometimes even in fairy wings, leading educational workshops for both adults and children. “Kids call me the Beefairy Lady,” Meriem laughed. “I love it. I don’t mind being silly, especially when it helps children learn.” Meriem firmly believes that it’s through the younger generations we will witness positive climate action and awareness. “Children love to share; they love to talk about what they learn and things that amaze them. I always end my workshops by telling them, ‘Go now and pollinate!’”

Ultimately, it’s up to us whether we choose to listen to the bees. It seems wise, though, to observe and learn a lesson or two from them - both for the good of ourselves and those around us.

“We don’t have to move mountains to save the planet,” Meriem urges. “If we can take just one lesson from bee society, it is to look around you and say, ‘What does my community need?’ This. This is what will keep us humble, human and connected on the path for a better tomorrow.”