Our Team

The Faces Behind Our Beekeeping Mission

Aruna Bangura

Founder

Aruna Bangura is a passionate environmentalist and Mava Conservation Scholar with a BA (Hons) in Global Challenges from the African Leadership University. His work focuses on climate change adaptation using nature-based solutions that integrate science, policy, and community practice. Aruna has hands-on experience in environmental research, biodiversity restoration, and sustainable beekeeping, having trained over 400 community members, restored native trees and boosted ecosystem services. At Tiwai Island, he supports monitoring wildlife with camera traps and contributes to GIS-based conservation planning. Aruna was recognised by The Iris Project as the Seed Prize runner-up in 2023 and went on to win the Stem Prize in 2024. He is a proud alumni of the Coalitionwild EXCELerator program.

Aruna is committed to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals by empowering local communities and implementing innovative, research-driven solutions to climate challenges across Sierra Leone and beyond.

Abu Bakarr Barrie

Project coordinator

Abubakarr Barrie holds a B.A. (Hons) in Global Challenges at the African Leadership University with keen concentration on environmental conservation, and he is currently pursuing an M.A. in Sustainable Development, majoring in Environmental Sustainability. He is an environmental enthusiast on a mission to reduce the negative human impacts on the environment, protect coastal communities through nature-based solutions, and combat climate change by executing research-oriented, awareness-raising, and community-based projects for the citizens of Sierra Leone, Africa, and the world.

Through these interventions, he has become a more well-rounded environmentalist, researcher, project manager, and pan-Africanist. These interventions have helped him become a mission-driven leader who embraces emotional intelligence, self-awareness, youth empowerment, and social inclusion. Barrie strongly believes in the UBUNTU concept, saying, “I am because we are,” and the potential of young people in Sierra Leone, the African continent, and beyond.

Debora Amobey

Social Media Lead

Deborah Amobey is a sustainability advocate and social impact leader who focuses on climate resilience, conservation, and circular economy solutions. She has a strong foundation in research and community-driven initiatives. She is passionate about tackling environmental challenges and promoting social equity across diverse regions through social media. As an advocate for climate action and social equity, she actively engages in youth leadership, waste management, environmental education, and circular economy initiatives that drive meaningful change.

Beyond research, she is also a communications enthusiast who believes in the power of storytelling to inspire action. Leveraging strategic communication, digital advocacy, and community engagement to amplify sustainability narratives and advance climate solutions. She is a recipient of a fully funded scholarship from the Maja, Andre, Dera, and Vera (MAVA) Foundation, which helped her pursue an undergraduate degree in Global Challenges, focusing on climate change and environmental conservation, at the African Leadership University (ALU) in Kigali, Rwanda.

Hawa Bangura

Financial Lead

Hawa Bangura is a dedicated advocate for environmental protection and encouraging youths to combat climate change. In her job as Financial Lead, she combines her solid financial expertise with a strong commitment to sustainability, supporting innovative, youth-led climate projects. Hawa has taken an active role in community-based conservation activities, assisting with resource mobilisation and increasing awareness about the need for environmental care. She is dedicated to amplifying young voices, advocating for inclusive climate action, and helping to create a greener, more resilient future for all.

What We do

At Bangs Circular, we believe that sustainability starts with the community and that restoring our planet involves safeguarding the smallest creatures that support it. This conviction led to the creation of the Tiwai Honey Initiative, which is deeply rooted in Boma, a community adjacent to the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary in Sierra Leone.

Beekeeping has been vital for Boma, including Aruna’s family. However, logging, deforestation, and poaching have destroyed bees’ habitats, threatening biodiversity and community resilience. Through research, Aruna found a worrying decline in local bee populations, recognising the urgent need for action.

The Tiwai Honey Initiative combines conservation efforts with circular economy principles to restore ecosystems and improve livelihoods. Through our support for community-based beekeeping, youth training programs, and the development of eco-friendly products, we empower individuals to generate income while helping to protect forests.

From its origins as raw honey to Tiwai Honey, this product embodies a story of resilience. Our goal is to empower young individuals and nearby communities to protect pollinators, preserve biodiversity, and foster a sustainable future for both humanity and the planet.