When Guzel Sanzhapova, the founder and owner of Cocco Bello Bow Ties, decided to start producing creamy honey with berries in the Russian village of Malyy Turysh, in the Ural mountains, she was able to turn a profit while throwing a lifeline to a tired little community in search of a new lease on life. Using honey collected from her father’s apiary site in the same village, in Russia’s Sverdlovsk Oblast Region, and also berries collected by local women, Guzel Sanzhapova’s company produces a fairly unique product: creamed honey with berries. However, instead of just becoming a profitable venture, her project has provided work for the older women living in the village and essentially helped revitalize the community. Cocco Bello has won the Social Impact Award (Russia) for the project of revival of the small village.

This project contributes to developing the community of Malyy Turysh that is located 1500 km away from Moscow. The project already provides employment for more than 50 villagers, has built a playground for children and started a project to build a central water supply as well as to create a tourist site. Cocco Bello’s founder, Guzel Sanzhapova, promotes her shop through friends and social media. With the help of his father, the beekeeper, he has provided employment to almost the entire town.

Journalist and blogger, he has worked as an editor for several travel, nature and science magazines for the last 20 years.