Post by EW Group GmbH

"Sustainable development begins where people can take responsibility for their own lives." – Erich Wesjohann This is the standard the Erich Wesjohann Foundation sets itself, introducing itself here for the first time. Its work centres on the structural development of disadvantaged regions, particularly in developing countries. The Foundation supports projects that bring lasting improvements in nutrition, health and education. Three areas that go hand in hand, since people who are well nourished stay healthier, good health makes learning possible, and education is what ultimately allows people to provide for themselves. What matters is not the support itself, but the structure that sustains it under real-world conditions. What this looks like in practice is shown by a project in Mlale, Malawi. There, the Theresian Sisters keep laying hens and pass their knowledge on to families in the surrounding villages. After the harvest, these families bring four sacks of maize and receive three laying-ready hens with a year's feed in return. Each hen lays an egg a day, securing additional nutrition and a small income; with the next harvest, the cycle begins anew. Not a subsidy, but a sustainable exchange that strengthens people locally over the long term. The Foundation's other initiatives follow the same principle. A hostel in Lilongwe combines safe housing with access to education. Sewing courses open up an income of their own for women, and with it economic independence. In Chassa, Zambia, a new project is currently taking shape, developed together with the community from the very start. Beyond such structural projects, the Foundation also supports international encounters such as youth exchanges. For sustainable development requires not only viable local structures, but equally mutual understanding, tolerance and a willingness to take responsibility across borders. Learn more about the Foundation, its projects and opportunities for collaboration at www.ewfoundation.com.