What better day to do so than today – the result of a movement that mobilizes people worldwide for generosity and social commitment on one day? Because, as many of you know: Giving Tuesday lives our foundation not just once a year, but thanks to your support, for 25 years now, on any day of the week. Enjoy the latest pictures and read three stories about actions we are working on today to support farming communities in cotton cultivation.
Our health bus: a new hospital in India
Nothing works without good health. No vision can be realized, no mission fulfilled and no project implemented. That is why health is particularly important to us. With the Mobile Health Unit project, we are committed to providing reliable and regular healthcare – even in remote locations. Since 2006, this bus has been traveling from village to village six days a week with the aim of maintaining the health of our farming families and village communities.
It has already covered over 196,000 kilometers, successfully treated more than 139,881 patients and carries out life-enhancing health checks on over 2,500 schoolchildren every year.
After 17 years in service, the bus has to be taken out of service. But thanks to the help of our donors and the tireless efforts of the head doctor, Dr. Shahina Ansari, and her team, we are about to put the successor into operation. Together, we are keeping a project running that has become an important pillar for the farming communities.
Role model for biodynamic and organic cultivation
Let me introduce you: This is Mahindrasingh. He is showing us his field where he grows chickpeas to complement the cotton. They have already grown to a height of 15 cm, as he notes with satisfaction. He proudly explains to us how he uses compost to improve the fertility of the soil. And he’s not just showing us: For his skills, his exceptionally well-managed organic farm and sharing his knowledge as a role model, Mahindrasingh recently received the Excellence Farming Award.
Mahindrasingh has been cultivating the fields for years together with his wife, Lakshmi. She plays a leading role, sharing work and decisions in the family business. In addition, the education of the children is particularly close to her heart. The family’s story inspires the community to act in an environmentally conscious manner and shows in a practical and concrete way how local commitment can bring about sustainable change.
Women as financial managers
In our workshops, we have found that women in organic farming are not just part of the process, but driving forces for progress and sustainability. Their holistic approach to building and managing is a model of efficiency and resource conservation – and also leads to financial success. One example of this is their ability to generate income from local markets – with everything they can grow in the field in addition to organic cotton. We at the foundation provide support their access to seed and the transfer of knowledge for the benefit of the entire farming community.