CLAAS DONATES TO SUPPORT SOCIAL INITIATIVES AT THE MARTIN RICHENHAGEN FUTURE FARM
In honour of AGCO Corporation’s outgoing Chairman, President and CEO, Martin Richenhagen, CLAAS has given a donation through the AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) to support social initiatives at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm. Martin Richenhagen served as a member of the CLAAS Group Executive Board from 1998 – 2002.
According to CLAAS CEO Thomas Bock, “CLAAS wishes to commemorate Martin Richenhagen retirement in a way that speaks to our organizations’ shared values and commitment to food security.”
The donation will enable children and young adults living at the Future Farm access interactive and learning-based programs over a six-month period beginning December 2020.
This project will be implemented by 4-H Group, The Leadership Bank & Barefeet theatre. These three non-profit organizations will collaborate and jointly respond to the need of implementing social initiatives for Zambian children and youth in the midst of a global pandemic by providing tailored learning initiatives for the participants within the project period.
These organizations will contribute to project success through various roles:
4-H Group will support the green garden project by working with the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm to provide hands-on educational activities by building a greenhouse facility for vegetable gardening and farm demonstration. Project beneficiaries will be trained on land preparation for cropping, seed/seedling planting, crop and weed control, simple irrigation techniques, crop harvesting, nutrition and related topics.
The Leadership Bank, an organization committed to driving change and building networks of values-based leaders, will facilitate series of mentorship and coaching sessions with the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm youth to enhance their leadership traits, soft skills and personal growth as well as equip them with healthy behaviors towards societal transformation.
Barefeet Theatre, a youth arts organization, will facilitate edutainment activities for the participants to enhance their creative skills towards social change and human development. Social and creative initiatives will be implemented as a means to strengthen their capacity towards improved confidence, creative skills, community inclusion and prevention of engagement in social vices.
“We are delighted to support this timely and important community development project at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm in Zambia, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact the project will have in the host community,” Böck said.
Lucinda Smith, Chairman, AGCO Agriculture Foundation expressed gratitude to CLAAS for the donation and the AGCO Management for allowing the deployment of the funds to support the advancement of corporate social responsibility aligned with AAF’s vision and purpose.
“We believe that the programs implemented at the Martin Richenhagen Future Farm community will allow the children and youth to develop leadership skills, improve their creativity and learn how to keep a home garden for healthy nutrition. We are optimistic this project will bring about meaningful changes and growth among the young people and the entire community in the short-term and in the future,” Smith adds.
Learn more about this project here
