Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, we support communities in the field of education. Together with foundations and charitable organisations, for example, we have renovated classrooms and donated 43 desks to the El Limón community school.
Ecuador
Learning together
With our tutoring programme “We learn together”, children between the ages of eight and twelve can improve their mathematics and language/literature skills. Teachers look after the children for four hours a day in both subjects. The programme is funded partly by donations from the Fruit Logistica trade fair. We work with local non-governmental organisations to provide workshops for personal development, communication, leadership and children’s art therapy.
Spain
El Puchero
In 2013, our first solidarity kitchen “El Puchero” (soup kitchen) opened in Valencia (Spain) – initiated by SanLucar founder, Stephan Rötzer.
In 2018, a second kitchen, “El Puchero Portuario”, opened in the port district of Valencia. In collaboration with the Coordinadora Solidaria Valencia foundation, both kitchens provide 500 people in need with hot meals and additional food. Those in need can pick up their meals there to eat at home with their families.
In addition, a social worker at “El Puchero” looks after people who are at risk of social exclusion. And we ensure that all children from “El Puchero” receive school materials. There is also a small Christmas party every year at which presents are distributed to the children.
School support
In collaboration with “Fundación Iniciativa Social”, we support pupils in their learning. The children from our solidarity kitchens in Valencia (Spain) receive help from a personal tutor who helps them with their homework twice a week for an hour and explains the subject matter. All children who have access to this programme come from families at risk of social exclusion or have a migrant background.
Excursions
We organise joint activities for SanLucaners and the families from “El Puchero” to promote social cohesion. For example, they have taken part in a skills tournament together in the historic centre of Valencia and went on a trip to the Bioparc zoo. This strengthens the sense of community solidarity.
South Africa
From infancy to graduation: the children of our farm employees in South Africa are lovingly cared for in our “Speelskool” kindergarten. Our educators have taken part in a special training programme, “AmazingBrainz”. It is specially designed to meet the needs of farm children and promotes the early brain development of babies and toddlers. We also offer an after-school care centre where the children are supported with their homework and have access to computers. This enables them to use the CAMI tutoring program, which is aligned with the South African school curriculum. Through CAMI, our children receive additional academic support in languages and mathematics.
The “Speelskool” kindergarten on our Rooihoogte farm is also attended by the children of our South African farmer De Hook. The path to the kindergarten is difficult, especially in rainy weather when the unpaved roads become muddy.
That’s why the residents wanted a minibus to take them into town for shopping and medical appointments. Together with our retail partners and the “Dreams come true” support association, we launched an appeal for donations and raised 40,000 euros. This enabled us to fulfil the people’s dream of owning their own minibus.
Excursions
We organise excursions for our kindergarten children where they can experience something new or different and learn something at the same time. Recently, for example, we went to the aquarium in Cape Town.
Community store
The community store is very important for our farm workers. Here they can buy food, tools and household items and, thanks to the generous donations of our retail partners, they can now also heat up their meals. The community store also manages a loan fund that provides financial support to families in need.
Community garden
More than 200 people live on Rooihoogte, our South African citrus farm. The nearest village is 30 minutes away by car. To ensure a daily supply of fruit and vegetables, we have planted a garden on the farm, which is tended by members of the community. The first harvest always goes to the kindergarten kitchen, the rest is sold in the Rooihoogte community store. The profits go into the community coffers.
Tunisia
Renovation of schools
Education is the key to being able to shape your own life. And the best place to learn is in a good environment. That is why we have renovated nine schools in the rural area of our tomato oasis over the past five years. They are currently being adapted to the needs of children with disabilities.
Takween programme
The “Takween” training programme, which we support, gives young people the opportunity to do an apprenticeship in fruit and vegetable farming. This increases their chances of being able to continue working in such a business after their training.
