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Workforce development
Germany
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Sponsor's words

Frank Fritsch

sponsor of Weidaer Fundgrube e. V.

Frank Fritsch, Director of OTWA, Veolia Water, and sponsor of Weidaer Fundgrube e. V.

Why did you decide to become an active member of Weidaer Fundgrube?

I had been wanting to get involved with an organization working in a different field from my professional life for some time. I was keen to discover a new kind of environment. Weidaer Fundgrube e. V. is the largest non-profit organization in Weida and the only one that proposes a comprehensive approach to helping people in great difficulty. I decided to take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Veolia Environnement Foundation.

You come from a large company to a non-profit organization - how were you received?

Unsurprisingly, I did encounter a certain reserve initially. People couldn't help wondering what was behind my involvement. However, quite rapidly, a relationship of genuine, heart-felt cooperation developed between the organization, the mayor and myself. The mayor was delighted that someone from the corporate world could help a private initiative in favor of people in need.

What ideas did you have for developing the organization's activity?

It produces fruit syrups using produce from its market garden. At Veolia Water (OTWA),we regularly carry out campaigns to raise awareness of water quality using a water bar that is always of great interest to children.
I had the idea of adding Weidaer Fundgrube's syrups to the water in our water bar. The children are even more enthusiastic and it also allows us to promote the organization during our own campaigns.

Apparently, you also came up with new openings for fresh fruit and vegetables?

Yes, the organization produced baskets of produce for the company's end-of-year gifts. The recipients were delighted to receive these biological products. In addition,we set up a kind of weekly "soup kitchen", in collaboration with a local food company, the mayor of Weida and the pastor. The free meal is provided in the organization's premises. I would also like to organize an open day to make Weidaer known to a wider public and help distribute its market gardening produce in all the markets in the region.
I would also like children in the town's schools to visit the garden that the Foundation has subsidized, where they could learn a lot about biodiversity.

Veolia Fondation

Frank Fritsch

Why did you decide to become an active member of Weidaer Fundgrube?

You come from a large company to a non-profit organization - how were you received?

What ideas did you have for developing the organization's activity?

Apparently, you also came up with new openings for fresh fruit and vegetables?

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