Company dedicates its anniversary donation to the Limmat Foundation
The Limmat Foundation is thrilled to announce that the organisation has been selected by the BBR Network for a charity donation in context of their 80th anniversary. BBR VT International is a renowned Swiss specialized engineering company with a strong presence in more than 50 countries. Their jubilee was recently celebrated in Zurich. As a token of their appreciation, BBR has invited Isabel Probst and Ana von Bock of the Limmat Foundation to their gala dinner to receive the donation. On this occasion, they gave a presentation showcasing its impactful project “SESAME” in Madagascar. The Limmat Foundation would like to express its gratitude to the BBR Network for their trust and generosity. It’s a true honor to be chosen as the recipient of their 80th anniversary charity donation. This opportunity will not only allow the Limmat Foundation to further its mission but also raise awareness about the important initiatives the organisation is supporting worldwide since more than 50 years. MEHR NACHRICHTEN Jahresbericht 2023 Jahresbericht 2023 • 13.06.2024 Gewinner des Benefiz-Golfturniers reisen nach Kolumbien Gewinner des Benefiz-Golfturniers reisen nach Kolumbien • 02.05.2024 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika • 02.04.2024
Annual Report 2023
In 2023, the Limmat Foundation supported a total of 70 projects together with 57 local partners in 29 countries (project volume: CHF 3,808,000). The gratitude of the beneficiaries for the various educational programmes can be seen, for example, in their testimonials. Jenny is a childcare provider and participated in the project “Saberes” in Colombia. She summarized about her experience as follows: “Saberes’ training courses have helped me to improve my organizational and planning skills in particular. This was always a big challenge for me at work in the past. Through the training program, I learned that I can incorporate all the materials in my environment into the learning process. Saberes has not only provided me with strategies to use in my work with children and their families, but also in my personal life. Now I find it easier to identify the best solution to problems.” You can read more about the projects and other achievements of the umbrella foundation in the annual report. 👉 English version of the annual report 2023 👉 German version of the annual report 2023 Enjoy the reading! MEHR NACHRICHTEN Jahresbericht 2023 Jahresbericht 2023 • 13.06.2024 Gewinner des Benefiz-Golfturniers reisen nach Kolumbien Gewinner des Benefiz-Golfturniers reisen nach Kolumbien • 02.05.2024 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika • 02.04.2024
Winners of the charity golf tournament travel to Colombia
In spring 2024, the winners of the golf tournament Esmeralda Charity Cup (ECC) travelled to Colombia. They were accompanied by two sponsors and Juan Alarcon, the former project director of the Limmat Foundation. In Cali, the first stage of the trip, the group visited several projects for children run by the Foundation Carvajal, which have been supported by the ECC in the past years. They were also able to go to a sugar factory, which is one of the most important sources of income in the region. The second stop of the trip was in Medellín. Juan Alarcon showed the four people the Rural Innovation Centre “La Sandalia”, a training centre for young farmers. They spent a whole day there and were able to get an idea of the educational model. It is very similar to the dual training system, as it combines theory and practice. Besides, they were able to take part in one of the activities of the Iwoka program. The guests were very positively surprised by what the young people involved had to say. The last stop on the trip was in Cartagena de Indias on the Caribbean coast. They visited two projects supported by the Esmeralda Charity Cup: Aluna and Actuar por Bolívar. To finish this interesting trip, the group took part in a charity golf tournament organized by the ECC for the benefit of the project “Aluna”, which supports disabled children and youth. Mr. Mark Keller, member of the winning team, was already able to travel to Colombia as a winner of the Esmeralda Charity Cup 13 years ago and sums up the following after this new opportunity: “It was impressive to see that even after such a long time, the projects are still working and the efforts of the Limmat Foundation, Esmeralda Charity, sponsors and donors are sustainable. This is actually the most important thing for me and will remain in my positive memory for a long time to come.” If you are a golfer and would like to take part in the Esmeralda Charity Cup, you can register for the golf season 2024 on the Limmat Foundation’s website. MEHR NACHRICHTEN 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika • 02.04.2024 Weltfrauentag Weltfrauentag • 08.03.2024 Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien • 19.02.2024
50 years since the first project in Latin America
On the 2nd of April 2024, the Limmat Foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary since its very first project in Latin America. Together with the local partner “Promotora de Obras Sociales y de Instrucción Popular” (PROSIP), a program was developed in 1974 to introduce medical assistance in the province of Cañete in Peru. The project involved sending two doctors to the selected region to clarify the personnel and equipment requirements. Afterwards, the necessary personnel and financial resources were procured for the successful implementation of the program. Until today, the Limmat Foundation frequently supports projects in Latin American countries. One of the current projects is taken place in the province of Lambayeque in Peru, which aims to change the economic and health situation of poor smallholder farming families. If you are interested to know more about how you can help people in need with a donation or by opening a sub-foundation to finance your own philanthropic projects worldwide, don’t hesitate to contact the Limmat Foundation (limmat@limmat.org). The staff is happy to assist you. MEHR NACHRICHTEN 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika 50 Jahre seit dem ersten Projekt in Lateinamerika • 02.04.2024 Weltfrauentag Weltfrauentag • 08.03.2024 Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien • 19.02.2024
International Women’s Day
On the 8th of March, the world celebrates the International Women’s Day. On this occasion, you will learn more about the project “FAMA” of the Limmat Foundation with its local partner Fundación Carvajal in Buenaventura/Colombia. What is this project about?FAMA is a project that aims to strengthen capacities and the development of entrepreneurial skills of women through business and social accompaniment strategies. The goal is an optimal management of their production units through with advice and sometimes the investment of seed capital, but also a better quality of family relations, recognizing it as one of the fundamental pillars of the company. What impact has this project on society?Since the start of the project in 2018 until 2023, more than 1000 women who run subsistence enterprises have stabilized their business, managed to reach the broken-even point and have improved their leadership as well as negotiation skills. 90% have increased in sales and acquired the habit of keeping accounts. What change/improvement was realized by the Limmat Foundation?Thanks to the support of the Limmat Foundation, it was possible for the project to understand that the profile of female entrepreneurs had to meet certain requirements (eagerness to learn, perseverance, hard work) to achieve better results and make better use of financial resources. It was possible to achieve greater coverage in the school of entrepreneurs, reaching more female entrepreneurs each year. What is the project’s aim for the future?FAMA continues to contribute to the business ecosystem of Buenaventura, so that more and more businesswomen and their families can benefit from the community of entrepreneurs. A tailor-made training and support model allow them to consolidate the company and have better sales. MEHR NACHRICHTEN Weltfrauentag Weltfrauentag • 08.03.2024 Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien Mutter- und Kindprogramm in Armenien • 19.02.2024 Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter • 19.01.2024
Mother and child program in Armenia
Since 2005 the (sub-)foundation Saat supports a mother and child program of a hospital school in Armenia. The project is attached to the Arabkir Children’s Hospital in Eriwan, which has a cooperation with the University Children Hospital in Zurich since 2007. Today, the Arabkir Children’s Hospital is the pediatric reference centre for the whole of Armenia and a training centre for pediatrics. The purpose of the program is to work with women who have a sick child in their family and need support when struggling to cope with this difficult situation. While the children are in the Hospital, the family has access to different workshops which teach practical life skills. The courses are currently offered in cooking, art and craft, computing and languages. Not only the families can take advantage of these workshops but also the medical personnel at the hospital. Every month, about 25 families can take part. The participation is free of charge. Thanks to the program, the mothers receive psychological help and relief so that they don’t feel alone with their sick child anymore. Besides, the workshops support values like self-confidence and respect while creating a friendly atmosphere. The participation in the workshops is also a chance to get away from the hospital routines, forget all the worries and engage in an activity with the whole family. With the huge number of refugees from Karabach, the mother and child project is confronted with another big task: Literally all sick refugee children and their families came to Arabkir Children’s Hospital. They were received in the staff’s families or offered a personal holiday flat. To pay the refugees who found work in the hospital, everyone from director to cleaner donates 10% of his own income. Winter in Armenia is similar to ours. People need warm shoes, jackets, blankets… Most of them arrived just with their clothes, which they wore to escape. MEHR NACHRICHTEN Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter • 19.01.2024 Frohe Weihnachten Frohe Weihnachten • 19.12.2023 Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika • 10.11.2023
Job training for young mothers
In Venezuela, young mothers are in a situation of vulnerability due to extreme poverty. They often belong to poor as well as broken families. Besides, they don’t have access to medical care and lack the resources to buy medicines as well as food. The project of Salud y Familia seeks to offer them job training opportunities in order to improve their living conditions, encouraging attitudes and skills for personal as well as family improvement. Currently, the Limmat Foundation’s local partner Salud y Familia runs training in entrepreneurship, for example as a baker, hairdresser or podiatrist. A workshop on the topic of “values” takes place in all courses, as mothers have identified open questions in this area, which was also reflected in the different fields of work. The focus of the project is on young mothers. However, in 2023, the enrolment was extended until the age of 40 because of great interest. The mothers with a higher age expressed their big wish to achieve economic independence to help their families. Small business start-up assistance continues to be implemented as a form of loan for mothers in the course. In cooperation with Swissocial an impact measurement is carried out at the moment which helps to show the positive changes in the mother’s lives and to figure out in which parts the project can still be improved. MORE NEWS Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter Berufsausbildung für junge Mütter • 19.01.2024 Frohe Weihnachten Frohe Weihnachten • 19.12.2023 Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika • 10.11.2023
Merry Christmas
With the Christmas time, this year is coming to an end. The whole team of the Limmat Foundation wishes you a Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year 2024! Thank you very much for your support of our work to improve the living conditions of people in need worldwide. A special thanks also to all the local partners of the Limmat Foundation for their commitment during the last year. Enjoy a wonderful time with family and friends! MEHR NACHRICHTEN Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika Bildungsprojekte in Westafrika • 10.11.2023 Spannende Reise nach Guatemala und Kolumbien Spannende Reise nach Guatemala und Kolumbien • 27.10.2023 Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup • 15.09.2023
Education projects in West Africa
In October 2023, the Executive Director of the Limmat Foundation, François Geinoz, was in Abidjan / Ivory Coast, together with two members of the sub-foundation committee CPAM. They met female students who are supported by the sub-foundation and attend German courses. The aim is that some of them receive scholarships for university studies in a German-speaking country. The best three high school students among the graduates of the German courses were awarded with a prize. Besides, the visitors got to know the first two candidates for a scholarship. This encounter took place during the visit at the high school Sainte Marie. The day began with a special occasion for the official start of the school year: the raising of the flag in the presence of all 1,257 female students. The trip also offered the opportunity to visit different schools as well as other projects supported by the Limmat Foundation. This includes the construction site of the Centre de Formation et d’Appui à l’Insertion Professionnelle CEFAIP, which is supported with a loan by the sub-foundation Rhine. The CEFAIP, very well located in the city centre, will provide professional support to students and promote the professional integration of hundreds of beneficiaries. Equally impressive was the level reached in just five years at the new Daniélou School with already 1’000 female students. Thanks to a bequest, the Limmat Foundation was able to make an important financial contribution during the first construction phase. The visit took place on the same day as the opening ceremony of a chicken coop used for educational purposes. There is also good news to report about the hotel school Yarani, which has been supported by the Limmat Foundation for many years. Experiencing them on site made it particularly clear how important the dual Swiss education system of vocational training is. In parallel to the theoretical part at school, the students complete their practical phase in one of the partner hotels. The first year in the new system was already very successful. A visit to a social and medical centre in M’Batto-Bouaké, outside the capital, concluded the enlightening and impressive week. MEHR NACHRICHTEN Spannende Reise nach Guatemala und Kolumbien Spannende Reise nach Guatemala und Kolumbien • 27.10.2023 Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup • 15.09.2023 Inspirierender Besuch in Afrika: Stärkung von Gemeinschaften durch soziale Projekte Inspirierender Besuch in Afrika: Stärkung von Gemeinschaften durch soziale Projekte • 25.08.2023
Exciting journey to Guatemala and Colombia
In September, the Limmat Foundation’s project director, Ignasi Fainé, travelled to Guatemala and Colombia. This time, the object of his trip was not only to visit the projects, for example “Saberes“, and to talk to the different local partners like Fundación Carvajal, but also to provide training. Offering education to the local network is part of the Limmat Foundation’s project management. In different Colombian cities like Bogotá, Cali, Cartagena, Manizales and Pereira, Ignasi Fainé and María Yanci, coach in positive intelligence, talked about mental fitness. They prepared a session of two hours and a half about the topic “How to be successful in difficult times. Know and train the three main muscles of positive fitness”. Moreover, in Pereira, the project director gave a training to Fundación Iwoka to implement strategies of coaching in its daily work with the beneficiaries of the project. The journey to Guatemala and Colombia was very fruitful. Every local partner was thankful for the support received. The conversations and advices help them to develop as well as to progress the projects. Thanks to everyone for the dedicated participation! MEHR NACHRICHTEN Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup Finale 2023 des Esmeralda Charity Cup • 15.09.2023 Inspirierender Besuch in Afrika: Stärkung von Gemeinschaften durch soziale Projekte Inspirierender Besuch in Afrika: Stärkung von Gemeinschaften durch soziale Projekte • 25.08.2023 Jahresbericht 2022 Jahresbericht 2022 • 24.07.2023