International Media Studies by International Media Studies

International Media Studies Published by IMS/Deutsche Welle Akademie – April 2015

The many faces of development Bonner Militärkaserne wird zivil Page 2

Development not a one-way street Page 3

Self-made entrepreneurs Page 3

Just how fair is fair-trade coffee? Page 4

Working hand-in-hand for development

PHoto: Nevena Georgievski

ost people understand development as the collaboration between wealthy and poor countries in order to better the situation of the latter. But for this newspaper edition on development we have pushed the limits. Development, to us, is not naturally a fair-trade, just because labels say so, nor is it a one-way street. For this special, we did not accept boundaries when it comes to defining the term. Can we, in a globalized world, live and work everywhere, and is it ok to stay in a foreign country just because life there is more comfortable? What are young migrants expecting, and how would a business woman from Tanzania, for example, succeed in a German environment? “Development implies progress from backwardness to modernity, from simple to a complex society, from bad to good ultimately”, that

is how Ronaldo Munck, a wellknown Argentinean sociology professor has put it, “a term with multiple meanings and usages: humans, grassroots, economic, social, capitalist, organic, uneven, sustainable or socialist among others.” We talked to people, interviewed them and took their quotes, but furthermore, we looked into their faces and their environments, private and professional, to explore their stories with our own eyes – bringing them to life to our readers. Thus, we conclude that development has many faces, many stories and many interpretations some of which we present on the following four pages. We hope you, the reader, will enjoy them as much as we did finding them. By Jovana Kastratovic and Maithe Lopez Santaella

The big question: stay or return? International students speak up about their future plans By Amon Rémy Mallet and Mable Atemo

tudents from all around the world choose Germany for their studies. At the moment almost 300.000 international students are enrolled in German universities. Do they want to stay or go back home to support development? This is the question that we ask them.

“Your heart is where your home is.” It is with this phrase that Ghalia Takriti, smiling, tries to explain her desire to return home in the future, even though she really wants to stay in Germany. And her aspiration to go back is not without reason. “Being abroad has made me realise how important my family is to me”, says the 22-year-old student from Jordan. Ghalia has been in Germany since September 2014 to pursue a Bachelor degree in Business Administration. She has been impressed about how things are “structured’’ and “organized’’ here. Therefore, she would like to have some work experience right after her studies. “Let’s say after three to four years

of experience, I will have gained enough skills and knowledge. I see it as a duty to go back home”, she reveals with glasses on top of her head.

Difficult to make German friends Feifei Wa, a Chinese student of 23 years, feels the same about her family. She is also enrolled in a Bachelor degree in Business Administration at the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. But unlike Ghalia, she doesn’t consider returning home a duty. “In traditional Chinese culture, we consider that people shouldn’t be far from their parents’’, she says. With her tiny size, Feifei says that the cultural differences are big. “The first challenge here is the language. And I find it difficult to make friends”, she mentions. Even if she gets a job here, Feifei would ask for an assignation in her home country. “Maybe, marriage can let me stay in Germany’’, she concedes while smiling. Opposed to both, Nitish Reedy already made his choice. Originat-

ed from India, he is enrolled in the Master of Autonomous Systems, a program which deals with robotic technologies. The 24-year-old Indian bluntly admits: “I came with the intention of staying.” For him, if he has to give back something, it is Germany that should benefit from it. “The education is almost free here. It means somebody paid for me. So I would not mind giving back to Germans”, he explains. Besides, Nitish believes there are more opportunities in Germany than in India. “The quality of life is better here’’, he adds.

What is quality of life? “We should define what is the quality of life’’, says Boris Ndimubanzi, Nitish´s classmate. Boris, 23 years, comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. “There is war in my country, but the quality of life also means to me being surrounded by my relatives”, he says. “I see it as a call which tells me that I should give back what I will gain here. Here everything is done, but in my home many things still need to

International students in Germany at a glance

• Almost half of the international Students would like to stay 1-2 years after completing their stud-

ies to gain more work experience in Germany before returning

eign students; least were found in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

• Nearly a third of the students are still indecisive

You find the DAAD study here: http://bit.ly/1IOvH7e Another DAAD publication on international student mobility: http://bit.ly/1D7NZZr

• Most of international students prefer Berlin, with 26,233 for-

“I would love to give back” As well as Boris is eager to return back home, is Matanji Happiness, who is doing the Master degree “International Media Studies” at Deutsche Welle. The 33-year-old expects to help women. “I want to go back home to Tanzania and start my own Radio. I want to train women in Information Communication Technology because most of them either do not have any equipment or do not know how to use it”, she explains. Another student, Yves Nkake, left Cameroon for Germany in 2011. After four years, the 30-year-old student of economics finds it difficult to return back home: “I am now used to the weather in Germany. A friend of mine who recently came back from Cameroon told me that it is too hot there. And indeed, even before coming to Germany I had problems with the sun in my home country’’, he says. Yves doesn’t consider returning neither a duty nor an obligation. Therefore, he regards staying in Germany as a “realistic” option. “The Euro is much stronger than our currency in Cameroon. So it is better to work here and later on invest in my country”, he concludes.

“It is a duty to return”, Ghalia Takriti, 22, student from Jordan

“It is my dream to give back”, Boris Ndimubanzi, 23, from Democratic Republic of Congo

PHOTOs: amon rémy mallet

• In 2013 10 percent of 2,217,208 students are foreign, according to Deutscher Akademischer Auslandsdienst (DAAD)

be improved”, he argues. Boris believes that his field of studies can support development: “In my country only a few people have knowledge in robotics”, he says.

“I don’t think I belong to Germany”, Feifei Wa, 23, from China

The many faces of development

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Eine Militärkaserne wird zivil Gärtner, Künstler und Flüchtlinge: Die Ermekeilkaserne in Bonn öffnet neue Wege für die Stadtentwicklung

Eine Kaserne Im Wandel der Zeit 1880/1883 – Bau der Ermekeilkaserne, Nutzung durch die Preußische Armee 1919 – Es leben kanadische, britische und französische Besatzungstruppen in der Kaserne 1926 – Verkauf an die Stadt Bonn, Nutzung für kinderreiche Familien PHotos: Ermekeiinitiative, Amanullah Jawad, Jennifer Zumbusch

1936 – Übergang in Reichsbesitz, Nutzung durch die Wehrmacht als Stab- und Verwaltungsstellen 1939 – Militärische Nutzung durch Wehrmachtstruppen 1945 – Jetzt ziehen amerikanische, britische und belgische Besatzungstruppen in die Gebäude 1950 – Amt Blank – die Kaserne wird Sitz Truppenbeauftragten Theodor Blank 1955 – Am 7. Juni wird in der Kaserne die Bundeswehr gegründet 1956 – Am 16. Oktober wird Franz Josef Strauß Verteidigungsminister, lässt sich eine eigene Badewanne neben sein Büro installieren, damit er morgens nicht ins Gemeinschaftsbad muss 1960 – Der Minister und das schnell wachsende Ministeriums ziehen nach und nach in Neubauten auf die „Hardthöhe“

Militärgelände: Einlass erfolgt nur mit Personalausweis

1974 – Die ebenfalls in der Ermekeilkaserne untergebrachte Stabskompanie des Ministeriums zieht auf die „Hardthöhe“ Seit 1986 steht die Ermekeilkaserne unter Denkmalschutz 1998 – Die letzten Mitarbeiter des Bundesverteidigungsministers ziehen aus Bis Juli 2000 wird die Kaserne weiter durch militärische und zivile Dienststellen genutzt Ab 2013 – Stadt Bonn beschließt, das Gelände zu erwerben. Private und kommunale Nutzung startet; u.a. urban Gardening und Künstlerateliers; die Ermekeilkaserne ist nun endgültig zivil

Urban Gardening – sähen und ernten auf dem Gelände der Ermekeilkaserne. Jeder, der möchte, kann mitmachen.

Der einstige Sitz bedeutender Institutionen wandelt sich zur multifunktionalen Begegnungsstätte. By Jovana Kastratovic and Amanullah Jawad

ir befinden uns inmitten der Bonner Südstadt, dem größten noch erhaltenen Gründerzeitviertel der ehemaligen Hauptstadt der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Es ist Frühling, hohe Kastanienbäume säumen die Straßen entlang der gepflegten alten Häuservillen mit ihren Stuckverzierungen. Früher befanden sich hier viele Geschäfte und Kneipen, heute ist es eine fast reine Wohngegend wohlhabender Bonner Bürger. Vereinzelt gibt es noch Cafés, Bistros und Kneipen, die zum Verweilen in der Sonne einladen. Vom Bonner Talweg abbiegend, kommt man zur Ermekeilkaserne. Ihren Namen haben die 1883 gebauten Gebäude nach ihrem Gründer, dem Gastronom und Unternehmer Johann Heinrich Ermekeil erhalten. Anfang des 19. Jahrhunderts war es üblich, dass vermögende Grundeigentümer ihren Straßen den eigenen Namen gaben, wie uns Dr. Norbert Schlossmacher, 52, Leiter des Bonner Stadtarchivs, zu erzählen weiß. Wir sind in sein Büro ins Bonner Stadthaus gekommen, um mehr über die Entwicklung der Ermekeilkaserne in ihrer 133-jährigen Geschichte zu erfahren. Über die Unterbringung der Preußischen Armee erzählt er uns: „In Bonn gab es damals schon Soldaten, allerdings nur Husaren, das ist eine Eliteeinheit zu Pferd. Wegen der vielen Studenten, die gerne einen freiwilligen einjährigen Militärdienst ableisten wollten und dafür selber aufkommen mussten, war es im Interesse der Stadt und der Universitäten, auch eine Infanterie in Bonn zu haben.“

Nach dem ersten Weltkrieg wurde die Kaserne von der Stadt Bonn aufgekauft. Damals wurden erstmals kinderreiche und schwer vermittelbare Familien untergebracht. Nicht ohne Probleme, wie wir hören. Doch auch die Wehrmacht zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus nutzte die Räumlichkeiten, erst für die Verwaltung und später auch militärisch. Ihre wichtigste Periode hat die Ermekeilkaserne zu Beginn der Gründung der Bundesrepublik Deutschland erlebt. Als Amt Blank, benannt nach dem ersten Verteidigungsminister Theodor Blank, wurde sie zum Sitz des Verteidigungsministeriums und die Geburtsstätte der Bundeswehr. Seit 2013 steht die aus sechs Gebäuden bestehende Kaserne zum Verkauf. Die Stadt Bonn hat

entschieden, ihr „Erstzugriffsrecht“ geltend zu machen, das 25.000qm große Gelände zu erwerben. Die Verkaufsverhandlungen mit dem Bundesamt für Immobilien (BimA) laufen derzeit noch. Gegen eine rein kommerzielle Verwertung der Immobilie hat die „Initiative zur zivilen Nutzung der Ermekeilkaserne e.V.“ ein Konzept entwickelt, das soziale Veränderungen durch ein neues Verhältnis der Wohn- und Arbeitswelt vorsieht: eine Mischung aus Wohnen, Arbeiten und Kultur. Die Initiative wünscht sich neben neuen Wohnformen Kitas, ein Gesundheitszentrum mit Pflegediensten sowie Räumlichkeiten für Kultureinrichtungen, NGOs oder Architektenbüros. Der langfristige Entscheid steht noch aus. Um die Bonner Bürger und besonders die Südstädter zu erreichen, nutzt die zivile Initiative Informationsveranstaltungen und soziale Medien (facebook: Die Ermekeilkaserne wird zivil).

“Ein Ort für moderne Stadtentwicklung”

Quartier der Vielfalt Die Initiative zur zivilen Nutzung der Ermekeilkaserne e.V. hat sich 2005 gegründet. Seit 2013 gibt es feste Arbeitsgruppen zu bestimmten Themen. Mit ihrer Arbeit setzt sich die Initiative ein für: • Wohn- und Lebensraum für alle Bevölkerungs- und Einkommensschichten • Errichtung eines interkulturellen Begegnungszentrums • Eine Nutzungsmischung von Wohnen und Arbeiten

• Stärkung von Nachbarschaften, der sozialen Integration und Inklusion Musik statt Wenn Gewehrschüsse auch Sie sich engagieren oder nähere Informationen erhalten möchten, finden Sie diese hier: www.ermekeilkarree.de info@ermekeilkarree.de

Obwohl der langfristige Entscheid noch aussteht, hat sich die einstige Militärkaserne schon jetzt zum kreativen Ort für moderne Stadtentwicklung gewandelt. Derzeit nutzen Bonner Künstler die Räumlichkeiten als Ateliers. Auch eine Fläche für urban gardening gibt es. Neben Pflanzenkisten stehen Kinderdreiräder und Gartenmöbel, die zum gemeinsamen Zusammensitzen bei mitgebrachtem Tee und Kaffee einladen, es darf gepflanzt und geerntet werden. Junge Menschen treffen hier auf Familien mit Kindern, man kommt schnell ins Gespräch. Ein wichtiger Aspekt, wenn man bedenkt, dass in Bonn in jüngster Zeit Buchläden, Studentencafés und kleine Theaterspielstätten schließen mussten. Das jüngste Vorhaben ist die Unterbringung von 80 Flüchtlingen im dritten Quartal dieses Jahr, das auf einen Beschluss des Landes Nordrheinwestfalen zurückgeht. „Damit wird ein Teil unseres Nutzungskonzepts erfüllt“, freut sich der Soziologe Uli Mercker vom „Eine Welt Forum“. Die Notaufnahmestellen würden Flüchtlinge in einem Zeitraum von zwei bis drei Wochen beherbergen, eventuell könnte es auch zu einer langfristigen Unterbringung kommen. Sind Widerstände zu erwarten? „Es könnte Widerstände geben“, sagt Uli Mercker, „aber auf der anderen Seite gibt es auch sehr deutliche Hilfsangebote von Leuten aus der umliegenden Nachbarschaft.“ In der Südstadt scheint immer noch die Sonne, es ist jetzt mittlerweile Abend und die Mütter mit den Kleinkindern sammeln ihre Schaufeln ein. Das große Kasernentor wird bald geschlossen werden und wir können uns gut vorstellen, dass hier bald viele Menschen ein und aus gehen und die Töne fremdländischer Musik aus einem offenen Fenster zu hören sind.

The many faces of development

IMS

Development is not a one-way street How skilled migrants find their place in development By Farnaz Bernhardt and Claudia García

BRAIN GAIN Vs. BRAIN DRAIN

A Brazilian expert looking for opportunities; where did you turn? In 2009, after I had finished my studies in eonomics in Cologne I attended a conference for job opportunities in international development in Bonn. CIM had a stand there and during a talk I learned about the enriching opportunities that this organization is providing for expert migrants. I didn’t know that there was the possibility to go back to my home country and

Opportunities for expert migrants who want to work in international development The Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) is a joint venture between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the German Federal Employment Agency (BA). CIM offers a “Returning Experts” program – what is it all about? CIM coordinator Johannes Schilling gives us an overview of the program.

Marcelo Da Cunha is one of the migrant experts who is “building bridges between two worlds”.

engage myself there with the support of a German development organization. How did you approach CIM? How did it start? After the conference, I looked at their website and saw that wanted a researcher to work in the agroforestry sector in the Brazilian Amazon. This was exactly what I wanted, so I applied and after three interviews I got the job. The job focused on developing agricultural and non-timber forest products especially by marginalized groups. What differences did you want to implement in your country? I was always trying to contribute

photo: Claudia García

evelopment is mostly understood as improving the living conditions in developing countries through financial investment, policy advice or infrastructure projects. However, this is not the only way to do it. So called migrant experts offer a huge potential for developing their home countries as well. Today, there are more than 230 million people in the world, who have migrated from their home countries and many of them are experts. Marcelo Inacio Da Cunha, 31 years, born in Brazil, who lived and studied in Germany, is one of these. He is supported by the Centre for International Migration and Development (CIM) not only in developing his professional skills, but also in contributing to the development of his home country Brazil. In 2009, he came in touch with the CIM “Returning Experts Program”. We spoke with him about his experiences in working in the Amazon rainforest as a Natural Resource Economist with the support of CIM.

to the sustainable development of my country. When I was at school in São Paolo, I was involved in some projects at the favelas, the slums, which tried, for example, to curb drug addiction. After having studied in Germany, I wanted to continue learning to contribute more effectively. The opportunity offered by CIM allowed me to do research and to see real results at the same time. I worked with Afro-Brazilian communities who live in the rainforest and gather nuts, Para nuts or Brazil nuts, to make a living. My job was to learn from them and jointly identify opportunities to strengthen their production. Look for example at the German “Studentenfutter”, it is full of Brazil nuts and offers a lot

of win-win business opportunities for buyers and suppliers. Do you feel happy migrating between Brazil and Germany? Yes, I feel very happy today. My job in Brazil with CIM was very fulfilling. It inspired me to come back to Germany to do my PhD and deepen my knowledge. I, myself a migrant, now analyze business models for Afro-Brazilian forest communities. This is truly fascinating! After completing my PhD studies, I plan to continue working in international cooperations worldwide, either in Brazil or other Latin-American countries. We are all citizens of the world and learning from and respecting each other.

• CIM program is addressed to migrants trained in Germany. • It is not only about returning. Those who wish to stay in Germany may contribute, for instance as consultants for programs in their home countries. • Due to political reasons, some countries like Iran are excluded. • Since 1994, more than 11.000 experts have been supported. • Currently, there are about 500 returning experts working in positions relevant to development, mainly in Asia and Africa. • Help given to migrant experts: advice and search for matching jobs in their home countries, travel expenses, salary subsidies for 2 or 3 years, workplace equipment and media.

Breaking barriers with spices

Photo: Maithe Lopez

Foreigners trying to enter into the business arena in Germany

Ready to serve you: Prafula at her Indian restaurant after finishing food preparation

By Stumai George and Maithe Lopez Santaella

hen we think of a foreign investment the image that comes into our mind are wealthy people from rich countries opening profitable businesses in poor countries. But it can also be the other way around. In the German city of Bonn we met three foreign-

ers who successfully started their own business. Miguel Pedro, a 24-year-old man from Angola owns “Afroshop Melissa” in the city centre. He sells food, spices and cosmetics. Running away from the civil war in their country, at that time, three years old Pedro and his mother came to Germany as refugees. Five years ago they opened their own shop. This was not an easy task.

“It is hard to have a successful business in a foreign country, especially in a developed country such as Germany because of extraordinary complicated procedures for running a business”, says Miguel. Getting a trade permit was the biggest obstacle for him. “Although running my own business is in my veins as it is long years tradition in our family, this German bureaucracy almost made my wishes impossible”, says this young man. A dream came true for Aisha Yusup from Zanzibar. This young woman managed to unite two countries through the food in her restaurant called “Food from Zanzibar”. Opening her own business in Germany was not hard for her due to the support of her German husband. Her story began three years ago, when she started selling Zanzibar food on the street using a bicycle. Two years later she opened her own small restaurant.

“Beat your fears” Dressed in typical African wardrobe called Kitenge, blazoned with lot of African jewelry, Aisha explains that success can be possible if one overcome fears. “Although I

got help from my husband, it does not necessary mean that you must have a German partner to successfully open a business here”, she says. She also considers that the bureaucracy procedures are not so complicated as people think. However, for Aisha the only obstacle is the amount of taxes she has to pay. The restaurant is her first investment and she is happy that she succeeded it in a foreign country.

No sweat, no gain As things seem to be going smoothly for Aisha, Prafula Schillinger who comes from India has a different experience. This mother of two owns a small food corner called “Indian Imbiss”. She opened the place two years ago and faces a lot of difficulties. “Large portion of what we earn goes back to the authorities through taxes and license. And often we have to pay fines given by trade inspections,” explains Prafula. “I did it but not everybody can overcome these challenges”, says Prafula. Nevertheless she still has hope. “If you have passion for business, you can overcome all obstacles. What others consider a barrier, is a common daily challenge to us,” says Prafula.

Are we in business? • As a foreigner, there are many barriers for starting a small business, especially for non-EU citizens. The law states the company should generate economic or regional growth, bring positive effects for the German economy and be financed by its own capital or secured loan. Prior to arrival, if you are a non-EU-citizen you need to have a work permit Visa (Art. 116 of the Grundgesetz) and a special trade licence named Gewerbeschein issued by Gewerbeamt. The easiest way to start your own business remains marrying a EU citizen. • Since 2012, Germany offers the Blaue Karte -program for highly-skilled foreigners to gain a permanent residency and work permit if they present a valid job offer and are expected a yearly income of minimum 48.400 Euro. • Foreign students can stay in Germany up to six months after the graduation in search for a job, but they cannot start their own business.

The many faces of development

PHotos: Nevena Georgievski, samuel Sihombing, Stuart Smith

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Coffee is it! Christiane Hattingen, owner of “Kaffeekontor” coffee shop in Bonn: “Direct trade is a trust issue. You guarantee fair prices for the farmers and expect a quality product in return.”

How fair is fair-trade coffee? Germans drink 150 liter coffee per year – more and more want know its origin By Nevena Georgievski

t is a small coffee shop in the old city of Bonn, Germany. When entering Kaffekontor, the scent of fresh roasted coffee and a smiling face of the owner, Christiane Hattingen welcomes us. It is like a small kingdom of coffee – the place is packed with various sacks filled with different colored coffee beans from all over the world. What makes this place different is that Christiane knows not only where the coffee comes from but who produced it. Establishing direct contact with the coffee producers so called direct fair trade approach, for Christiane is the only way to ensure good quality of her products and granted fair prices for farmers. This concept derives from The International Fair Trade Organization in Bonn. Since 1988 they work with various products worldwide promoting fair payment for producers. This model in the recent years raised a lot of questions – do they really get

fair prices? “The trading chain within Fair Trade Organization is big with many players involved and at the end almost nothing is left for the producers”, argues Christiane and adds: “We are trying to change the situation, at least in the field of coffee business that we are in. By establishing direct contacts with the producers we skip all involved in between, thus guaranteeing up to 40% higher price for farmers than one offered from ‘Fair Trade’.”

It’s about the people Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. The products produced under Fair Trade Organization are marked with special trade seal which is guaranty for ethically and morally correct product. The consumers can easily recognize it and know that they are buying organic and fair traded good. The producers get one guaranteed price but they also have to pay large amount of money for the seal. On the other hand with direct trade the buyer and the producer can

Fairness – it’s all in the price Conventional market Price: € 10-12/kg coffee Farmer: € 1.50/kg Fair-trade market Price: € 14-20/kg Farmer: € 1.70-1.90/kg Direct fair-trade market Price: € 24-28/kg Farmer: € 2.40-2.60/kg

deal over the price and the quality of the product and reach fairer fee. On several occasion Christiane visited coffee producers in Guatemala and Ethiopia. This experience convinced her even more in the importance of direct fair trade. „When you see how hard work it takes to harvest the coffee beans up in the mountain, some people climbing bare foot and carrying heavy bags with crop on their back. I have to put only the coffee beans in the machine and enjoy my work. Than it really matters everyone to get fair share of the cake“, says Christiane. She is not alone. A lot of her colleagues work with direct trade and the number is rising. “Direct trade is intensifying as a trend on the German market. The number of coffee buyers seeking direct contact is increasing, as well as the number of farmers who are searching for us”, explains Christiane.

2315 cups each second Coffee is German’s favorite drink. The Germans drink each second 2315 cups of coffee, states the official “Coffee report” for 2013. Organic coffee produced in fair trade manner is top favorite. “The Germans buys ‘fair’ products and are willing to pay more because they feel like they have helped someone. Firstly they want to know if it’s fair product, and than is it organic”, says Christiane. The idea for opening own coffee shop came up after this former journalist and coffee lover wanted to change her life and merged pleasure and work. She is happy that with her small shop she didn’t only change her life but also helped changing the lives of numerous farmers thought the world.

“We are farmers, not beggars” By Tonggie Siregar “Pastor Coffee” – that is how everyone calls him. Samuel Sihombing is a pastor in Sidikalang, North Sumatera, region that is well known as a Robusta coffee producer in Indonesia. He believes that growing coffee can ensure better income and good life for the farmers in his community, if only they could get a good price. The idea of “guaranteed fair price” is not new for the farmers. It’s a growing trend in coffee business worldwide. The International Fair Trade Organization is the main actor in this field. “It’s a great idea but it is not well implemented in the practice”, says Sihombing. “A lot of players gain money from being part of this fair trade business; the retailer, distributor and the Fair Trade Organization itself. The producers must also pay for various additional licensees. For example, a shipping certificate costs $7000. Who can pay that amount of money?” asks the leader of local coffee farmers union.

Samuel Sihombing, Coffee producer from Indonesia

Four years ago, Sihombing started to search for new options aiming to reach better prices for the coffee products. With the help of local NGOs and their network he found partners in Europe, willing directly to buy the coffee production of his community, thus gaining more revenues for the farmers. His new Holland partner Agrittera, a Rural People’s Organization, helps Indonesian farmers to establish direct contact with

Both direct and conventional fair trade foster development, but with the direct model farmers gain individual benefit rather than just improving the infrastructure in the community promoted by the conventional model. Better future lies in the personal development, highlights the “Coffee pastor”. “We are farmers, not beggars. We would like our work to be appreciated with an adequate price.”

the buyers. They also educate them on how to produce coffee with sustainable good quality. “By educating us, we now can understand what good quality coffee means and how this can improve our lives,” says Sihombing.

Credits/Impressum: Produced by Editorial team: Mable Atemo, Farnaz Bernhardt, Claudia García, Stumai George, Nevena Georgievski, Amanullah Jawad, Jovana Kastratovic, Maithe Lopez Santaella, Amon Rémy Mallet, Tonggie Siregar. Trainer: Andrea Tapper, Moritz Tschermak. Project Manager: Petra Kohnen. Bonn, April 2015