Investment in Africa!

Investment in Africa

Why Africa?

The African continent is on the way to increasing overpopulation. Gross domestic product per capita, the birth rate per African woman and illiteracy tend to be related. The educational level of the population is to a large extent the determining factor for the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and the birth rate of a nation. However, the level of education is influenced by political, financial and cultural influences. To this day, most of the African population, especially girls and women, are denied education and vocational training. Career opportunities mean protection from exploitation, the chance to emancipate and the opportunity to develop. Only in this way can a long-term basis for a better life be created. Education is often the only way out of escaping oppression and heteronomy.

In many African countries, deforestation and burn agriculture lead to a dramatic reduction of primeval  and rainforests sometimes to desertification. The competition between wild natural landscapes and the growing needs of indigenous people and the hunger for raw materials has led to dramatic changes in natural habitats. Species extinction and climate change are also consequences of this development. The "Forest creates future" foundation is therefore also involved in this area with reforestation projects and initiatives designed to harmonize the interaction between humans and nature, especially in peripheral regions of protected national parks.

Basis: Declaration of Human Rights

Article 26 (1) and (2) of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948 is clear.

 (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education is free, at least basic education and basic education. Primary education is compulsory. Specialist and vocational education must be made widely available, and higher education must be open to all equally according to their abilities.

(2) Education must be directed towards the full development of the human personality and the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It must contribute to the understanding, tolerance and friendship between all nations and all racial or religious groups, and should be conducive to United Nations action for the maintenance of peace.

Procedure of project selection

However, this right is not implemented in many African countries because of the lack of financial resources needed to build schools due to lack of teachers or cultural reasons.

Here the Foundation startet first activities. Of course, the range of activities can be extended to different areas of education (education, vocational training, integrative development of sectors such as agriculture or other professional and employment sectors, health care, etc.).

A first selection of concrete projects is done. Initially, foundations are being consulted that already move in the mentioned field. The idea was to incorporate valuable experiences of foundations and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in the decision-making processes and the start-ups of own projects. We allready started first activities since beginning of 2019.

An important part of this project work is the methodology. The work should be fun for everyone involved and it should be effective and sustainable. The participatory system has proved to be effective in many foundations