Healthy nutrition and school support for children: Zespri Europe supports the Hamburg ARCHE

For many children from socially disadvantaged families there are neither regular hot meals nor suitable learning conditions at home. The Corona crisis has further accellerated this situation – but social institutions work daily to accommodate these children and give them a new perspective. Kiwi producer Zespri™ is now supporting the Hamburg ARCHE with 45,000 euros to implement two projects.

“At Zespri, we recognize how fortunate we’ve been during this extraordinary year.

That’s why the European team, guided by our purpose, i.e. helping people, communities, and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit decided to explore a new way of celebrating the traditional holiday season”, states Giorgio Comino, Executive Officer ENA at Zespri. “Moving forward, each year we’ll be selecting a different European charity that is dedicated to helping people, society and the environment thrive, echoing the best qualities of kiwifruit. We’ve asked each of our markets to assist with that process and to nominate local organizations that operate aligned with our own company values; guardianship and personal connections.”

Zespri™ will finance two projects of the German charity, Die ARCHE from now on, which support children and their families in their everyday life and give the children the possibility to develop their potentials despite difficult starting conditions.

 ARCHE Project “Healthy Eating”

The ARCHE offers a warm lunch every day at the Hamburg locations Jenfeld, Billstedt and Harburg, where the children can talk about their everyday school life and at the same time learn more about healthy nutrition. Since there is also a great need for evening meals, the ARCHE Hamburg started the project “Dinner for children and adolescents from socially deprived families” in 2012, in which an evening meal is prepared together. In cooking courses, the children also learn how to prepare healthy meals independently and thus pass on their newly acquired knowledge to their families.

 ARCHE Project “School Support”

Children from educationally disadvantaged homes have little school support at home, and often there is a lack of materials and a suitable, quiet place to work. The ARCHE Hamburg offers these children rooms with suitable technical equipment, working materials and – if necessary – even school bags: On the first two school days after the summer vacations alone, the ARCHE Billstedt has provided over 250 children and young people with a school starter package containing the most necessary materials.

By the promotion of Zespri™ full and honorary learning aids and fee workers are financed beyond that, who support the children with homework assistance, tutoring, reading promotion programs and company to learning therapies. Helping people, communities, and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit.