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From the 11th – 17th October a delegation of 4 K2C representatives were invite to visit the Rhôn Biosphere on a follow up exchange visit to further discuss partnership projects and opportunities.

Submitted to: German Federal Dept for the Environment

K2C Board Rhôn Biosphere Management

Drawn up by: Debby Thomson Contributions: Tebogo Mametja

Justin Idris Marian Viljoen

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Index

Contents Background ............................................................................................................................................. 2

Objectives of the Visit ............................................................................................................................. 2

The group ................................................................................................................................................ 2

Itinerary ................................................................................................................................................... 3

The Rhôn Würst Markt ....................................................................................................................... 4

The Mango Bratwurst ..................................................................................................................... 4

Partnership Presentations .................................................................................................................. 5

Thoughts and Experiences from the accompanying projects ................................................................. 5

Thoughts and Experiences from Hlokomela Representative.............................................................. 5

Thoughts and Experiences from Godding & Godding Representative ............................................... 7

Discussions and Outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 7

Apprenticeships .................................................................................................................................. 7

Town & Country Project ...................................................................................................................... 8

Carbon Off-set Funding ....................................................................................................................... 8

Hlokomela – Slow Food International (1000 Gardens in Africa) ........................................................ 8

THP – Godding & Godding Partnership and the required Research ................................................... 9

Reach-a-Cross Programme.................................................................................................................. 9

Additionally Thoughts and Inputs ........................................................................................................... 9

From the Region, For the Region ........................................................................................................ 9

Skylight Reserves............................................................................................................................... 10

Mona Bidhauser ................................................................................................................................ 10

Agricultural Exchange ....................................................................................................................... 10

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 11

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Background

The K2C – Rhôn Partnership is in its 5th year of existence, following the initial exchange visits in 2007/ 2008 and the official signing of the MoU in 2008 as well. The Bavarian section of the Rhôn Biosphere obtained funding from the Federal Ministry of the Environment to further foster and develop this partnership with a follow up visit for 4 representatives to the Rhön over the week of the 11th – 16th October 2012.

Objectives of the Visit

The objectives of the visit will be for the K2C delegation to participate in and support the Rhôn Biosphere in their bi=annual cultural festival held in the town of Ostheim – ie the Rhôn Würstmarkt (Rhôn Sausage Market). In addition to this, the delegation will be introduced to new concepts currently being undertaken within the Rhôn (e.g. the Skylight Reserves Concept – see below) and thirdly to participate in partnership workshops to discuss and review current partnership projects and identify or confirm future planned or suggested projects.

The group

At the request of the Rhôn Biosphere and according to the funding proposal submitted to the Federal Ministry, the K2C Group was to consist of 4 representatives – 2 board members and 2 individuals from relevant k2C projects to be identified by the K2C Exco (Executive Committee of the Board). After discussion by the K2C Exco, it was identified that a representative from each of Hlokomela and Godding & Godding should be invited to join the delegation. Hlokomela is one of the leading social support projects in the K2C region and currently has extremely strong relationships with K2C and specifically with the Rhôn – K2C partnership as they have hosted all volunteer visits from Rhôn students visiting K2C on experiential exchanges. Godding & Godding is a local business enterprise within the K2C region that produce cosmetics using the time honoured benefits of natural silk proteins together with the benefits of local ingredients such as Marula, Aloe, Fynbos and Baobab Oils. Godding & Godding is currently involved in a major K2C project together with the Traditional Health Practitioners of Bushbuckridge area for which h we are also currently discussing opportunities for Rhôn voluntary participation.

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Itinerary

The visit of the delegation followed the following itinerary for their week in the Rhôn region.

Time Issue Location 09:12h Pick up at fulda Train station, platform 7 Fulda 10:30h Hotel check-in at BIO-Hotel Sturm Hotel Sturm,

Mellrichstadt 17:30h Introduction to the biosphere reserve and the

workshop programme Hotel Sturm, Mellrichstadt

18:30h Sustainable ecomonies: Introduction of the Bio-Hotel and its philosophy by the owner

Hotel Sturm, Mellrichstadt

19:00h Dinner at Hotel Sturm Hotel Sturm, Mellrichstadt

FRIDAY 12TH OCT: PRESS CONFERENCE, PREPARATIONS 09:00h Pick up at Hotel Sturm (=Guest House) Hotel Sturm,

Mellrichstadt 09:30h Working together for sustainability: Introduction to

the Rhön Biosphere Reserve Management Centre (multi stakeholder office building)

Rhön Biosphere Reserve Management Centre, Oberelsbach

10:30h Press interview concerning the volonteer position in K2C BR (HLOKOMELA) in the framework of the IJFD-Programme(Internationaler Jugendfreiwilligendienst) of the Federal Ministry for Family and Youth; Introduction of the volunteer 2012-2013

Rhön Biosphere Reserve Management Centre, Oberelsbach

11:45h Education for sustainable development: Rhön Biosphere Reserve Interpretation center "Haus der Langen Rhön" (information, exhibitions and education programmes)

Oberelsbach

14:00h - 17:00h

Preparations in Ostheim; introduction of the Wurstmarkt programme: 14:30h meet with Nadine Bonfig from Martin Pollich Grammar School (MPG)

Ostheim

15:00h Meet with Ulrike and Jens LILIENBECKER "Wild & Grün" at the BR Partnership Stand

Ostheim

Visit of the Kirchenburg (fortified church 15th/17th century)

SATURDAY 13TH OCT & SUNDAY 14TH : SAUSAGE MARKET "OSTHEIMER WURSTMARKT" parallel: 14:00h - 15:00h

Opening a window to K2C BR: Introduction of the biosphere region and discussion [Presentation by Debby/ Translation: by Doris]

Ostheim

parallel 16:00h - 17:00h

Opening a window to K2C BR: Introduction of the biosphere region and discussion [Presentaion by Tebogo/ Translation: by Doris]

Ostheim

MONDAY 15TH OCT: K2C DELEGATES AND RHÖN ACTORS MEET: EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE AND OPINIONS (EXCURSION)

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11:15h Agrobiodiversity and direct marketing: Visit of Steffeshof, a diversified family farm, partner enterprise of Rhön biosphere reserve

Unterleichtersbach

14:45h Tourism: Visit of Kreuzberg Mountain and introduction of the Rhön BR tourism sector

Bischofsheim/ Kreuzberg

16:15h Crafts and retail: Introduction of the crafts sector, discussion of the situation on the professional education sector (apprenticeship); example of how to market local food products in a building supplies store

Bischofsheim

TUESDAY 16TH OCT: K2C DELEGATES AND RHÖN ACTORS MEET : EXCHANGE OF EXPERIENCE AND OPINIONS (PRESENTATIONS) 09:00h - 18:00h

Full Day Sharing experience with local actors of Rhön BRR

Naturerlebnishaus / Nature Camp Schwarzes Moor

19:00h Partnership Dinner with local actors Naturerlebnishaus / Nature Camp Schwarzes Moor

WEDNESDAY 17TH OCT WRAP UP AND MEETING WITH GERMAN MAB COMMITTEE 09:30h Wrap-up Meeting, impressions, ideas and further

steps for the BR Rhön - K2C BR Parntership Rhön Biosphere Reserve Management Centre, Oberelsbach

12:00h - 13:45h

Meeting for lunch with the Chairman of the German MaBNational Committee and the Evaluating Team for Rhön BR Periodic Review

municipality of Oberelsbach

15:00h International UNI-Key Project (inter-research e.V. & Fulda University: Meet with Thomas BERGER (inter-research e.V.) for a video-recording

The Rhôn Würst Markt The central feature to the visit was the participation in the joint K2C-Rhôn stand through Wild und Grun – a partnership project of the Rhôn Biosphere at the bi-annual cultural festival, the Rhôn Wurstmarkt of 13 – 14 October 2012. The Wurstmarkt is held in the small town of Ostheim and celebrates the skill and culture of sausages and other butchery products within the greater region. K2C Biosphere delegation was honoured to have Mr. T Mametja invited to officiate the

opening of the Würstmarkt when joining the Bavarian Minister of Environment and Health, Dr. Marcel Huber, in the traditional ‘cutting’ of the sausage. The K2C delegation join the Wild und Grun team (Jens and Ulie Lillienbecker) at their stand and assisted with the “braaing” and selling of the specially designed partnership Mango sausage.

The Mango Bratwurst For this festival, the Lillienbeckers developed a specialized “partnership sausage” – a Mango Bratwurst to specifically showcase the partnership between the two biospheres. The Mango being

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significant of the K2C Biosphere as a major agricultural crop produced in the region and the Bratwurst being a traditional cultural item from the Rhôn region. Additionally, the K2C delegation forwarded a recipe for traditional South African Boerewors to the Rhôn and a local butchers produced a Rhôn version of this South African Sausage. Over the two days of the Würstmarkt, 800 Mango Bratwursts were cooked and sold as well as approximately 14 wheels of Boerewors. Additional quantities could easily have been sold as these stocks ran out half way through Sunday’s festival event. The Rhön Biosphere arranged 4 presentation sessions of the K2C Biosphere Region that were open to the public. K2C conducted these presentations over the two days of the Würstmarkt, with attendance being satisfactory.

Partnership Presentations In addition to the Wurstmarkt, the day’s presentations held on the 16th October were also a crucial aspects of the exchange visit. During this day’s activities, each of the K2C delegation gave various presentations on the K2C in general as well as each of the relevant projects as regards Hlokomela and Godding & Godding. In addition 2 or 3 Rhôn Biosphere participants gave presentations on various aspects of successes or new innovation within the Rhôn Biosphere. These included:

Michael DIESTEL (Agrokraft GmbH, Geschäftsführer /secretary general): - Cooperatives as instruments for sustainable regional development in the Rhön.

Brigitte VORNDRAN (Gastronomin & Köchin Restaurant „Dickas“ ; „Aus der Rhön -für die Rhön“ / restaurant owner & chef; initiator of marketing and quality initiative „From the Rhön - for the Rhön“): - Rhön Biosphere Reserve: What does the idea of sustainability mean for our family owned entreprise?

Thomas BERGER (interresearch e.V., Hochschule Fulda /Fulda University of Applied Sciences): - The UNI-Key Project: How to learn entrepreneurial thinking within the framework of academic training

Sabine FRANK (Initiatorin Sternenlichtpark Rhön/ Initiator of the proposed project Rhön Star Light Reserve): - Dark Sky Reserve – ecological, economical and social implications of measures against light pollution.

Thoughts and Experiences from the

accompanying projects

Thoughts and Experiences from Hlokomela Representative Hereby my thoughts and experiences as Financial Manager of the Hlokomela Project, which is

associated with the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere following our visit to the Rhön BR, Germany.

It was quite impressive how communities in the Rhön:

WORK TOGETHER TO BECOME SELF-SUSTAINABLE and how PROUD they are of being PART of self-sustainable communities & individuals/families in the RHŐN BR.

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It made me realise once again that no project will be sustainable if the community is not

involved and the needs of the community is not addressed. “From the Community [Region]

to the Community [Region[” needs to be the common slogan used in mind and heart of each

community like, “FROM THE RHŐN TO THE RHŐN”.

In comparison: Human resources are not applied to the maximum capacity in South Africa.

Efficiency and skills development should be applied more than just job creation.

Capacity building and technical assistance should be the building blocks shared in

communities to become self-sustainable & create employment and creation of local

networks of the right markets and suppliers of goods and services.

Own initiatives and skills should be applied by stakeholders to generate income and re-

invest in communities.

The aim for each community should be to become independent and do not rely on financial

assistance from funders or government. Build stronger partnerships with government &

stakeholders in communities to obtain capacity building & skills development, but become

financial & social self -sustainable.

Communities should stand together and support local initiatives for economical & social

growth in communities. TOGETHERNESS & being PROUD of what CAN BE ACHIEVED, build

strong communities in a social and economical way.

Making maximum use of the minimum natural resources available, without compromising

each other or the environment e.g. renewable energy (bio-energy, wind & solar energy).

Recycle and stop the wasting of natural resources, like water and energy. In comparison,

South Africa has a vast amount of natural resources which goes to waste, e.g. wind,

sunshine, water-, air- and dumping site pollution etc.

Changing minds is not easy without practical experience… Conventional methods should

be changed to better practices involving organic/bio-friendly ways e.g. farming,

manufacturing and service delivery etc. “What you think about, you bring about” and this

can start with one person…

In the Rhön this is applied wherever possible. Minimum sunshine… lots of solar panels or other environmental friendly solutions. Small properties - maximum use of land. Clean water resources, clean fresh air, productive services, fresh organic produce & other organic/bio-ways to farm, create, preserve, manufacture, supply, generate & prosper.

I have experienced that ventures can be created successfully and generate profit in a

sustainable way, if the stakeholders are directly involved and the profit is re-invested into

the community in the form of services & products.

We at Hlokomela are working in the Health Sector. In an integrated manner, we deliver disease prevention as well as treatment and care services to our primary stakeholders: farm workers, who are also co-owners of our project. The HIV/Aids pandemic is a huge concern for our whole community, where up to 25% of our population is infected. Besides the treatment (which includes the costly Anti-Retroviral treatment) and prevention actions (which include the training of peer educators and Know-your-status campaigns) our involvement with Enterprises has two main functions:

1. To generate income in order to sustain our non-profit service orientated organization

2. To create ventures to demonstrate to our stakeholders (including our Funders) that it is

possible to make profit and re-invest it into our community in the form of services.

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For us, Social Entrepreneurship is about using entrepreneurial principles to organise, create and manage profitable ventures. We use the same principles to address health problems/delivery gaps to achieve an improved social state. While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, we as social entrepreneurs also measure positive returns to society. We measure this in a scientific manner by assessing against a base line study. Thus, for us, the main aim of social entrepreneurship is to further broaden and enable integrated social and health development goals.

Thoughts and Experiences from Godding & Godding Representative First of all thank you to Dr Doris Pokorny and Mr. Michael Geier for all their hard work which enabled such a successful exchange experience. My eyes were opened with the visits and meetings with all the people involved and I have come back with new visions for Godding and Godding and it’s involvement within the Kruger 2 Canyon Biosphere. One of the first things that struck me was how involved everybody is within supporting the Rhôn Biosphere and its core values and beliefs. The “buy in” not only from business owners but also customers is astounding and it shows that the commitment to such a venture can benefit all in the region. It was especially encouraging to experience the “Aus der Rhôn Fur Die Rhôn” concept as it is a partnership for the conservation of quality produce offered from restaurateurs to their customers. Concepts like this could be carried over to the cosmetic business sector. It was also a valuable experience to witness how organic and natural the majority of the cosmetics are that Germany has to offer. This has definitely prompted a shift in our thinking and is steering us into the direction of more eco-friendly ingredients. In addition we are looking at “green issues”, for example, increasing batch sizes to reduce electricity consumption. We are also looking at sourcing ingredients locally thereby reducing our carbon footprint. Other ideas developed during our visit are reviewing our packaging options, for example utilizing bio-degradable and re-usable containers. Godding and Godding have come away from the exchange with a strong possibility of creating a unique range of cosmetic products with ingredients being supplied by both our Biosphere regions. The Quince and Marula range of products is in development and it promises to build an even stronger relationship between K2C Biosphere and Rhôn Biosphere.

Discussions and Outcomes

Apprenticeships The Rhôn Biosphere is further investigating the implementation of apprenticeships for youngsters from the K2C region to spend 3 years in the Rhôn undergoing extensive apprenticeship training. A basic understanding of German will be a necessity for these youngsters. Suggestions of current Rhôn exchange students or involvement of a local school, to assist with German classes was discussed. Additionally, an initial 6 months prior to the start of the apprenticeship in the Rhôn was also suggested to allow for the students to get a full grip on the language to settle into the country. The apprenticeships would start annually on the 1 Sept and would last for a full 3 years. As 6 months prior to the 1st Sept would mean as early as March, it was suggested that we work starting the apprenticeships in 2014. K2C Biosphere will explore the possibility of a linkage with the Mopani

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FET College from the K2C Biosphere Region in order to align the apprenticeship programme to a formalized qualification structure as well as accessing a pool of potential apprentices. The apprenticeships would fall under two different chambers within the Rhôn with each listing the following arenas of trade:

Chamber of Crafts/ Trade o Bakery o Butchery o Carpentry o Timber Work o Bricklayer o Gas, Water and Electricity Provision

Chamber of Commerce o Gastronomy o Tourism

Town & Country Project Mr Marc Auer who is assisting the German MaB Committee in the Federal Ministry of the Environment has been approached by a Mr Dawo from Town and Country Houses who has funding available for a development project within the K2C region that needs to focus on benefits for children. A special needs school in the Welverdiend area, God’s Will Special Needs School, has been identified by Ms MT Uys and Mr Michael Geier during Mr Geier’s visit to the K2C region in August this year. The concept of this was discussed further and the following suggestions were put on the table:

A school and home is built for the special needs children

Alternative and innovative building concepts such as Sandbag Construction, or any appropriate building method, be used as the primary construction technique

The construction process is also used as a skills development and training process for local community members that will enable and result in 4-5 skilled builders in the construction method, within the community thereafter.

Additional skills are then taught to the children living within the centre (the skills ability of the children will need to be assessed) and a relevant commercial project be established alongside – for example the production of recycled handmake paper using indigenous resources, such as elephant dung, pressed leaves etc. and can be supplied to lodges etc for the use of welcome notes, room notices, price tags etc.

Carbon Off-set Funding Michael Geier discussed that the Rhôn is still focused on assisting K2C with sourcing funding for the final implementation stage of the Carbon Off-set Programme. Debby Thomson presented a number of potential German Government Funding opportunities that were picked up in the German Embassy in Pretoria that stated focuses areas of renewable energy and climate change strategies. Mr Geier has taken the supplied brochures and will follow up from a direct line of communication.

Hlokomela – Slow Food International (1000 Gardens in Africa)

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Mr Geier mentioned that this is still continuing and the project is being adapted to fit into the Hlokomela requirements. Hlokomela is currently in the process of direct communication and the submission of necessary information to allow for funds transfer.

THP – Godding & Godding Partnership and the required Research The supply of a Rhôn student to assist with the research studies that are currently required to further the project between Godding & Godding and the Traditional Health Practitioners was briefly discussed during the wrap up meeting in Oberalsbach as well as further discussed with the relevant department representatives at the University of Fulda during the last visit allowing for the recording of the UniKey videos. Mr Geier brought up the option that the University of Wurstburg has a department that are currently looking into similar research as regards the traditional medicine used by the Franciscan Monks for centuries. Thus the processes currently involved there would be identical to what is required for the THP-G&G partnership studies. Further discussed with the University of Fulda – originally identified as a potential option – outlined that they would only be able to do research in the commercial application of a certain product, thus it was suggested that the first phase of research required – i.e. looking into the scientific validation behind the health claims of the identified species is undertaken by the relevant department at Würzburg University and the subsequent follow up research into the commercial viability and application of the suggested product would then be undertaken by the relevant department at the University of Fulda. The Rhön Biosphere will explore the potential participation of the University of Würzburg.

Reach-a-Cross Programme Mr Geier mentioned that he and Anthony de Boer are in continued discussions as regards as regards the placement of a student teacher to link in and assist with the Reach a Cross project. This will be continued.

Additionally Thoughts and Inputs

From the Region, For the Region Once again, as with the initial delegation visit to the Rhôn in 2007, the effectiveness and impact of the From the Rhôn , For the Rhôn project was noticed. Previously, once K2C has drawn up an initial project proposal, the initial bottleneck/ obstacle was in the sourcing of the services of a central collection and distribution point to allow for greater supply and usage of local products within the region (as opposed to them being shipped out in large quantities for export markets). The more recent developments and successes of Hlokomela Herb Garden and Food Bank now allows for this development as a potential solution and to allow for the potential furthering of the ‘From

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the Region, For the Region’ programme. The initial project proposals will be revisited and reviewed to investigate relevant and appropriate concepts for its successful implementation.

Skylight Reserves The concept of skylight reserves was presented to the K2C delegation during the workshops on Tuesday. The concept involves the preservation of natural darkness or correct use of public lighting to allow for the viewing of stars and night skies. K2C Region is a perfect opportunity to look at initiating this great concept which has a potential to create a further marketability of the region as a tourism destination.

Renewable Energy Programme Of interest was the approach the various communities, i.e. towns and villages, have developed community focused process of driving renewable energy structures. These models of community involvement through cooperative structures create benefits for the local rural economy in addition to the benefits that flow to the residents. K2C Biosphere will have further engagements to learn more on the success of deploying these community developmental processes.

Mona Bidhauser Mona Bidhauser is the new exchange student to be visiting the K2C region and to work at Hlokomela in the Herb Gardens (to take over from Anna Lena May). Mona joined the K2C delegation on a number of the days activities as well as at the Wurstmarkt in order to get to know the delegation and develop friendships before flying out to SA on the 22nd. Mona will continue with the Herb Garden development that was initiated by Anna Lena and will work closely with Angie Rowles in this regard.

Agricultural Exchange The K2C delegation visited a number of different agricultural enterprises during their visit and an initial thought was identified that the next exchange visit to the Rhôn should possibly involve a number of farmers from the K2C region as well as value added producers (such as butchers) to showcase the concepts of supplying local, supporting local and continued value adding within the same region. For example, butchers in the Rhôn are able to tell you exactly where their meat comes from, which farm and who the farmer is, what their farming principles are and what the health state of each of the supplied animals is. Additionally, innovative farming methods are implemented both for crops and for animals and would create an interesting visit for farmers in our region. Potential farmers that could be identified may include:2 x established small scale farmers

2 x established large scale “mega” farmers

2 x value-added producers (eg 1 x butcher and 1 x fruit product producer – to be identified) This is merely an initial suggestion and further investigations and potential funding opportunities for such an exchange will be investigated together with the Rhôn Biosphere Management Unit.

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Conclusion

The exchange was once again a successful visit with further strengthening of partnerships and relationships between individuals and organisations within each of the Biospheres. Additionally, the exchange assisted K2C with further strengthening the understanding and conceptuatlising of the UNESCO MaB Programme within its partnership organisations such as Hlokomela and Godding & Godding. A number of further projects and opportunities have been identified or re-visited to be focused on for 2013 onwards.