­The story of FEMI

Together with his wife he made small donations to a variety of organizations and carefully studied the brochures that were sent to them in return. It soon became clear what most kindled their interests: to offer children a good education and thus to provide access to a humane existence. Depending on the situation this could result in various projects. A child that has no food cannot study. A place that has no water cannot produce food. If parents fail to see the importance of education because they never had any themselves, it is better to educate them first.

In 1991, Ruud went to UNICEF with an unusual proposition. He offered to make a yearly donation of 100,000 Dutch guilders—today 50,000 euros—for a period of five years. He did, however, state the following provisions:

1. The chosen project would have to appeal to Ruud
2. It should be possible to pay working visits
3. There would have to be yearly reports on plans and results
4. It should be possible to have a say in the execution of the project.

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UNICEF was surprised. Never had any entrepreneur made such a proposition. Although the actual donation was small by UNICEF’s standards, it was clear to them that this might usher in a new trend in fundraising.
After the plan had been approved by UNICEF’s Headquarters in New York City, the search for a fitting project began. Ultimately, the decision was made to support a project in Chad, “small-scale irrigation, hygiene and nourishment,” specifically the design and building of pumps.

In 1994, Ruud and Waling Koning, then company advisor to the Hooge Raedt Group, visited Chad to study the project’s progress. They watched the manufacturing of pumps with their own eyes and also visited several villages where pumps had already been installed. On December 28, 1995, the Foundation to Earth, Mankind through Inspiration and Initiative (FEMI) was founded. The board consisted of Ruud and Annelies Bakhuizen, Waling Koning, Herman van Keulen en Martien van den Heuvel.

In 1996 and 1997, visits were paid to Indonesia to explore the possibilities for a follow-up project by UNICEF. These resulted in the project “Water Maintenance in Sulawesi.” More initiatives were taken: Ruud joined the Board of STUDYSO and the UN-Income Foundation. From the latter organization, he drew inspiration for the concept of guaranteed minimum income, and came into contact with Strohalm (“Last Straw”), which researched alternative economical systems.

In mid-1998, the ties with India were strengthened at an international conference “Solidarity in Dialogue.” This led to a visit to India, especially the two cities of Calcutta and Chennai. In 2000-2001, educational projects were launched. In Brasil much was learned during a building project.

More projects were initiated in 2000. Douwe de Vries, successor of Waling Koning on the board of FEMI, drew attention to his TPC-Project, which he was running in the north of Tanzania. A working visit was paid which resulted in the project “A Fishing Pond in Tanzania.” The island of Negros in the Philippines came to FEMI’s attention via the Third World Group Soest (The Netherlands). There, money was invested in the manufacturing of siphon pumps.
The project in Sulawesi encountered difficulties. Due to the economic and governmental crisis in Indonesia, contacts with Sulawesi were so bad that FEMI, in consultation with UNICEF, decided to discontinue the donations. In 2002, the UNICEF money was transferred to a project involving child soldiers in Sudan.

The same year, FEMI lent administrative and logistic support to the conference “Learning with Heart and Soul” in the Netherlands. An inspiring and creative meeting of educational reformers, it saw a follow-up conference the next year.

In 2003, FEMI entered into a collaboration with the Yojana Foundation. This resulted in a new project: “Education in southern India.”

In 2004, FEMI was going at full speed. Working visits were paid to India and Tanzania. In India this resulted in two new projects. In the high North, a visit was paid to the Bhotiyas, where the India-coordinator, Vineeta Hoon, had conducted previous research. This nomadic people has been under severe pressure due to the deterioration of their living environment and trading possibilities. To improve their situation, FEMI launched the project “Durable Living Conditions for the Bhotiyas.” In Madras (Chennai), FEMI initiated the “Madras School Project,” which was primarily aimed at the renovation of several schools which had suffered severe damage during the November storms of 2002. For this project, support was solicited from Euroase Parcs—then a member of the Hooge Raedt Group. Visitors to their holiday resorts were invited to make a donation. Euroase promised to double the total amount, which indeed they did. FEMI and “Wilde Ganzen” likewise agreed to contribute. Finally, FEMI became an ally to a conservationist and durable hotel, Sapana Village, in Nepal.

Herman van Keulen resigned from the FEMI board and was replaced by Gertie Janssen who had experience with development aid in Africa. Since 2005, the Board has consisted of Ruud and Annelies Bakhuizen, Martien van der Heuvel (financial expert), Gertie Janssen and Douwe de Vries (Africa-specialist).

In 2006, FEMI increased the number of their activities and broadened its scope. By creating and connecting networks in the field of eco-tourism and in projects that enable Third World children to save up money. In April 2008, the first “tracking” will be organized with the cooperation of the Bhotiyas and the Dutch travel agent Snow Leopard.
In addition, FEMI contacted Aflatoun Child Savings International with an eye to improve the infrastructure of saving.

In Kenia (Nairobi) FEMI is helping to finance an orphanage. In Peru, it seeks to participate in a programme called “Learning from the Best,” in which struggling farmers are taught to survive by successful farmers in the area. In October 2006 a working visit is paid to Tanzania; in January 2007 to Calcutta (India); and in May once again to Tanzania. There, a cooperation is launched with the villagers of Msekeria.

FEMI is now in its 12^th year and in full bloom. Third parties grow enthusiastic about FEMI because of its unique combination of entrepreneurship and involvement. FEMI has now entered into consultation on a high level, conferring with several established development aid organizations such as UNICEF, Wilde Ganzen, Aflatoun Child Savings International and Fair Support.