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What we do
PfefferminzGreen believes in an African continent free of foreign aid dependency, one able to develop strong and healthy societal, political and economic stability from within. In alignment with the ideas and principles of the #ShiftThePower Movement , we strive to promote the work of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Sub-Saharan Africa; local NGOs and communities who are working towards these goals independently, without Western influence.
Numerous academics have provided proof of the negative consequences caused by the wave of aid that’s come to Africa from the West, particularly since Live Aid. The poorest countries in the world are in Sub-Saharan Africa and since 1970, more than 2.3 trillion US dollars have been spent on so-called aid projects there, using money raised through international development aid. International aid organizations are still trying to improve the living conditions of African communities using various different approaches, but despite all efforts, over the last 50 years poverty has increased in most Sub-Saharan African countries.
PfefferminzGreen calls for a greater focus on the strength of local communities and the creation and development of sustainable solutions using Indigenous knowledge. We strongly believe in the ideas and initiatives of local communities, and for this reason, one of our core focuses is collaborating with them. We don’t refer to ourselves as a charitable organization. Instead, we call PfefferminzGreen a partner to local NGOs, and in some cases a business incubator. Since 2005, we have forwarded 100% of all of our funding to local NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Every member of PfefferminzGreen works on a non-profit basis: we simply believe in what we do.
PfefferminzGreen aims to connect with like-minded organizations, activists and all those who share our vision and want to join our efforts to allow local initiatives to take the lead.
How we work
Many charitable organizations use large amounts of donations to cover their overhead expenses. In contrast, PfefferminzGreen forwards 100% of all funds and donations to local NGOs and/or social projects on site. The benefits of a working relationship based on mutual agreements and processes uncomplicated by unnecessary red tape are very clear to us. For this reason, friends and supporters involved in the work of PfefferminzGreen share their knowledge and expertise free of charge. None of our visits to Sub-Saharan Africa are financed by donations and any necessary freelance work is paid for privately.
In order to guarantee sustainable projects run by local communities, PfefferminzGreen respects the local principles of community-based development (CBD) and empowerment . All projects are based on a bottom-up approach , as we believe that it is critical for any process of social change to be allowed to develop from within. In order to empower those in need in a culturally-appropriate way, local partners work on project ideas together with the communities themselves, from planning to implementation. Projects that have proven themselves to be particularly effective are those that are not planned too extensively, but instead focus around manageability. Using a bottom-up approach, such projects have the greatest potential to grow over time and achieve sustainable support for disadvantaged village communities. The approaches and methods of our local partners Nigat Community Development Association and the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), based on these principles, have shown continuous sustainable growth.
Why we do it
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), established by an United Nations working group in 2000, aim to end poverty and hunger worldwide by 2030. In Sierra Leone, these have not yet come even close to being achieved. In 2019, the United Nations listed the country as still being one of the Least Developed Countries. According to feminist activist, author and scholar Dr Peggy Antrobus, the MDGs distract from their main goals – particularly the empowerment of women:
»There is evidently widespread awareness of their (MDGs) limitation: their inadequate targets and indicators; their restriction to indicators that are quantifiable, when much of what is most important – such as women’s equality and empowerment – is not easily quantifiable. Their omission of important goals and targets, such as violence against women and sexual and reproductive rights.«
Dr. Antrobus (Scholar/Author/Women Rights Activist)
The main causes of poverty within Sub-Saharan Africa, as has been proven by numerous studies, originate with the oppression of women and their lack of rights within society and the family. There is a direct relation between this and development and poverty in any given Sub-Saharan African state.
Patriarchal social systems are particularly dominant in African countries and women and girls are commonly disadvantaged in the areas of education, work and inheritance law. For centuries, the majority of African women and girls have been confronted with extreme challenges in the form of traditional social rituals. Polygamy, female circumcision and forced child marriage are still widespread in Sierra Leone and Ethiopia, for example, and have detrimental effects on the futures of most women. In this context, the breeding ground for social grievances and life-long suffering is obvious. The need to tackle these challenges and focus on female empowerment is critical.
In the fight against poverty and in the promotion of education and income-generating activities (IGAs), the approaches and methods used by our local partners in Sierra Leone and Ethiopia establish solutions that are long term. PfefferminzGreen is committed to giving a voice to these local initiatives and pushing them into the foreground, holding onto the vision that one day, #ShiftThePower will become reality.
Who we are
PfefferminzGreen is a German non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Frankfurt/Main. We partner closely with two local NGOs in Ethiopia and Sierra Leone. In order to reach self-sustaining growth and success within all their projects, we place special emphasis on building on knowledge of our local partners and the communities surrounding them.
DR. STELLA ROTHENBERGER
Founder & Director of PfefferminzGreen (PG) // Educationist & Community Development Worker (PhD)
RUGIATU NENEH TURAY-KOROMA
Founder & Director of Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) // Women Rights Activist & Community Development Worker
FITSAME T. WOLDEMICHAEL
Project Manager at PfefferminzGreen (PG) // Childhood and Children’s Rights Education Expert
Timeline
2023
- Construction of sustainable PlayGround for Amazonian Bilingual School, Rolal, Sierra Leone 2023
- First field research with Students of Development Studies at Portloko University College, Port Loko, Sierra Leone
- Launch of Academic research to promote #SHIFT THE POWER in partnership with Port Loko University College, Port Loko, Sierra Leone.
- Support for Bloodless Rite, an alternative rite of passage in Rothumba, Sierra Leone
- The construction of an elementary school in Rothumba, BMZ-funded project EDUCATION FOR THUMBA, in Rothumba, Sierra Leone
- The construction of a training center for women in Rothumba, BMZ-funded project EDUCATION FOR THUMBA, in Rothumba, Sierra Leone
- Launch of Village Saving and Loans Association for 250 women in Rothumba, Sierra Leone
- Support of Blind and Deaf Project- Wogdie, Ethiopia
- Support for HIV and Girls Club Gerado and Wogdie in Ethiopia Training and conference for Pregnant women in Gerado, Ethiopia
- Opening of School in Rosengbeh, Replacing Bondo bushes with school to reduce FGM
- The Rothumba Project, a pilot initiative with social, educational, economic, cultural, and medical components, representing a modern African approach to community-led development launched.
- Finalization of “Replace Bondo Bushes with Schools”, a BMZ-funded project of school construction in rural villages – Rosengbeh & Matotoka, Sierra Leone
2022
- Start of BMZ-funded project “Replace Bondo Bushes with Schools”, a school construction action in rural villages – Rosengbeh & Matotoka, Sierra Leone
- Extension of Mathaska Agricultural Project by provision of drying floors and goats for trade and breeding purposes – Mathaska, Sierra Leone
- Support off affected communities during Ethiopia’s state of emergency – Tito, Gerado and Dessie, Ethiopia
- Support of AIM’s educational efforts surrounding their anti FGM campaign – Sierra Leone
2021
- Establishment of a second building within the orphanage – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Beginning of Mathaska Agricultural Project – Women Empowerment in agriculture – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Public Declaration of Soweis against FGM – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Fundraising campaign in support of Baby Ann’s hydrocephaly surgery – Port Loko, Sierra Leone
- Start of BMZ project “Replace Bondo Bushes with Schools” – Rosengbeh and Matotoka, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
- Finalization of BMZ-Coffee Project “Kabi Wobo” – Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
- Women Empowerment IGA-Project (Income Generating Project) – Port Loko, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Dessie and Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
2020
- Communities Covid-19 Awareness and Prevention Projects – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Corona crisis support and food provision – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Corona crisis support and food provision – Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
- Radio distribution project to support distance learning opportunities for students during lockdown – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Support of Primary School Construction – Mafulka, Sierra Leone
- Start of the BMZ-Coffee Project “Kabi Wobo” – Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
- Construction of Tequando Trainingcenter for children and youth – Gerado, Ethiopia
- Social Services Programs (awareness and educational programs) – Wogdie and Dessie Region, Ethiopia
- Social Services Programs (awareness and educational programs) – Port Loko and Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Dessie and Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
2019
- Supporting Initiatives for internally displaced persons – Ethiopia
- Expansion of schools and orphanage with solar energy – Port Loko, Sierra Leone
- Setup and commissioning of Tailor Training Center for Women/ former Soweis – Port Loko, Sierra Leone
- Medical support and lifesaving operation for little Zainab – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Expansion of orphanage, building of a “boys dormitory” – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Construction of school (in cooperation with other stakeholders) – Mafulka, Sierra Leone
- Housing project for a group of boys, living and working in Wogdie – Wogdie, Ethiopia
- BMZ Water Well Project: Construction of 30 Water Wells in 30 Communities, combined with awareness programs against FGM – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- First Bondo Initiation without FGM
- Public Declaration of Soweis against FGM
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
2018
- Vegetable gardening Projects for local primary and secondary school – Rolal, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Reconstruction of community hall – Gerado, Ethiopia
- Trainings, educational projects and adult education – Gerado, Ethiopia
- Water tank and PAUL-Walter Filter Installation for Amazonian Bi-Lingual School and orphanage – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Construction of water well and sanitary facilities – Rothumba, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Dessie and Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
2017
- Coffee project in cooperation with the Federal Ministery for Economic Cooperation and Development – Wogdie, Ethiopia
- Shipping containers with hospital beds – Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Dessie and Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
2016
- Construction of a pre-school for 100 children – Rolal, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
2015
- Construction of a new building for 35 Ebola orphans – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- First IGA-Project in Port Loko District – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Awareness programs related to hygiene, FGM, HIV / AIDS and teenage pregnancy – Dessie and Wogdie Region, Ethiopia
2014
- Medical assistance, preventative work, supply of food and the dispatch of hospital beds during the Ebola epidemic – Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Construction of Amazonian Bi-Lingual School (Secondary School) – Rolal, Sierra Leone
2013
- Construction of Amazonian Bi-Lingual School (Primary School) – Rolal, Port Loko District, Sierra Leone
- Support Association Bangr-Nooma against female circumcision – Burkina Faso
- Yenigat Needy Kids Project: Care and mentoring for children and youths with disabilities – Tita, Ethiopia
- Bee Project as an Income Generating Activity – Wogte, Ethiopia
- Giday Orphanage: Support of local care within the community for OVCs (Orphans and vulnerable children) – Tita, Ethiopia
2012
- Begin of our cooperation with Amazonian Initiative Movement – Sierra Leone
2011
- Development of Youth leader groups and operation of the youth center – Gerado, Ethiopia
- Trainings and Awareness programs with nurse Sentayu in the Communities around Dessie – Dessie, Ethiopia
- Start of Chicken Breeding Project (poultry production) as an Income Generating Activity (IGAs)
2010
- Establishment and operation of a youth center – Tita, Ethiopia
- First Bee Project as an Income Generating Activity – Gerado, Ethiopia
2009
- Begin of our cooperation with NIGAT – Dessie Region, Ethiopia
- Start of IGA-Project (Income Generating Activities Project) – Wogdie, Ethiopia
- School Feeding Project at Merha Tebeb School – Tita, Ethiopia
- Blind & Deaf Project -– School Integration Project for disabled children and youth – Wogdie, Ethiopia
2008
- Cooperation with Cargo Human Care e.V., Nairobi for orphans and for an orphanage – Nairobi, Kenya
- Support for THEZA-Community Project – Emothonjeni, South Africa
2007
- Cooperation with the THEZA Rural Development Project (breeding of goats as an Income Generating Activity for Community Members) – Emothonjeni, South Africa
2006
- Cooperation with the Etafani Project for orphans – Nyanga, South Africa
- Support for OVCs (Orphans and Vulbnerable Children) in Township – Nyanga, South Africa
2005
- Founding of PfefferminzGreen e.V. – Frankfurt, Germany