The small and largely voluntary team at the Christian Liebig Foundation (Christian-Liebig-Stiftung e.V., CLS) aims to turn its namesake’s vision into reality by helping people in developing countries, particularly children in Malawi.
Focus journalist Christian Liebig often considered getting involved in foreign aid, but never managed to fulfill his dream. Following his death, his friends and family are making his vision come true with a foundation dedicated to development aid on eye-level for children in Africa. Targeted educational measures are provided in areas where they are desperately needed.
Since 2003, primary and secondary schools have been built, expanded and renovated, educational measures have been implemented and sponsorships and scholarships have been awarded – mainly in Malawi. Thanks to donations and funding, 23 primary schools have been built along with one large secondary school with a residential home for girls. Houses have also been built for teachers. The foundation has awarded more than 100 scholarships for professional training and strives to provide financial support for particularly talented school graduates. It also provides school meals and teaching materials. In neighbouring Mozambique, CLS worked with the charity Welthungerhilfe e.V. In the space of five years, a millennium village has been set up for 1,000 residents and a training bakery has been launched.
The Christian Liebig Foundation has enabled more than 22,000 children to attend (primary) school. Some of the best secondary school graduates are now studying at prestigious universities throughout the country, and many others have begun and completed high-quality training programmes.
We help to improve prospects for Malawi’s children
The foundation’s in-country network is now so well established that it can carry out many projects single-handedly together with local construction companies. CLS also works with other associations, foundations and initiatives such as UNICEF and the German charity Welthungerhilfe. Based in Munich, CLS aims to bundle capacities, combine forces and oversee all building projects personally and in the long term before handing the finished product over to the relevant government. The goal is to help people help themselves, and all donations are used to fund educational measures and improve the children’s future prospects. Education is essential to critical thinking and actions.
The board of trustees includes such notable figures as journalist and politician Helmut Markwort (Free Democratic Party), Peter M. Gehrig, former editor-in-chief of DAPD, actor Harald Schmidt and Dr Roland Bernecker, head of the German Commission for UNESCO. Jürgen Borsch, Germany’s ambassador in Malawi, is one of the charity’s great followers and often visits projects and attends school opening ceremonies.
Link: Christian Liebig Foundation on Facebook
