The Andreas Hermes Akademie had the great pleasure of supporting the participation of four young leaders from Africa and Asia: Kamau from Kenya, active in the KENAFF (Kenya National Farmers’ Federation) Young Council; Mazuba Mafwenko from Zambia, Chair of Nkonka Women in Agribusiness (NWAB); Pratap Marode from India, representing the international organic farmers’ network INOFO; and Raoudath Bouraïma from Benin, also a representative of the international organic farmers’ network INOFO.
All four returned with powerful impressions. Kamau was enthusiastic about the hands-on learning methods: games, group exercises, and excursions led to new insights. He was particularly inspired by visits to German family farms that successfully implement direct marketing and on-site processing: “Agriculture is so much more than just growing and selling raw products.”
Mazuba highlighted how consistently the young participants themselves shaped the program – sessions were led by the groups, while trainers only stepped in to provide support. She took away that leadership means initiative, clarity, and responsibility. She was also struck by how similar the challenges are worldwide: from access to land and financing to the question of how to attract young people to farming.
For Pratap, the diversity of cultures and experiences was the most defining element. Farm excursions, the international evening program, and the intensive exchange made it clear to him: despite all differences, young people in agriculture share similar concerns and hopes. His most important conclusion: “Leadership is not about walking ahead, but about walking together – building trust, valuing diversity, and creating spaces for others.”
