On July 8, 2021, AKI presented the current status, the next steps in 2021 and a possible outlook for the project after 2021 to the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection Baden-Württemberg (MLR), who is funding the project "Establishment of an Agri-social Education and Training Centre in Gitega, Burundi”.

Mrs. Helga Sievert, Dr. Michael Grimminger, and Mr. Jan Rebehn from the MLR as well as AKI managing director Mr. Falk Kullen as well as the project manager Mrs. Julia Fendel and Mr. Teklezghi Teklebrhan joined the digital event.

Initially, Mr. Teklezghi Teklebrhan introduced the current local project team in Gitega, the implemented activities and their results. During a site visit in June 2021, Mr. Ludovic Bourdon, AKI external expert had conducted a permaculture design training with the local project stakeholders, while AKI external expert Markus Roßkopf had, among other activities, identified the future project team and additional partners. More details about the activities and results of the stay can be read in part 1 and part 2 of the field report of Markus Roßkopf on our homepage.

Afterwards, Ms. Julia Fendel presented the expenses, the remaining funds and the next steps for 2021. For continuing to move the project forward, AKI is organizing regular jour fixe together with the permaculture expert Ludovic Bourdon, a local project committee and the local permaculture expert Marc Ndayimirije until the end of the year. Furthermore, design elements according to permaculture approaches will be implemented on the area, and another on-site training with Ludovic Bourdon is planned to take place in October/November 2021. In addition, AKI project leaders will also visit the project to further develop the planned mentoring partnership, to strengthen the local project team and to report on the activities and results achieved so far.

Linking up with this, Ms. Julia Fendel explained how important it is to continue the project after 2021. To establish sustainable structures locally, to build up a self-supporting organizational structure and to develop an economically viable concept, AKI believes that an expansion of the project is necessary.

At the end of the event, the open discussion round provided space for questions and suggestions about the project.