“The future of the world lies in the child. The mother should snuggle the child
so that it knows that it is its world.
The father should carry the child to the highest mountains
so that it can really see its world.”
Many families and especially single mothers find themselves unable to feed all their children. Other reasons for this include the death of one or both parents. The children are left without any help, have to fight for their survival every day and are helplessly exposed to all forms of violence. They beg, steal, or look for food in garbage dumps. The idea of the children’s village “Aldea Infantil” is to help these children, to offer them a happy childhood and a decent life with prospects for the future.
Since 1991, the Children’s Future Foundation has maintained the children’s village “Aldea Infantil” in the highlands of Guatemala. Around 160 children and young people find protection and security here today; they can grow up in security and peace. In family groups, lovingly cared for by a housemother, they receive a well-founded education and professional training in the foundation’s own school. There is a kindergarten for the little ones and comprehensive medical care for everyone. Only when they have completed their training and can lead an independent life as young adults does the care of the children in the children’s village end. Some even make it to university and are supported by the foundation along the way.
When deciding on the funding project, it was important for us to select a reputable sponsor — not an easy task, as it turned out. Ultimately, what impressed us most was the openness and transparency of the Children’s Future Foundation. It was founded in 1988 by the well-known furniture manufacturer Rudolf Walther and is based in Gründau near Hanau, so that a personal exchange is possible at any time. The foundation capital is 5.7 million euros, the donations reached almost 4.2 million euros in 2021. The principle is that 100 percent of every donation goes to the children; Administrative costs are covered exclusively by income from the foundation’s assets and earmarked donations.
At Valdivia, all of us — employees and management — are involved in supporting “Aldea Infantil”. And all of us we were simply speechless when the congratulations on our first Valdivia anniversary arrived at the beginning of 2022: The children of “our” house had painted lovely pictures for us and made a real celebration of the anniversary — for them in Guatemala as well as for us in Frankfurt am Main!
We also invite our customers and contacts to join us and support the Children’s Future Foundation. There are many possibilities:
The foundation maintains children’s villages in Guatemala, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and aid projects in Thailand, Zambia and Jakarta. Regular annual reports disclose the use of every single euro; those who are interested have the opportunity to visit the children’s villages on site.
Rabenaustraße 1a
D‑63584 Gründau
