Thriving Green e.V. is not only the idea to fight hunger and malnutrition with the Superfood Spirulina, but also the team behind it. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about our team in Germany.
Who are we?
We all share a common vision: to make the world a better place. We are highly motivated not only to fight against hunger and malnutrition, but also to constantly rise above ourselves and face new challenges. We come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are now much more good friends than just colleagues.
Alex, you had the idea for Thriving Green. How did you get the idea?
Alex: The idea came up quite by accident. Through a documentary I became aware of the catastrophic situation in Turkana: A large part of the population suffers from hunger because heat, drought and salty groundwater make classical agriculture impossible. However, based on my experience in biology, I knew that there are edible organisms that can be cultivated profitably under these conditions. And after I saw a possibility for a solution, I felt obliged to implement it.
What motivates you to be a part of the project?
Sophie: Thriving Green gives me the opportunity to bring in my creativity and my own ideas and I can see how I personally grow with the tasks. But what motivates me the most is that I can make a difference with my work and help other people.
Johanna: What motivates me is the commitment with which each of us works on the project and how each of us brings in his or her individual skills. In this way we encourage each other to continue, even if we are faced with challenges.
How do you feel about teamwork?
Stefan: Teamwork is extremely collegial and rich in trust. The special thing about the team is its interdisciplinary character, as there are disciplines from all areas. This enables stimulating discussions thanks to different points of view and noticeably helps to find innovative solutions.
What did you learn during your time at Thriving Green?
Iris: Above all, I learned a lot about myself, but also how to work together most effectively in a team and how to give good presentations. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to work on our project in Kenya and to get to know the people and culture there personally.
Which of your character traits have been particularly helpful for your success with Thriving Green?
Jens: Enthusiasm, spirit of adventure and stress resistance.
Luka: I am curious and fascinated by other cultures and countries. Furthermore I am ambitious and as a biochemist also very interested in dealing with the superfood Spirulina and its applications.
Was there a moment in your time at Thriving Green that you especially remember? Which moment was that?
Daniel: When I talked to our Farm Manager Joseph about the status of the farm in December 2017, I was very impressed by how passionately and determinedly he told me about his ideas for improving the facility. It was very nice to see how enthusiastic he was about the project and then to work with him on it.
What have been the biggest challenges you have had to face so far?
Alex: There have been many challenges, but the biggest was certainly to develop a concept that could be implemented in a very difficult region. I am very grateful that we were able to find partners early on who could support us with their experience.
Have you ever been at a point where you doubted that you could continue with Thriving Green? How did you deal with the situation?
Jens: Doubts are part of every project, just like in every life. The important thing is to deal rationally with how you can achieve your goals. Even though we had problems with the Kenyan culture, the distance and sometimes even within the team, I always believed in the success of the project and continued to work hard for it.
Where do you see Thriving Green in five years?
Florian: I see Thriving Green continuing to grow strongly in the next few years and opening new locations in Kenya and abroad together with other partners. I myself would like to be an active member of the team in five years time and especially help with the technical development.
What tips do you have for someone who has a similar idea?
Alex: No one can realize such an idea on their own – so it is important to approach others, whether to build a team or to get support. In our case these were public authorities, universities, but also companies or committed private individuals. In any case, it is important to have a well elaborated concept that can be communicated easily and convincingly.
