Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung

How can young people see agriculture as a pathway to opportunity? 🌱

The SAfA Ethiopia project is helping create new perspectives on agriculture among young people in Ethiopia.

During a recent workshop with government partners, participants highlighted encouraging changes in project communities. One key observation was a shift in how youth view agriculture as a sector that can offer opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation, and income generation.

Innovations such as solar-powered irrigation are contributing to this shift, creating new economic opportunities while aligning with local development priorities. As livelihoods become more resilient, communities are also seeing greater potential for young people to build their futures locally.

Youth participants themselves reported positive changes, both in their own attitudes and among their peers. They also highlighted improvements in household activities such as vegetable gardening, which contributes to better nutrition and household wellbeing.

These experiences demonstrate how integrated approaches can contribute to stronger livelihoods, greater resilience, and new opportunities for young people in rural communities.

What happens after coffee is harvested? ☕🌱

For coffee quality, some of the most important decisions are made after the cherries leave the tree.

To deepen knowledge on coffee quality, classification, tasting, and post-harvest practices, HRNS Brasil, in partnership with Sebrae Minas, brought together coffee growers from Santo Antônio do Amparo and São Francisco de Paula in Minas Gerais for a two-day practical training.

Combining online learning through the HRNS Brasil educational platform with hands-on sessions led by coffee quality specialist Giselle Abreu, participants explored:

☕ Coffee classification and sensory analysis
🔍 Different flavor profiles across origins, genetics, and processing methods
🌱 Post-harvest practices that influence quality and value
📈 Opportunities to add value through quality-focused production

The course reached full capacity, with 24 coffee growers participating.

As participant Donata Terezinha Balbino reflected:

“With each course, meeting, or fair promoted by HRNS do Brasil, we take something new back to our homes, our farms, and our coffee.”

The training is part of HRNS Brasil’s ongoing work with coffee-growing communities, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and practical learning that can contribute to coffee quality, income generation, and sustainable production.

Can digital literacy create opportunities beyond the screen? 📱🌍

For many young people, social media is often associated with entertainment and endless scrolling.

But what happens when digital platforms become tools for learning, entrepreneurship, professional visibility, and community engagement?

Through TeamUp Uganda, young people are learning how to use digital tools more intentionally,whether to promote their businesses, build professional networks, access information, or share their achievements with a wider audience.

The results are tangible:

📱 New employment opportunities through professional networking
🌱 Greater visibility for youth-led businesses
🤝 Expanded connections beyond local communities
🎓 Access to knowledge, mentorship, and learning opportunities

One lesson stands out: digital literacy is not about technology alone. It is about helping young people use digital tools with purpose, confidence, and critical judgment.

As one participant put it:

“It has completely shifted my professional trajectory and helped me find my voice.”

Our latest Muddy Boots article explores how TeamUp Uganda approaches digital literacy, what young people are achieving through it, and five practical lessons for organizations working with youth.

👉 Read the full story: https://ow.ly/PmMq50Z5VfE

TeamUp Uganda is jointly funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW), Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS and Siemens Stiftung and implemented by a consortium of Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung - HRNS, Action 4 Health Uganda, and Whave Solutions.