Stay updated on the latest progress.
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Ready to go
Everything is ready. We’re just waiting for one last shipment and an important signature from Zimbabwe. Then the shipment can be sent out. Barring any further unexpected complications, we’ll have the greenhouse up and running in July.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Letter of Donation
While we are still preparing for transport from South Africa to Zimbabwe and waiting for the final pieces of equipment to arrive, the necessary paperwork is being finalized. The “Letter of Donation” makes one important point clear: ownership of the future greenhouse will be transferred to RASA College.
Tuesday, 14 April 2026
On site
Yesterday, Heinrich Muller and Jean Roudier arrived at Harare Airport in Zimbabwe and then travelled to Masvingo, joined by Bishop Onismo Goronga. Today, the Bishop signed the LOI and the team paid a visit to the future site of our greenhouse. Finally they proudly presented a large sign showing that Helping Hands Horticulture has arrived. The picture shows RASA Principal Austern Hakunavanha, Bishop Onismo Goronga, Horticulturist Jean Roudier, Assistent Prichard Makara, Horticulturist Heinrich Muller and Horticultural Teacher Mashuro Merci Yeukai.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026
Preparing the greenhouse
At Greenhouse Technologies in South Africa the team has started to prepare the future equipment of the greenhouse. A great deal of preparatory work is taking place behind the scenes so that construction can begin as soon as possible. After yet more delays, the impatience and anticipation are almost unbearable.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Ready to communicate
We are preparing to connect with future donors and a growing circle of friends. Our colleague Silke Hammerstein has developed a wonderful corporate design, and our IT specialist Jan Rolfes has taken care of the hosting, installation, links, and everything else required for a website and email addresses.
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
Bank account registered
Today, our NPC signed the official documents to register a bank account at Nedbank in South Africa. This means that Klasmann-Deilmann and Rotary can transfer their first donations very soon. At the same time, following the advice of Heinrich Muller, we’ve decided not to build a single greenhouse but two smaller ones in favour to separating propagation from growing-on.
Monday, 16 February 2026
Certificate granted
We are very proud to announce that the South African Commissioner of the Companies & Intellectual Property Commission today has granted us with the certificate confirming the registration of our Non-Profit Company. Helping Hands Horticulture is no longer only a project but from now on is an official enterprise by Greenhouse Technologies and Klasmann-Deilmann.
Thursday, 12 February 2026
Preparing the ground
Today, a wheel loader arrived to level the ground at the RASA Private College. With that everything is now ready in Misvango for the greenhouse to be built.
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
LOI signed
Today, Greenhouse Technologies and Klasmann-Deilmann signed a Letter of Intent for the joint project and future company, Helping Hands Horticulture. Francois and Janetta de Kock, owners of Greenhouse Technologies, and Moritz Böcking, then managing director of Klasmann-Deilmann, took advantage of a meeting at the “Internationale Pflanzenmesse” (IPM) in Germany to emphasize the willingness of all parties involved to make this mission a success. The photo shows, from left to right, Francois de Kock, Tiaan Kotze, Janetta de Kock, Moritz Böcking, and Dirk Röse.
Monday, 15 December 2025
Rotary Club Bentheim
Moritz Böcking and Dirk Röse from Klasmann-Deilmann today attended a meeting of the Rotary Club Grafschaft Bentheim in northwestern Germany to give an update on the horticultural school and greenhouse project in Zimbabwe. The members of the club seemed to be satisfied with the progress of the project and are now considering a longer-term support.
Monday, 24 November 2025
Allocation of the property
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the authorities of the City of Masvingo! In a letter dated today, the City of Masvingo announces that the official allocation of the property next to RASA Private College in Misvango will take effect as soon as Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands has paid the associated lease.
Addendum: The lease was transferred shortly after.
Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Name confirmed
The Companies & Intellectual Property Commission in South Africa has confirmed the name reservation of “Helping Hands Horticulture” for our future Non-Profit Organization. Things are taking shape!
Monday, 25 August 2025
Greenhouse on the agenda
At today's regular council meeting, the city of Masvingo decided to allocate the plot of land next to RASA Private College to Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands. Bishop Onismo Goronga had requested the transfer of the land for our horticultural school and greenhouse project. Finally, our project is on the agenda. We hope that things will move a little faster from now on. But first we have to wait for the official public appeal period to expire.
Monday, 17 February 2025
Welcome to Mashuro Mercy Yeukai
We welcome Mrs Mashuro Mercy Yeukai to our horticultural school and greenhouse project in Zimbabwe. She is now a permanent employee at Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands. Mashuro is a trained agricultural and horticultural engineer. She will create a garden next to RASA Private College to cultivate vegetables and fruit. In the future, she will also manage the greenhouse.
28 October 2024
Support from Rotary
As of today, the Rotary Club Grafschaft Bentheim in Germany is submitting a District Grant application to provide financial support to Helping Hands Horticulture.
Addendum: At the end of 2024, the Rotary Club Grafschaft Bentheim and Rotary International have committed to a significant budget.
Summer 2024
Finished concept
Within a few weeks, a concept for the horticultural school and greenhouse project is developed, Klasmann-Deilmann approves a budget, and Greenhouse Technologies and its subsidiary Crop Supplies agree to export and construct a greenhouse in Masvingo. The working title “Helping Hands Horticulture” is decided upon. The next important step is to secure a specific plot of land in the immediate vicinity of RASA Private College, which is run by Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands. Bishop Onismo Goronga is taking on this task and will approach the relevant authorities in the city of Masvingo.
Thursday, 6 June 2024
First steps
Our horticultural school and greenhouse project in Zimbabwe began in the summer of 2024 with a stroke of luck. Klasmann-Deilmann was looking for a project that would combine social engagement with professional horticulture. Then Jean Roudier, the colleague responsible for Africa, returned from a business trip to South Africa. Visibly moved, he talked about the charitable work of Heinrich Muller, an employee of Greenhouse Technologies. Together with Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands he supported disadvantaged children and orphans in the District Masvingo in Zimbabwe. Jean and Heinrich had long discussions, and the idea of a collaboration at the corporate level was in the air. The proposal met with great interest from Francois and Janetta de Kock, owners of Greenhouse Technologies, as well as Moritz Böcking, then managing director at Klasmann-Deilmann. Shortly afterwards, the team that has been driving the project forward since then came together for the first time: Heinrich Muller (Greenhouse Technologies), Bishop Onismo Goronga (Fountain Rehoboth Helping Hands), Jean Roudier, and Dirk Röse (both Klasmann-Deilmann).