Peter Vogt’s clients donate a percentage of their fee to one of three LED projects on a voluntary basis. The landscape architect then doubles the amount. Peter Vogt wants to give something back to less privileged people in poorer countries.
ur social idea provides for a revenue share for Liechtenstein development cooperation. How many of your customers are taking part?
I am particularly proud of the global company strategy. About half of them are happy to participate and the number is steadily increasing. I had to do a bit of persuading at first. In the meantime, many understand the valuable idea behind it and appreciate the commitment.
How did the collaboration with the LED come about?
I am from Liechtenstein. For me, the LED and the country go hand in hand, so to speak. I already had a connection to the organization through my family, and I had confidence in the quality of the work done and the projects chosen. The cooperation therefore resulted from existing relationships. I can recommend this social idea to any entrepreneur for imitation. Please feel free to copy the idea. I am happy about it.
How do you select the project with the customer?
There is a simple rule. The content of the supported DC project should have something to do with the customer’s project. On this basis, I submit a suitable project proposal to the client.
What happens in practice? An example?
If water is at the heart of a park that we design and create, 5% of the fee revenue ultimately goes to the Gravity Irrigation project in Zimbabwe. Gravity-irrigated fields improve crop yields in dry areas of this country. During the very short rainy season, water is collected in a basin above the fields, which is used practically all year round. Thanks to this system, our contribution has enabled over 40 farming families in the region to become self-sufficient. I wholeheartedly support such meaningful help for self-help.
What are the other ongoing projects about?
The second project in the global strategy focuses on organic farming with the organization Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT). The third in the group is a food security project in Colquechaca, Bolivia, where the harvest is barely sufficient for the farmers’ own needs and the drought and lack of water make it almost impossible to increase yields. Food security and food sovereignty are strengthened and cultivation methods and infrastructure are further developed. Gender equality and ecological sustainability are key issues.
(Interview: Alexandra Ospelt)
Caption: Entrepreneur and landscape architect Peter Vogt works with LED on his global strategy.
