This trip moved Christoph Mix a lot – and not just in terms of the distances covered by the managing partner of Kräuter GmbH over the course of his week in India. The globally active company which processes and trades in dried herbs, vegetables and spices sources onions, flea seed, fenugreek seed and other ingredients from there.

Once the business part of his trip was done, it was a matter of personal interest for the company’s managing partner to take an extra trip to Vadodara in the Gujarat region. This meant a nine-hour drive by car. But making the stopover before he flew back home to Germany was well worth it. Given that he had already come as far as India, Christoph Mix wanted to see for himself the charity work supported by Mix for Kids. His company founded the not-for-profit association in 2018 and from the very beginning has been its largest supporting member.

“The country benefits when we buy raw materials from India,” says Christoph Mix. But getting involved with Mix for Kids is a matter especially close to his heart. The 67-year-old was pleased to see how well the facilities they sponsor are running. Mix was deeply moved by his visit to the Snehalaya children’s home for orphans. He was welcomed by the children and their carers with open arms. Following a traditional welcome ceremony, the children gave a performance where they showed off their sporting, musical and dancing skills – all of which they are taught alongside academic subjects. The home for street children provides a home for over 100 boys aged between six and eighteen.

In the city’s shantytowns, Christoph Mix also met with women from a self-help group supported by Mix for Kids which produces traditional Indian spice mixtures. Selling these helps them to provide for themselves and their children. During his visit, Christoph Mix took the opportunity to offer the women some tips and explain the special features of some of the spices. As a parting gift, the women presented him with spice blends they had produced.