Giving something back...
Our foundation also has a history - this one starts in 1995. After more than seven years at the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños / Philippines, Dr. Klaus and Annemarie Lampe
wanted to leave a footprint. A private fund for the promotion of children from the poverty
neighborhood of the institute made it possible for more than 30 young people to complete their
vocational training by 2021. This is thanks to three Institute staff members who volunteered to run
the private program for 25 years. This support in Los Baños unfortunately had to be abandoned but a
succession remained the goal also in memory of Annemarie Lampe, who had passed away in 2011.
It took a few years until a long-term solution was found: the cooperation with the Congregation
"Sisters of Mary". Convinced of the idea after a visit to the Sister's Motherhouse in Cavite, not far
from Manila, and fully trusting in the professionalism of the Sisters, Dr. Lampe created the basis for a
private foundation:
- The founder sold his private residence in Frankfurt/Main.
- The cooperation with SOM was started in 2020 and first scholarship holders were selected.
- The BONA VIA FOUNDATION was established in 2022 and endowed with foundation capital for
the first 100 scholarship holders.
Thus, the years in the Philippines working on rice research developed into the BONA VIA FOUNDATION.