Erik Molenschot, Managing Director of Indusource, doesn’t take long to think why he’s been involved in The Hunger Project for more than 14 years. From the beginning he felt a shared conviction: People don’t really get ahead until they’re in control.

Indusource’s involvement in The Hunger Project began during an event in Friesland, where associate Wietse first heard about it. “We were doing well. The company grew fast, so we thought we should do something in return, “Just tell Erik. Afterwards, we started to talk and actually got on spontaneously and quickly.” Spontaneous, but not rash. For Indusource – an independent purchasing organisation in Sneek with customers throughout the Netherlands and Belgium . Just as a company in the food industry felt investing in food security as a logical step.

But what really drew them over the line was the concreteity of the approach of The Hunger Project in Benin. They joined the Katakle network with 70 entrepreneurs from mainly the food sector and one clear mission: support villages to become self-reliant within a specified period. Not a vague goal, but a concrete end. We like that, says Erik.

Self-reliance as a shared language

In addition, the approach works according to a simple but powerful principle: not temporary help, but investing in self-reliance by strengthening local leadership, knowledge and skills. So communities can realize sustainable change themselves.

“What appealed to us in that methodology and philosophy is that you support people to get it on the road. But they have to do it themselves and turn,” Erik says. “It’s not giving money what’s up after that. It’s a lasting achievement.”

In that approach Erik immediately recognized himself, because it is exactly how Indusource works. At this company, young professionals can take great steps not because they are being taken, but because they are being released. The space for personal development is there, but the responsibility lies with themselves. Erik: “You will be helped and supervised, but you will have to do it yourself. We believe in that.”

Three legs, one name

That shared philosophy can now be found even in the company name. Not long after the Katakle investment network had achieved its goals in 2022 and was lifted, Indusource set up a posting for young procurement talents and called it Katakle.

This name refers to an African three-legged royal chair, symbol of cooperation, stability and leadership: values that have become part of Indusource and are now being transferred to young buyers inspired by the years of cooperation with The Hunger Project. Just as The Hunger Project gives local communities the basis to build their own, Katakle wants to do so for young talent in the purchasing world.

Social involvement is a second nature for Erik. In addition to his work, he actively contributes to various social initiatives. “I think it’s important to do something for my environment.” He is not interested in his own gain, although he sees an interaction: You get to know people, gain new insights and always get something in return.

That attitude also colors his view on investing. Does the involvement in The Hunger Project give him anything? He’s thinking. “Maybe somewhere in the distance something, but that’s not the point. You got to do it because you have a heart for projects. We do it because we want to do it because we believe in it.” The value of his involvement is mostly elsewhere for him. Besides the interesting people and companies he got to know, Erik always felt something deeper. “I’ve always felt a lot of personal involvement from people from The Hunger Project, just to me as a person. It makes you feel part of something. That has always done a lot.”

What you see when you stand next to people.

In 2014, Erik went on a investors trip to Benin . From the capital, the group visited different communities. “That made a lot of impression. Then the project became tangible and concrete. That’s a very nice memory.”What struck him was the openness and warm welcome. The people welcomed them with sincere enthusiasm, without anything being polished. “You don’t feel like you’re getting an ideal picture because you just happened to come by. You see it as it is and you can ask anything.”The importance of the project also became clear. “You know the images, but when you stand there, you really realize the impact. You realize that this situation is still like this tomorrow, next week and next month, unless we do something about it together.” That’s what investing in self-reliance means: effects are not temporary, but continue to work, generation to generation.

For entrepreneurs who doubt.

Doubts never happened to Erik. “The story was true and then it became truth. The Katakle network was real, the people in it were able to speak to you and much was organized.” Since the lifting of the Katakle network, the annual contribution of Indusource goes to where it is most needed. Erik wants to link the contribution to a specific project again, because he finds that this increases the involvement.To entrepreneurs who are considering boarding, he has one message: ‘The targets are concrete. You see where it’s going, you’ll be kept informed of the progress and you’ll be able to visit the projects. It puts you in touch with people and companies you wouldn’t have otherwise spoken to. And it always yielded something to you as a company and especially as a human being.‘