🌟 A Cornerstone in the Life of Raiffeisen – Exploring Raiffeisen’s Legacy in Flammersfeld
Day 2 of the IRU General Meeting took our member delegates on a captivating journey to the heart of cooperation on October 4, 2023. The visit to the Raiffeisen House in Flammersfeld was nothing short of enlightening.
🏡 Discovering Raiffeisen’s Legacy: The Raiffeisen House in Flammersfeld served as the workplace and residence of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen from 1848 to 1852 during his tenure as the mayor of the “Samtgemeinde” (municipal association). In 1849, he established the world’s first cooperative credit association, the “Flammersfelder Hülfsverein zur Unterstützung unbemittelter Landwirthe.” The house now operates as a museum and offers guided tours in its original rooms, providing insights into Raiffeisen’s life and the development of his cooperative ideas based on the motto “What one cannot do, many can.” The museum showcases documents, literature, exhibits, and digital media related to Raiffeisen’s work and the cooperative movement.

IRU Member delegates listening to the two local Raiffeisen Ambassadors in front of the House in Flammersfeld.
🙌 Hearty Welcome by two local Raiffeisen Ambassadors: We were heartily welcome by two local socalled Raiffeisen Ambassadors, Julie Georgis and Roswitha Fischer. Their insights into Flammersfeld and the significance of the house in Raiffeisen’s life were truly inspiring. As passionate advocates of cooperative principles and values, they shared the essence of Raiffeisen’s journey in a captivating way.
🏠 A Journey Through History: The IRU Delegates embarked on a guided tour of the Raiffeisen House, where they experienced Raiffeisen’s life step by step. The house’s historical significance and the evolution of cooperative principles came to life under the guidance of the two local Raiffeisen Ambassadors.
🤝 Gratitude: Many thanks to Julie Georgis, Roswitha Fischer, and the entire team of Flammersfeld and Hamm(Sieg) for their warm welcome and their dedication to provide a great and informative tour to our IRU delegates.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our reflection of the IRU General Meeting 2023! 🚀