Ben and Raiffeisen

Biography of the Founder of the Cooperative Movement in Germany

Suitable for Children

by Sonja Hauertmann

Illustrations by Tobias Reinhard

Translation by Sharon Lyn Rusholme-Scheeren.

Chapters

1. Little Ben

2. Story of Raiffeisen´s Career

3. Ben´s idea

4. The Biography of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen

1. Little Ben

Somewhere in the middle of Europe you will find a small family. The parents are out at work. Mother is a physiotherapist and is visiting her patients at home. Father  is a mechatronic technician and has been sent to India by his company to install new robots,  and to train customers for the whole week. So this afternoon their son, who was born at the beginning of the third millennium, is alone at home and has just finished his homework for school. Now Ben is sitting on a chair in the hallway tying his shoelaces. It’s rather difficult today although he had celebrated his eight birthday yesterday. He can usually tie them up easily. But Ben is excited. His grandmother will soon be arriving. They want to go to the bank together with Ben’s birthday money to open his first bank account. Ben needs to save money to make his dreams come true. The doorbell rings and Ben runs to the door.

´So, are you ready?`, asks Grandma Hannah. ´Of course`, says Ben beaming and gives her his silver squirrel piggy bank. ´It doesn’t even rattle anymore when I shake it as it’s so full’.
´Then it´s good we are taking the money to the bank, otherwise your squirrel will get tummyache`, jokes Grandma and helps Ben onto the child car-seat.

It is very busy at the bank. Grandma sits down with Ben on a sofa in the waiting area and they wait for the customer adviser to come. 

Ben looks around him. He notices a picture. ´Look Grandma, that man looks like your great-grandfather, Wilhelm, in your old photo album.` Baffled Grandma looks and smiles, ´They really do look alike. They must have had the same barber!  By the way, even their names are the same, too. His name is Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen and you could say the founder of this bank.` ´That’s strange, do you know more about him?  Please tell me, Grandma,` Ben flatters. Grandma Hannah sighs and begins,

2. Story of Raiffeisen´s career

´A long time ago when an emperor and kings still ruled in Germany, a child was born in Hamm upon