Nieuwerkerken (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Paesmans family of Fruitsnacks, along with Make-A-Wish, will distribute pear trees to 43 kids today in Nieuwerkerken. The Paesmans family of Fruitsnacks organises this yearly event for Make-A-Wish’s 8th consecutive year at Nieuwerkerken.
During their yearly program, Fruitsnacks and Make-A-Wish gave pear trees to 43 children in Nieuwerkerken. During its eighth run, the tree adoption scheme provides every child with their own named tree, which they will observe until September’s harvest.
At 13:00, today marked the official opening of a two-part program, which included pear tree identification and monthly newsletter distribution for following the pear development. The updates serve educational purposes through interactive learning methods for participants about fruit cultivation.
The children who participated in the tree ownership program also engaged in creative activities such as smoothie making and getting Easter baskets before the holiday. The event provided an interactive learning space which combined direct experiences with education about agricultural practices.
The children, together with their families, will gather in September for pear harvest events to personally retrieve their fruit boxes after learning proper harvesting techniques. Karel Paesmans explained the dual objective of the program because it established an environmental connection while supporting the fundraising efforts of Make-A-Wish.
“The 43 children then went in search of their personal tree,” says Karel Paesmans. “From now until the fall, we will send a newsletter to the children every month, so they can follow how their own pears grow. In addition, they will also get to know fruit growing in a playful way.”
“We not only support Make-A-Wish with these fun activities, but also provide a check in September. This way, the volunteers can continue to make many wishes come true in the coming years.”
What is the broader context of fruit cultivation and charity initiatives in Nieuwerkerken?
The Belgian city of Nieuwerkerken within Limburg province belongs to the agricultural Haspengouw region that specialises in pear and apple production. BFV data shows that Haspengouw cranks out more than 300,000 tons of fruit yearly, whereas pears represent 60% of the total exports.
Fruit snacks from the Paesmans family function as a supplier to domestic and international clients from this agricultural centre.
Since it began operations in 2003, the charity partner Make-A-Wish Belgium has fulfilled over 1,500 wishes for sick children. Annual reports from the organisation show that 65% of wished activities involve experiencing something that parallels the pear tree project’s practical method. Since its establishment with Fruitsnacks in the eighth year, the initiative has attracted more than 300 children and continues to grow the number of participants.
The total number of visiting farmers and tourists engaging in agricultural education programs across Limburg soared by 12%, according to local government reports since 2020.
Agricultural education finds its place under the Pear Tree Initiative, which connects agricultural knowledge with charitable activities. Statistics indicate that regional companies generate €50,000–€70,000 per year through similar events, which support hospitality businesses and retail operations during harvest periods.
The Make-A-Wish financial output for the current year remains undisclosed, though previous events generated €10,000 to €15,000 through annual harvest activities. Evidence shows that the program continues to yield substantial advantages for participants and the charity organisation even though complete data about wish fulfilment remains undisclosed.
