Commitment that connects – people who make SANNI possible

Dear Friends and Supporters of the SANNI Foundation,

What makes the SANNI Foundation special? It’s not just the projects in India and Myanmar – it’s the people behind the scenes who support us with energy, ideas and passion. It is this community of committed supporters that sustains our work. This active commitment makes all the difference. And it defines us as a foundation.

One of these people is Milan Prenosil – entrepreneur, global citizen and enthusiastic supporter and board member of the SANNI Foundation for many years. As President of Confiserie Sprüngli AG, Milan Prenosil stands for quality and tradition – but also for openness to the world, social responsibility and personal commitment.

You can find the full interview with Milan Prenosil below – an impressive and very personal perspective on our joint work.

And because commitment at SANNI also means community and joy of life, we are already inviting you to our next meeting day:

Save the Date SANNI Acitivity Day 2025 at Greifensee
Saturday, September 6, 2025

We wish you a wonderful summer!

Yours sincerely,
Susanne Schroff

Milan Prenosil is Chairman of the Board of Directors and co-owner of Confiserie Sprüngli AG. He is also a philanthropist and, together with his wife Sasha, supports various social aid organizations and foundations in Switzerland. He learned about the SANNI Foundation in a personal conversation with Susanne Schroff, the founder of the foundation, and was immediately impressed by its work in East Asia. Since then, he has been actively involved in the SANNI Foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Mr. Prenosil, why are you involved with the SANNI Foundation?

Because it’s about children – girls and boys – and women who are infected with AIDS and are extremely disadvantaged. Without the SANNI Foundation, they would have no prospects for the future. In addition to nutrition programs, comprehensive medical care is provided. At St. John’s in Kerala, 80,000 people are treated each year. The people also receive training and education. For me, it was important that the children who come here also have prospects later on. I also really like India as a country, its culture and history.

What is special about SANNI?

First of all: Susanne’s commitment. She invests an incredible amount of time and heart and soul into the foundation, and all pro bono. Her enthusiasm for the task fascinated me and quickly spread to me. Then everything at the foundation just fits. It is transparent, tightly managed and very well organized. I was impressed by Father Jose, who runs St. John’s in Kerala. He is an absolutely trustworthy local partner who can calculate and manage. And very importantly, he is not corrupt. What particularly impressed me was the transparency: you know who pays what, where the funds come from and where they go. Everything is openly explained and verifiable.

What does a SANNI Foundation sponsorship achieve?

When a sponsorship ends, the people, the children, have a future. A sponsorship not only finances a decent life with medical care, it also enables the children to make something of their lives when they grow up. They receive an education, learn a trade and can go to university if they want to. Our sponsored children, for example, have developed magnificently. And that is the beauty of the fact that, as disadvantaged people and in the whole mess of Indian society with its caste system, they are effectively given a chance to lead an independent life.

Are you also actively involved in Myanmar?

I was there before the unrest. That was very impressive. With Dr. Frank, a local partner who is 100% committed, we have a complete professional there who knows what is at stake and who can operate in this incredibly difficult environment. You not only need a good team, but also the right trusted partners on the ground. In Myanmar, too, we know exactly which dressing material and which schoolbook to buy and which house to build. This is very important so that we can provide targeted help.

What is your motivation for your active involvement?

I want to make a personal contribution. And I like traveling to foreign countries and getting to grips with people’s issues. I am also curious. But it’s not just exciting, it’s a commitment to these people and a general interest in the world. For me, immersing myself in the depths of societies and cultures is enriching, despite the tragedies that you sometimes see. You get to know the real world outside your own reality. And when you come back home, you think: my goodness, I’ve had it good!

What touched you most emotionally?

There are always a lot of emotions on such trips. I was most touched by the eyes of the poorest people. They looked at us as if we were aliens. Sometimes it’s almost embarrassing. But they also radiate joy and positivity. Especially the children. And then they dance and release a special energy with their innocent manner. An unbroken hope for a better life. That really touched me.

What particularly impressed you on your travels?

The trip to Delhi to the slums. That’s something else than St. John’s, more hardcore, I have to be honest. They help in the smallest of ways with tiny steps. But thanks to Susanne and the people on the ground, things are moving forward.

In Yangon/Myanmar, it was the children who touched my heart the most. Their eyes as big as the sea. Full of hope and confidence, they approach you with a naturalness, without inhibitions or fears. They are the most innocent of the innocent. And the effort they make is very impressive.

What was a particularly nice moment?

It was when we saw one of our five sponsored children in Kerala for the first time. It was a heart-warming experience! You usually get a card, a photo and sometimes a letter from the child beforehand. It’s personalized, but still from a distance. Then you suddenly sit there and know that the godchild is coming in real life. At first they are more or less shy, depending on their character. They give you a drawing or a little flower. And because they don’t speak English and we don’t understand Indian, we communicate using very simple means. And suddenly we understand each other. It’s like a universal force that connects us. For me personally, it was a particularly wonderful experience that I’ve never had before.

Save the Date: SANNI ACTIVITY DAY 2025 at Lake Greifensee

And because commitment at SANNI also means community and joie de vivre, we are already inviting you to our next meeting day:

SANNI Activity Day 2025
Greifensee | Saturday, September 6, 2025

Whether sporty on the road or relaxed by the lake – the SANNI Activity Day brings us together. For a good cause. For children in Myanmar. For body and soul. A joint lunch awaits you at the end.

Save the date – more information will follow soon!

In partnership with experienced marathon runner Mike Bär