Help Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe (Help)

45 years of empowering people

Since Help was founded 45 years ago, we have consistently worked according to the principle of empowerment. We provide effective emergency aid in the event of disasters and are committed to the sustainable fight against poverty, hunger and disease worldwide.

On July 15, 1981, members of parliament from all parties represented in the Bundestag at the time, as well as personalities from academia and the church, gathered at Frankfurt Airport. Their goal: to help the millions of people who were displaced as a result of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. Together they founded the aid organization "Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe".

Today, Help is active in over 30 countries, helping people affected by humanitarian crises such as conflicts or natural disasters to lead a self-determined life. Empowering people remains at the heart of our project work and determines our actions.

What we do

• We help people who are threatened or affected by humanitarian crises: We provide acute emergency aid and support them in building a self-determined life in dignity and security.

• We empower people: We support people in their own efforts and enable them to improve their living conditions through their own efforts. 

• We use local strengths: For us, helping people to help themselves means meeting others at eye level. We see the people and institutions we work with locally as partners with whom we can work together to achieve sustainable change in line with our vision.

• We are independent and neutral: We help all people, regardless of gender, origin or ideology. Only the level of need is decisive for our work.

• We work transparently and efficiently: The responsible use of the funds entrusted to us is one of Help's most important working principles. 

• We disclose our finances and provide up-to-date and continuous information about our work and its impact.

We provide assistance that works: To ensure the high quality of our work, Help is committed to various internationally recognized principles and standards of humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. Find out more about Quality & Standards.
Sustainable aid worldwide
Our help is needs-based and environmentally friendly and recognises that people are equal in all their diversity and whatever their circumstances. In this way we contribute to sustainable change in line with our vision.

Help considers its employees to be the most important resource for achieving the organization's global goals and meeting international standards. Whether you are a career starter or looking for a new challenge, Help offers you many different opportunities to develop your career while empowering people in need to master their lives independently.

We see ourselves as a diverse, open organization whose work is based on mutual respect. We only assess applications on the basis of professional qualifications, regardless of origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.