Board
All committee members, with the exception of the Managing Directors, work on a voluntary basis. Conflicts of interest are avoided. Members of the Members' Meeting who are also members of the Executive Committee abstain from voting on the discharge of the Executive Committee. The Supervisory Board is an additional supervisory body.
Executive Committee
President
Svenja Schulze
MP SPD
“Development cooperation is under pressure today. Right-wing forces are deliberately spreading misinformation. The truth is that we are experiencing many crises simultaneously around the world – and they are affecting the most vulnerable, namely children, the poor, displaced persons, and those who are persecuted. Development cooperation is therefore urgently needed right now. Help empowers people worldwide. Since its foundation, the organization has been supported by parliamentarians from all democratic parties. A strong sign! Help enables people in need to live self-determined lives – by helping them to help themselves.”
Vice President
Ute Vogt
Former MP SPD, former Parliamentary State Secretary
„Help reaches out to people in need and helps them to survive. We believe in people's personal responsibility and empower them. It is important to me that Help's aid campaigns regularly develop into projects that help people to help themselves. This gives them more independence and self-determination. For me, this is a particularly valuable part of the work. Because it's not just about ensuring that people have food and a roof over their heads. People also have a right to a self-determined life and a life in freedom.“
Vice President
Ottmar von Holtz
Former MP Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
„One of the lessons I learned from my time as a member of the Bundestag was that it is always helpful when committed people around the world know they have someone at their side to support them. Being left alone is a great burden for people in need, as it is for those who are committed to helping those in need. This is exactly where Help comes in - helping people to help themselves. Certainly, money can be used to finance projects and employ people. But Help is more - the association offers all those affected where we are active an anchor in uncertain times. Reason enough for me to support the association and its work.“
Rudolf Bindig
former MP SPD
Katrin Fey
MP Die Linke
Serap Güler
MP CDU, Minister of State
Dr. Christoph Hoffmann
Former MP FDP
Angelika Josten-Janssen
former Managing Director of Help
Dr. Wolfgang Stefinger
MP CSU
Katrin Uhlig
MP Bündnis 90/Die Grünen
The Executive Committee is responsible for the political and social representation of the association, the admission and exclusion of members, the appointment and dismissal of the Managing Directors, and advising on fundamental issues and decisions.
Managing Directors according to § 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB)
Secretary General
Dr. Thorsten Klose-Zuber
“I am convinced that, as an aid organization, we can make an important contribution to combating need, poverty and social injustice in our world. For me, my commitment to Help is therefore a step towards assuming social responsibility and actively working on solutions to our humanitarian, social and ecological problems. With our approach of helping people to help themselves, we work with our partners to help the people who need our help most urgently, while at the same time creating long-term prospects and promoting self-determined action. That makes sense to me and motivates me.”
Designated Chairwoman
Bianca Kaltschmitt
“I have been working for Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe in various roles for over 20 years and devote all my energy to the strategic development and growth of our organization. It is the cooperation on an equal footing with the people on the ground, our employees, and our partners worldwide that motivates me and encourages me time and again. My motivation and firm conviction is that by helping people to help themselves, we not only provide those in need with urgent survival aid, but also give them sustainable prospects for the future. In simple terms: Help that keeps giving!”
The Managing Directors conduct the association's business in accordance with the law, the Articles of Association, the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board, and the resolutions of the association's bodies.
Supervisory Board
Dr Barbara Höll
Erich Georg Fritz
Jörg Leske
The Supervisory Board monitors the Managing Directors in their compliance with the tasks set out in the Articles of Association and reports to the Members' Meeting.
Members' Meeting
The Members' Meeting decides on general guidelines for the association's work, approves the budget, receives the annual report from the Managing Directors, determines amendments to the Articles of Association, appoints the auditors, elects and discharges the Executive Committee and the Supervisory Board, discharges the Managing Directors, and decides on the dissolution of the association.
Dr. Naim Assad, Uwe Baust, Rudolf Bindig, Katja Dörner, Kerstin Düsch-Wehr, Erich G. Fritz, Andreas Glück, Angelika Graf, Ottmar von Holtz, Dr. Barbara Höll, Dr. Uwe Janssen, Angelika Josten-Janssen, Prof. Ulrich Kelber, Dr. Georg Kippels, Volkmar Klein, Dr. Thorsten Klose-Zuber, Gudrun Kopp, Jörg Leske, Dr. Andreas Nick, Dr. Karl-H. Rolfes, Christian Ruck, Christian Schmidt, Ute Vogt, Gabi Weber
