We are Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe

Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe is an internationally active aid organization with more than 40 years of experience in humanitarian aid and development assistance. Our goal is a world in which all people can live a self-determined life in dignity and security.

We provide help that keeps giving – and thus makes a difference.

Since Help was founded more than 40 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.

Vision

Our vision is a world where hardship, poverty and social injustice have been overcome and everyone can lead independent, self-determined lives in dignity, peace and safety, enjoying equal rights and maintaining harmony with the environment.

Mission

Helping people to help themselves is our guiding principle. We support people struggling with or threatened by crises. We provide acute emergency aid and strengthen people’s capacity to survive. We also improve living conditions and increase the resilience of people in need worldwide while respecting everyone’s right to fair participation. Our assistance is needs-based, guided by principles, and environmentally friendly and recognizes that people are equal in all their diversity and whatever their circumstances. We contribute to sustainable change in line with our vision.

Help in Albania

Help was established in Albania in 2020 following the devastating earthquake which hit the country in November 2019. Help in Albania’s initial aim was to support people affected by the earthquake with immediate emergency assistance and to support efforts to rebuild local educational institutions damaged by the earthquake.

Help’s programme in Albania aims to enhance the social inclusion of vulnerable people through sustainable economic empowerment and community development. The key elements of this programme are:

  • supporting employment schemes to enable greater access to the labour market by youth, women and people from marginalised groups.
  • supporting social integration through employment and vocational training schemes.
  • promoting and supporting start-up businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as social businesses.
  • supporting farmers and small rural and agritourism businesses improve their livelihoods through training and equipment grants.
  • providing support to persons and local institutions affected by natural disasters or medical emergencies.
  • helping to establish local social care services.
  • supporting local regeneration through rehabilitation of community facilities.

 

The Regional Office Europe (ROE) currently provides operational and strategic support to the Help in Albania country office, to ensure continuity, quality standards, and regional alignment with Help’s programmes in the Western Balkans.

 

Help in Albania supports the sustainable social and economic integration of vulnerable groups.