Heroes from next door – portraits of volunteers Photo exhibition
Volunteering is indispensable for society, our safety and welfare. Four BBK photo exhibitions now pay tribute to this great work by volunteers in civil protection and disaster control – at a local level. Under the title “Heroes next door – portraits of volunteers”, the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is curating exhibitions in the cities of Jena, Kiel, Koblenz and Chemnitz. Local helpers are portrayed and their pictures exhibited at central locations. The photographs show people as you meet them on the street, while shopping or at a local festival. They are people “from next door”, people like you and me. In times of need and long before, they take responsibility for themselves and their community. They go into action, no matter when, no matter where. They are our heroes!
With these exhibitions, the BBK wants to give volunteering a face, or rather many faces. They are intended to sensitize citizens to civil protection and disaster control and highlight the numerous activities, the motivation for and the added value of commitment. In addition to the volunteers from the cities and their surroundings, the winning photos from the BBK photo competition “With your photo for all of us – Focus on volunteering” will also be on display. The BBK called for entries in May 2023.
All skills are welcome
True to the campaign slogan “No matter what you can do, you can help”, the pictures show very different people in a wide variety of fields of activity. The campaign makes it clear that diversity is the strength of volunteering – because everyone has talents and skills that can be put to good use in civil protection and disaster relief: whether diving, cooking, caring, communicating or putting out fires.
Jena enters into dialog
The exhibition series starts in Jena. Six photographs of local heroes as well as the four winning photos from the photo competition will be hung in the town hall. The portraits show helpers from organizations involved in civil protection and disaster relief. These are the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the German Red Cross, the German Life Saving Society, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst and the fire departments. All organizations are present in the region and are happy to welcome curious people and new recruits. In Jena, the volunteers can be seen in their uniforms – and the photos show people just like you and me. Just people from next door! This makes it clear: everyone can become a hero! All it takes is the courage to get in touch with one of the organizations.
Lucas Schraps – DRK Kreisverband Jena
He joined the water rescue service at the age of 10. The next big step and a particularly great honor followed when he was 16: he was asked if he would like to train as a running water rescuer. This is a small unit that is primarily intended to provide civil protection during floods and in particularly difficult dangerous situations on flowing waters. In this context, he completed his training as a volunteer paramedic and finally his training as a river rescuer.
Florian Klimke – Technisches Hilfswerk Ortsverband Apolda
Florian joined the THW youth organization in Apolda at the age of 10. He became aware of the THW through his mother, who is active there herself as a youth worker. At the age of 18, he completed his basic training and underwent specialist training in the rescue group. After several years, some of them as a sub-leader, he moved to the platoon squad as platoon leader of the technical platoon (TZ) in the local association.
Kerstin Börner – Freiwillige Feuerwehr Erfenschlag
She joined the Erfenschlag volunteer fire department at the age of 16. Kerstin attended courses and training and became a squad member, breathing apparatus wearer, squad leader and machine operator. The operational requirements are very varied. Of course, this includes fires, but also technical assistance, storm operations, snow damage, flooding and many other scenarios.
Michéle Schau – Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V. Leipzig
Michéle is 24 years old and has been a volunteer for many years. It all started with the youth fire department. She joined through friends and family. A fellow firefighter who worked in the emergency services told her about his second voluntary role, as a paramedic in disaster control. During a taster day, she realized that she would also like to become active here.
Julia Lehr- Malteser Hilfsdienst e. V. Burgstädt
Julia is 35 years old and works as a paramedic in the main office of the Burgstädt rescue station. She has also been a volunteer with the rapid response group (SEG) for 5 years. In this unit, she acts as a paramedic during emergency response and is responsible for the training and further education of the helpers. She came to volunteering through her husband David, who also works for Malteser International.
Elia Alaa Alkhleif – DLRG Halle-Saalekreis e. V.
Elia Alaa Alkhleif is 31 years old and was born in Aleppo, Syria. He studied English language and literature there. He emigrated from Syria in September 2015 and has been living in Germany since March 2016. Here he trained as a medical laboratory assistant, where he still works full-time today. In his free time, Elia likes to spend time in the water. His hobby brought him to the DLRG, where he has been an active member as a diver since 2018.
Held:innen in Kiel
After Jena, Kiel’s civil protection and disaster relief volunteers are now also showing their faces. Eight portraits of volunteers from the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the German Red Cross, the German Life Saving Association, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund, ARKAT and the volunteer fire department are on display at the Mut[t] zur Kunst gallery until 30.11.2023.
As in Jena, photographer Johannes Bichmann took portraits of the volunteers for the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance and presented them in the best possible light.
Carina Fischer – Freiwillige Feuerwehr Kiel-Russe
The fire department as a second family: Carina Fischer is closely connected to the volunteer fire department. Not least because large parts of her family are also members. Her father has been a member since the late 1980s and her older sister was also in the youth fire department. Carina joined the youth fire department in 1998 and was in the active fire department from 2006 to 2012. After a break of several years, she rejoined in 2020.
Yves Zellmer – Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe Kiel
Yves Zellmer has been a volunteer paramedic for a good third of his life. Yves’ commitment began at school. Here he was a school paramedic. He was immediately enthusiastic about this activity – and within a very short period of time, he completed his training as a paramedic between his A-levels and his studies. As a group leader at the JUH, he leads various ambulance services, and as an information and communication technology consultant, he has learned a lot about technical systems in the field.
Selina Bernhardt – DLRG Bad Oldesloe und Kiel
Water is her element – that was clear to Selina Bernhardt from an early age. The 25-year-old student joined the DLRG when she was still at primary school. Originally, she only wanted to complete her swimming certificate. However, Selina quickly made her first friends and the trainers motivated her to take the lifeguard badge as well. “With open arms, I was integrated into a community that shares a passion: DLRG lifeguarding.”
Raju Charen – Technisches Hilfswerk Kiel
As a child, Raju Charen read a report about a THW youth group – and was immediately fascinated. Today he says: “I couldn’t wait until I could finally join.” In 2009, the time had finally come: Raju joined the THW youth group. At the age of 18, after successfully completing his basic training, he joined the oil damage specialist group. The 26-year-old has now been with the THW in the Kiel branch for 14 years.
Myriam Maier – Freiwillige Feuerwehr und Regieeinheit NEA
In the event of a blackout, your control center is in demand. It is an important part of the technical and infrastructure control unit for emergency power systems (NEA). The control center has a 250 kVA system, two 100 kVA systems and several small emergency power generators. These systems are used when local electricity suppliers can no longer guarantee a power supply in a large area.
Marco Groß – ASB Kiel
Doing good under water: Marco Groß has been a member of the ASB Kiel diving team for two years. He is involved there as an emergency diver and boat driver. How did this come about? As a professional soldier and medical officer in the German Navy, Marco is very interested in diving medicine – which is how he became interested in diving.
Lukas Ataide Estevao – Malteser Hilfsdienst Kiel
For Lukas, February 24, 2022 – the start of Russia’s large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine and the arrival of the first refugees from Ukraine in Germany – was a significant experience for his volunteer work. In October, Lukas and his colleagues went to Berlin to support Malteser Berlin on site with the arrival of refugees at the Berlin central bus station.
Karin Ruppert – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Kiel
Karin has been a volunteer paramedic at the German Red Cross since 2018. What prompted her to volunteer as a paramedic? Karin cites a serious traffic accident as a formative event. The first aid course, which she had just completed at the time, really helped her to react quickly and calmly and provide assistance. From that moment on, she made up her mind to become a paramedic.
Held:innen in Chemnitz
The six portraits of volunteers from the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the German Red Cross, the German Life Saving Society, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst and the volunteer fire department are on display in Chemnitz Open Space.
Elia Alaa Alkhleif – DLRG Halle-Saalekreis e. V.
Elia Alaa Alkhleif is 31 years old and was born in Aleppo, Syria. He studied English language and literature there. He emigrated from Syria in September 2015 and has been living in Germany since March 2016. He has been an active member of the DLRG as a diver since 2018. As he also enjoys swimming and diving in the water in his free time, his hobby brought him to the DLRG.
David Lehr – Maltester Hilfsdienst e.V.
David has been a Malteser volunteer since 2019. Together with some helpers and comrades, he founded the rapid response group (SEG) in Burgstädt and has been continuously building it up ever since. During this time, David himself has completed all the necessary training to now take over as platoon leader.
Julia Lehr – Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
Like her husband David, Julia has also been a volunteer in the SEG at Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V. in Burgstädt for 5 years. However, the two are not the only couple in their unit; they report that many either met while volunteering or brought their partner to volunteer work.
Philipp Reuther – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Chemnitz
Philipp joined the Red Cross Youth Fire Brigade at the age of 13. Today, at the age of 26, he is still a volunteer with the German Red Cross in the 25th Federal Medical Task Force. He often spends his free time in the service of the German Red Cross after he has finished his regular working day in the intensive care unit.
Alara Gramsch – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Wasserwacht
Alara’s story begins with her love of swimming. Even as a child, she was looking for a place to live out this passion and finally found the perfect combination in the water rescue service: water and the opportunity to help people in need. Not only did she learn lifeguarding and first aid through her membership of the water rescue service, but volunteering also brought a deep sense of fulfillment that she feels whenever she can help people.
Kerstin Börner – Freiwillige Feuerwehr Erfenschlag
For Kerstin, the fire department is not just an voluntary position, but her hobby. The teamwork and recognition in the association always give her the reassurance that she is an important part of a large group in which everyone can help. It is always a good feeling for her when she comes home after an operation and has done something good.
Laura Killemann – Technisches Hilfswerk
Laura Killemann’s door opener to volunteering was the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). Laura completed her federal voluntary service here after leaving school. After the year, she knew that she wanted to continue volunteering with the THW. That’s why she joined the Chemnitz branch as a volunteer. Volunteering gives Laura the feeling that she can lend a hand and make a difference.
Michéle Schau
Michéle is 24 years old and has been a volunteer for many years. What she particularly likes about volunteering is that there is a place and a task for everyone who wants to get involved. If you are not particularly talented medically, you can also get involved technically in disaster control, for example, or as a search helper in the rescue dog team.
Held:innen in Koblenz
The ten portraits of local heroes from the Technical Relief Organization, the German Red Cross, the German Life Saving Association, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst and the volunteer fire department can be viewed at Forum Confluentes until 15.12.2023.
Bernd Kasper – DLRG Koblenz e.V.
It all began in 1972: As a ten-year-old, Bernd Kasper became aware of the DLRG training sessions at the Koblenz municipal swimming pool. His parents enrolled Bernd there – and his long career as a volunteer began. After just a short time, Bernd became involved in the toddler swimming training program as a training assistant. But it didn’t stop there. Bernd soon acquired his training certificate and passed the examination to become a rescue diver and boatman.
Jonas Degen – DLRG Koblenz e.V.
The DLRG was present in Jonas’ life from an early age: as a child, he learned to swim in a toddler swimming course at the DLRG in Koblenz. This was followed by various youth swimming badges. Finally, he began his specialist training in water rescue services. But it didn’t stop there: after just a short time, he was trained as an SR1, or “Strömungsretter-Truppmann”, in one of the first public training courses for the newly created river rescuers.
Christian Jung – Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V.
Christian Jung dedicated himself to the Johanniter from an early age. He was initially a member of the Johanniter Youth. Since 2011, the Westerwald native has been a volunteer helper for Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V. – at the Nauort branch of the Middle Rhine regional association. Christian currently coordinates training courses, medical services, exercises and exchange and support projects with other associations together with the other helpers.
Andreas Jung – Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V.
A good friend was the reason why Andreas joined the Johanniter Youth of the Middle Rhine Regional Association in 2003, where he enthusiastically gained his first voluntary experience. He liked the tasks and the team spirit so much that he completed his paramedic training in 2007 and joined Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe as a volunteer.
Susana Holl – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V.
Her profession and contact with the regular rescue service inspired Susana Holl to become a volunteer. As an intensive care specialist, she asked herself: How does non-clinical work in first aid actually work? Her curiosity contributed to Susanna volunteering as a group leader in the DRK standby team since 2012.
Maren Fritz – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V.
Maren Fritz believes that everyone has a responsibility to the community. This conviction led her to the German Red Cross (DRK) four years ago, where she has been working as a volunteer paramedic in the Koblenz district association ever since. Together with her comrades, she forms a strong team that carries out medical services and provides assistance in emergencies.
David Grezla – Freiwillige Feuerwehr
David Grezla joined the Urbar fire department of the Vallendar volunteer fire department six years ago. Since then, he has become an important part of the team and takes part in almost every firefighting operation. For him, his voluntary work offers the perfect mix of team spirit and action.
Karolin Benninghaus – Technisches Hilfswerk
Karolin Benninghaus came across her voluntary work more or less by chance – through a cooperation between her university and the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). As an alternative to the theory-heavy lectures, Karolin was able to have her basic training at the THW credited towards her degree. Karolin has been a passionate volunteer at the THW since 2017.
Markus Benedet – Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V.
Markus’ path as a volunteer led him through the ambulance service, training as a first aid instructor, the rescue service and finally to the large field of disaster control, which is very close to his heart. Since 2015, he has been a volunteer in charge of disaster control for the Malteser Hilfsdienst units in Koblenz.
Frank Klein – Maltester Hilfsdienst e.V.
Frank Klein is deeply committed to volunteering. Volunteering has always been an integral part of his family. When an accident made it impossible for him to continue his business in the bakers’ guild, he completed a retraining course. He finally found his new calling with the Malteser organization in Koblenz, where he now works in psychosocial emergency care (PSNV).