Aktion Pro Humanität

Aktion Pro Humanität (APH) is a German humanitarian aid organisation based in Kevelaer, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was founded in 1998 as an independent non-profit association by the physician Dr. Elke Kleuren-Schryvers and her husband Herbert Schryvers, after the couple had worked from 1993 to 1998 under the umbrella of the aid organisation Komitee Cap Anamur. A foundation, Stiftung Aktion Pro Humanität, was established in 2001 to provide long-term financial security for the projects; since 2016 the registered association has been continued as the foundation, which now acts as the operational body of all APH aid. The organisation focuses on medical and social projects in some of the poorest regions of the world, especially in the West African countries of Benin and Niger. Its work includes the construction of wells, basic medical care, care for orphans, a nursery for malnourished and undernourished children, and AIDS-related work. APH also responds to humanitarian crises caused by natural disasters or wars, cooperating with partner organisations on the ground. In 2002 it was awarded the donation seal of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (Deutsches Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen). APH states that it does not give money to governments. The foundation is governed by a board chaired by Dr. med. Elke Kleuren-Schryvers, with a board of trustees (Kuratorium) that has included businesspeople, donors, medical specialists such as Prof. Reiner Körfer, and public figures such as Dr. Barbara Hendricks and Weihbischof Rolf Lohmann. Its work is financed by donations, endowments, bequests and testamentary dispositions. Current projects include tree planting in the Tillabari region of Niger, support for wounded and traumatised victims of the war in Gaza through a prosthetics project in cooperation with Caritas Jerusalem, and the annual FrauenFilmNacht fundraising event organised with the Unternehmerinnen Forum Niederrhein.

Aktion Pro Humanität (APH) traces its origins to the humanitarian work of the physician Dr. Elke Kleuren-Schryvers and her husband Herbert Schryvers from Kevelaer, North Rhine-Westphalia. From 1993 to 1998 they worked with their team under the umbrella of the aid organisation Komitee Cap Anamur, initially as the Lower Rhine section of that committee. Christel and Dr. Rupert Neudeck are described by APH as the 'midwives and foster parents' of the organisation. In 1998 the couple founded an independent, non-profit aid organisation, Aktion pro Humanität e.V. The first major project was the construction of a small bush hospital in Benin, built in 1994–1995, followed by the inauguration of a medical station in Gohomey. In 2001 the Stiftung Aktion Pro Humanität (APH Foundation) was established to provide long-term financial security for the humanitarian projects, initially closely interlinked with the association. The foundation's board of trustees (Kuratorium) brought together businesspeople, donors, medical specialists such as Prof. Reiner Körfer, former head of the Heart Centre Bad Oeynhausen, and public figures such as Dr. Barbara Hendricks (SPD politician and former Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety) and Weihbischof Rolf Lohmann of Xanten. The former finance minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Helmut Linssen, has also been a member. In 2002 APH was awarded the donation seal of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (Deutsches Zentralinstitut für soziale Fragen), a recognition of its transparent and effective use of funds. Since 2016 the registered association has been continued as the 'Stiftung Aktion Pro Humanität'; for reasons of leaner and simpler administration, only the foundation now exists. It serves as the operational, executing body of all aid that APH provides in its countries of operation, and also works to secure the humanitarian projects in the long term through legacies and additional endowments. Over more than 30 years of engagement, APH volunteers have initiated numerous projects with the support of many donors, focusing on medical and social work in Benin and Niger, two of the poorest countries in the world. Projects have included orphan care, a nursery for the care of malnourished and undernourished children, AIDS work, and the construction of wells. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, APH transported disinfectants, corona protective clothing and oxygen concentrators to Benin and Niger through an 'alliance of help' (action medeor, Diocese of Münster, Stiftung der Familie Seibt, Stiftung Aktion pro Humanität). In Niger, five additional wells were completed, and a sponsorship donation campaign supported internally displaced families who had fled their villages due to terrorism; Archbishop Laurent was able to accommodate 563 refugee families with host families for the first time. APH also helps people in regions that have become crisis areas due to natural disasters or wars, cooperating with various partner organisations both in Germany and on the ground. It states that it does not give money to governments. Current activities include a tree-planting project in the Tillabari region of Niger, where 5,600 trees are to be planted on 13 hectares, providing bread and wages for about 100 young people; a prosthetics project for injured and traumatised victims of the war in Gaza in cooperation with Anton Asfar of Caritas Jerusalem; and the annual FrauenFilmNacht fundraising event organised with the Unternehmerinnen Forum Niederrhein. The foundation continues to be led by Dr. Elke Kleuren-Schryvers as chairwoman of the board, with a board of trustees chaired by Dr. Christian Kutschmann.

• 2026

  Tree planting project in Tillabari, Niger (5,600 trees on 13 hectares); new prosthetics project for Gaza war victims; 11th Interreligious Peace Pilgrimage in Kevelaer.

• 2020

  COVID-19 relief: transport of disinfectants, protective clothing and oxygen concentrators to Benin and Niger; completion of five additional wells in Niger; sponsorship campaign for internally displaced families.

• 2016

  The registered association is continued as the 'Stiftung Aktion Pro Humanität'; only the foundation remains.

• 2002

  Awarded the donation seal of the German Central Institute for Social Issues (DZI).

• 2001

  Establishment of the Stiftung Aktion Pro Humanität (APH Foundation).

• 1998

  Founded as an independent non-profit association, Aktion pro Humanität e.V.

• 1994

  Construction of a small bush hospital in Benin (completed 1995).

• 1993

  First projects initiated under the umbrella of Komitee Cap Anamur.

Non-profit humanitarian foundation providing direct, tangible aid to the poorest in West Africa and crisis regions.

1. 1Stiftung Pro Humanitaet – MENSCHEN . HELFEN .pro-humanitaet.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichte – Stiftung Pro Humanitaetpro-humanitaet.de
3. 3Wer wir sind – Stiftung Pro Humanitaetpro-humanitaet.de
4. 4Die Stiftung & Stiftungskuratorium – Stiftung Pro Humanitaetpro-humanitaet.de
5. 5Aktion Pro Humanität – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Aktion Pro Humanität – Wikidatawikidata.org