Relief and Welfare
ASB is a non-political and non-denominational charity and relief organisation. We help all people – regardless of their political, ethnic, national and religious affiliation. We provide rapid and direct help to all those in need of our support.
Since its foundation in 1888, ASB - its German name means "Workers' Samaritan Federation" - has provided services that focus on people's needs, including care for the elderly, rescue services and First Aid, assistance for children and young people, support for people with disabilities and those suffering from mental problems, as well as Foreign Aid and adult and further education.
ASB Foreign Aid focuses on emergency relief and disaster risk reduction as well as reintegration and cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe.
Anyone wanting to be involved in voluntary services will find suitable opportunities at ASB, for example as part of a civil protection team or as a paramedic, as a visitor to the elderly or a reading mentor, as a visiting dog handler, as a school nurse or a voluntary members of the First Assistance Samaritan Teams (FAST), ASB's rapid response unit for international relief.
The ASJ, the ASB's independent youth association, promotes the social engagement of children and young people.
Voluntary Social Service Year
A Voluntary Social Service Year is a year full of personal education, social commitment and professional orientation. As volunteers, you support our full-time staff in their work and gain extensive practical experience in a wide variety of social work areas.
More than 1.5 million members support our work
More than 1.5 million people in Germany share ASB's humanitarian and democratic principles and support our non-profit association with their membership and their personal commitment. As part of 16 regional associations, more than 200 local branches and around 120 associated not-for-profit companies. We are grateful for their support — without them many of our projects would not be possible.
What was to become ASB began in 1888 with six carpenters in Berlin. At a time when there were neither health and safety regulations nor emergency rescue services and workers often sustained terrible injuries, our founding fathers successfully established the first "Training Course for First Aid after an Accident", in spite of considerable opposition. In 1909, the first Arbeiter-Samariter-Gruppen (Workers Samaritan Groups) from across Germany formed the ASB.
Relief, charity, advocacy
As a relief organisation and charity, ASB also considers itself an advocate for socio-political issues. ASB takes a position on current debates and is in contact with members of the Bundestag (lower house of German parliament) and the European Parliament as well as ministries and other institutions.
