Dear Reader,

thank you for taking the time to read this. In my “real” life I am a criminal judge at the Hannover District Court, an interesting job that however often brings me eye to eye with the sad reality of the lives of some of our fellow citizens:

Paul, homeless, doesn’t own a pair of shoes without holes; Emine rummages for food through the garbage containers of the neighborhood and suffers from skin rash as a consequence; and Micha, only twelve years old, hangs out on top of the heating vents at Karstadt since at home his father knocks him black and blue.

There are many good organizations that could help—however, they cannot reach people like Paul, Emine and Micha. Quite a few people who live on the street don’t know where help might be available, or are reluctant to accept such help: without proper shoes, Paul doesn’t want to go “to the authorities”, Emine speaks hardly any German, and Micha has long ceased trusting anyone.

I don’t want to give up on these people who have no one left to help them, and together with friends have founded a society to seek out those who most need our help: we look for them on the street and provide them with much needed clothing, warm blankets in winter, healthy food, and above all, conversation and information about ways to receive help through us and others. There is so much we can do.

Since I also teach at the Hochschule Hannover, I want to undertake this work in conjunction with my students. This will enable me not only to offer concrete help to Paul, Emine and many like them, but also show my students what life can be like for too many of us. I so often hear complaints that the High School graduation gift was a Golf instead of the coveted BMW. A few days on the street without money or a home (prerequisite for receiving a course grade) will hopefully help to shape a more humble worldview. Our students today are tomorrow’s leaders, and if we achieve even a modest degree of heightened awareness and respect for others we will have succeeded.  

While we are a registered and recognized non-profit organization, we are still very young, very small and strive to apply one hundred percent of our funds and efforts where they are most needed. In this work we compete with large institutions with quite a different approach. I therefore seek help and support from people like you who make this work possible. This organization is one hundred percent volunteer-driven and donor-supported. If you, like us, wish to help those ignored and cast off by our society, help them without bureaucratic hurdles, please support our efforts with a small, tax-deductible contribution. Every Euro helps us fulfill our goal. Please feel free to visit me personally at the Hannover District Court, or accompany us to get a first-hand look at what we do.

I wish you a wonderful week, and every day a moment to smile. Life is beautiful.

Please support the work of our organization Ganz Unten e.V. through your contribution. Every penny counts to help us reach the poorest of the poor in a quick and efficient manner. 

Our donations account:

Ganz unten e.V.

Account number: 0000925934

Bank Code Number: 25090500

Sparda Bank Hannover

BIC: GENODEF1S09

IBAN: DE35250905000000925934