About ASB

"Our mission is to help" – this is the guiding theme of the Workers' Samaritan Federation Germany that was founded by six carpenters in Berlin in 1888. Together with a group of dedicated physicians they organized first-aid courses for the workers in shops and factories to enable them to help themselves and others in emergency situations. Meanwhile the ASB has turned into an aid and welfare organization comprising 16 subnational and 259 regional branches active throughout Germany. The ASB has no political or religious affiliation and receives financial support from more than 1.1 million members. The ASB's tasks extend from rescue services to a host of social services and foreign aid.

Rescue services

First aid and first-aid training, paramedical and rescue services as well as disaster control belong to the classical fields of activities of the ASB. Rescue services are provided by experienced ASB paramedics and emergency physicians who carry out life-saving medical treatment on the emergency site and prepare the patients for transport. A large number of volunteers is actively involved in first-aid training, paramedical services and water rescue or is a member of one of the search-and-rescue dog units. As part of the ASB rescue service, people affected by a severe disaster receive psychological support from the ASB's crisis intervention teams. Through the ASB's world-wide recovery service people who have fallen ill or suffered an accident in any foreign country around the globe are taken for further treatment to a suitable hospital near home.

Old people's welfare

In order to enable people to go on living a largely independent life in their familiar environment in spite of disease or old age, the ASB offers tailor-made assistance and helps senior citizens with household chores or provides a pick-up service, meals on wheels, social alarm, home care and other similar services. Measuring up to the specific needs of older people who choose or are forced to give up an independent living situation temporarily or permanently, the ASB offers various types of housing and nursing care, ranging from elderly day care centers and assisted living facilities to nursing homes for senior citizens.  

Assistance for children and youth

The full range of possible forms of assistance in accordance with the Child and Youth Services Act is covered by more than 350 ASB facilities. These range from day-care facilities and nurseries, out-patient counseling and therapy for children and youth to children's homes, supervised housing and leisure-time activities as well as special facilities geared to potentially violent youth or children unwilling to attend school.

Assistance for people with disabilities

For people who, due to diseases or disabilities, become dependent on assistance, the Workers' Samaritan Federation offers care-taking facilities and structures geared to specific assistance needs. This includes workshops for the handicapped, special homes, training opportunities for most severely disabled people and supervised housing schemes for people with psychological disorders.

Special social welfare work

People who, for various reasons, find it difficult to cope with life on their own can obtain a broad range of support services from the ASB. These services include facilities and counseling centers for asylum-seekers and resettling immigrants of German heritage, people with psychological disorders, victims of violence, addicts, homeless people and people in serious financial distress.

Foreign aid

More self-chosen assignments come to bear in the aftermath of wars and natural disasters, when the ASB comes in to help the population affected. In areas of acute crisis the ASB renders immediate help by supplying food aid and medical assistance. Another main focus of ASB foreign aid centers around remedying the consequences of war by means of reconstruction activities, and epidemic control after major natural disasters. The European Union, the Federal Government, the German länder governments, corporations and private donors support these activities.

Workers' Samaritan Youth

The needs and interests of children and youth are at the center of the activities of the Workers' Samaritan Youth (abbreviated ASJ in German). As an independent youth organization within the Workers' Samaritan Federation, the ASJ is involved in various fields of youth activities and attaches great importance to modern leisure-time activities.

ASB ruft zu Spenden für Aktion Deutschland Hilft (ADH) auf

Von den größten

Überschwem- mungen aller Zeiten sind in Pakistan über 20 Millionen Menschen betroffen.  Um diesen Menschen zu helfen, ruft der ASB zu Spenden für Aktion Deutschland Hilft auf.

Spendenkonto ADH: 10 20 30

Bank für Sozialwirtschaft,
BLZ 370 205 00

Stichwort: Flut Pakistan

The ASB's day-to-day work is largely determined by the increasing number of individuals in need of help. The ASB is planning to expand and upgrade its services for these people. However, even helpers need help and financial support. You can be assured that donations are used with care and prudence, and your contributions will be well spent to meet critical needs.

ASB donations account:

Account number 1888

at Sozialbank Köln

Sort code 3702 0500

For donations from abroad:

IBAN: DE84 3702 0500 0007 0607 05

BIC: BFSWDE33XXX