From a daily handful of rice for orphans to sustained development programs

1959

A German magazine reports on the shocking living conditions of 400 orphans at St. Catherine´s Home in Andheri, a suburb of Bombay. Every day, Sr. Anna Huberta Roggendorf, the German headmistress, is struggling to have enough food for her children.

1960

Rosi Gollmann, a teacher of religion, starts, together with her students and friends, the first relief campaign: a Christmas present for each orphan. At the same time, money and donations in kind are being collected.

1967

On 5 th May, "Andheri-Hilfe e.V." is officially founded by 16 persons "to support the children of St. Catherine´s Home at Andheri". In this year, 449 persons collect as much as 171.049 German marks.

1971

Friends of Andheri-Hilfe collect funds for the construction of headquarters in Bonn.

1973

Testamentary assets and increasing donations help to finance the support for another 2000 orphans in 24 homes in Karnataka.

1974

The campaign "Treatment of Blind People" in Bangladesh starts as a new task of Andheri-Hilfe. In one of the poorest countries in the world, more than 1 Million people suffer from cataract. Especially in rural areas, doctors and hospitals are practically nonexistent. A simple, but effective operation costs 26 German marks only.

1978

The first projects for villages and urban slum areas are being started in order to support poor families and give their children a chance to lead a happy life within their families.

1979

Projects for patients suffering from leprosy are being started.

1982

Television and print media convincingly report on the relief action for blind people in Bangladesh. As a result, donations double within one year.

1983

In Chittagong, a 100-bed eye-clinic and a training centre for local ophthalmologists, financed by Andheri-Hilfe, are being inaugurated by the head of state of Bangladesh.

1985

First contacts are established with organisations in Nepal and Bhutan - again with the target to fight blindness.

1986

The number of projects supporting women is significantly increasing because women prove exceptionally capable to bring about development and progress.

1987

Projects for handicapped children are being started. The target is to integrate the handicapped into the social environment of their families and villages.

1990

In Bangladesh, the 500.000 th eye-operation is being conducted. Preventive measures to save people, in particular children, from losing their sight are becoming more and more important.

1992

25 years existence of Andheri-Hilfe: The number of donors has continuously increased and donations rose to 100 million German marks, The number of projects increased as well. Two offices with local staff are being set up in India to guarantee close and continuous attendance to the projects.

1994

Andheri-Hilfe receives the quality certificate of DZI (German Central Institute on Social Questions) for its reliability in the field of development cooperation.

1995

Environmental aspects of cooperation become more and more significant. For the first time, programmes of water management are being started.

1997

Thanks to Dr. Franz Alt's TV film on eye-operations in Bangladesh, the amount of donations considerably increases. This enables Andheri-Hilfe to finance thousands of additional eye-operations.

1999

Another TV film by Dr. Franz Alt reports on the miserable situation of child labourers and street children - but also on their "liberation" through projects of Andheri-Hilfe.

At the end of the year, the "Andheri Trust" is established in India. The Trust takes over the functions of the three Indian regional offices of Andheri-Hilfe.

2001

Rosi Gollmann, the founder of Andheri-Hilfe and for 34 years its chairperson on a honorary basis, hands over her office to Elvira Greiner, a young, long-standing and experienced employee of Andheri-Hilfe. However, Ms. Gollmann continues to act as honorary chairperson and still remains closely connected with her life-work.

A new documentary film by Dr. Franz Alt reports on the cruel fate of girls (e. g. female infanticide) and on the underprivileged position of women in India.

2002

The ceremony of the 35 th anniversary of Andheri-Hilfe is celebrated under the motto "Progress Through More Humanity".

The Rosi-Gollmann-Andheri Trust is established.

In December, Rosi Gollmann receives the "Golden Heart" award for her life-work.

2003

In January, 14-year-old Hasna is the one-millionth person in Bangladesh to be cured from blindness through an eye-operation and Dr. Franz Alt is documenting this important event.

2004

On 26th December, a Tsunami brings terrible grief to the people of the South-Indian coastal areas. Numerous projects of Andheri-Hilfe are directly affected by the killer-waves. German people donate beyond any expectation. Therefore, Andheri-Hilfe is enabled to effectively help through its experienced local staff.

2005

In October, Rosi Gollmann, the founder and honorary chairwoman of Andheri-Hilfe , is honoured with the Grand Distinguished Service Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany by Dr. Horst Köhler, the President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

2007

Celebration of the 40 th Anniversary of Andheri-Hilfe starts with a documentary film produced by Dr. Franz Alt: "Economy Grows, Poverty Lasts". The film strongly proves the fact that 300 Million people in India still have to live on less than one Dollar per day.

They still need, more urgently than ever, all possible assistance for a better life.

2008

Where do we see ourselves in 2020? After 40 years of successful work many challenges still lie ahead. Andheri-Hilfe sets their goals for 2020.

2009

Together with their partners in India and Bangladesh , as well as the Andheri-Trust, seven concrete goals are developed for 2020: focal points range from resource preservation, homeless children, to strengthening participation in politics.

We are off to a good start: despite the economic crises, we are able to increase donations.

2010

50 years of help for humans: „50 years ago, I prepared the first parcels for 400 Indian orphans together with my pupils”, says Rosi Gollmann.

From May to December the office building of Andheri in Bonn is renovated entirely and is now 100% efficient on renewable energy. At the same time the building was also expanded; Andheri Hilfe shall become viable for the future. Friends and donors have supported the construction with special donations. Furthermore it was financed by interest yields and donations from testaments, which were free for this cause. We guarantee that no cent of the donations given for the needy in India and Bangladesh were used for the renovation works.

2011

In April 2011 our country office in Bangladesh opens up (simple rented rooms and three local employees). Andheri-Hilfe’s engagement in Bangladesh began in 1974 with the “Action Blind Relief”. The program which shall save eyesight is now promoted throughout the country. Additionally we support 24 other projects in Bangladesh, ranging from mobile trade schools to integrated village development schemes. The country office will now support our work with the review of project proposals and the monitoring and evaluation of projects.  It will thus help to make our work even more independent and transparent.

In May the “new” Andheri-house in Bonn is inaugurated.

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