Axel-Springer-Str. 40
10969 Berlin
Germany
- Democracy and community development
- Gender
- Human rights
- International/Cultural relations
- Youth and education
The Foundation Schüler Helfen Leben (SHL) has around 150 members, most of which are younger than 27 years. The board consists of 12 members with an average age of 21.7 years, responsible for the strategic focus of the organization. The implementation is realized by 17 employed staff and 8 volunteers in three offices in Germany (Berlin, Lübeck, Neumünster) and 9 employees in Sarajevo (BiH).
The annual budget amounts to 2-2,5 million euros in the last three years.
The source of funding derives from private donations through the Solidarity Action Day (Sozialer Tag), the Federal Foreign Office Germany and other German and International foundations.
In Neumünster the annual German Solidarity Action Day is organized, in Lübeck so focus is on SAME, a European network of organizations which are carrying out an annual Solidarity Action Day in their countries. In Berlin we are offering seminars, and financial funding and coordination of projects with partners in Southeast Europe, Jordan, Ukraine and its neighboring countries. In Sarajevo we are offering seminars, e.g. leadership programs for young people.
With education at the core of our programmes, SHL’s mission is to empower children and youth to become active and aware citizens in a society of equal standards for all. In 30 years, SHL developed as a youth organization dedicated to supporting youth through numerous activities - education, funding, mobility, and capacity development.
Our work is tailored to the needs of children and young people, and the broad array of activities contributes to equal access to education in several ways. Examples include access to and preparation for primary education for children from Roma communities, non-formal education and cultural programmes in a number of youth centres in South Eastern Europe and Jordan, vocational training programmes, and projects that aim at making schools a more democratic and less divisive learning environment.
The scope of the work of the Foundation SHL includes Germany, South Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia), the Middle East (Jordan and Syria) and Ukraine and its neighbouring countries (Poland and Moldova).
Since 1992, the organisation has mainly been active in the Western Balkans, having gained 25 years of experience with youth, educational and anti-discrimination projects across the region. After an initial focus on humanitarian aid, the organization has been implementing youth and education programmes in the region since the mid-90s with offices in Bosnia and Hercegovina (BiH) and Kosovo (with the Kosovo office developing into an independent organization). SHL has partnered with dozens of local grassroots institutions and holds partnerships as long-term as 12 years with individual organizations. Besides our general expertise in the region, we are the only youth-led foundation in Germany and one of very few social organizations founded and led by young people. Since 2013, SHL extended its project region and also supports projects for children and youth in Jordan and Syria who had to flee from the conflict in Syria. In 2022, SHL started emergency aid projects in the Ukraine and its neighbouring countries for youth who were affected by the Russian invasion.
As a young member based foundation, we are quite unique in the German foundation network. At the same time, we have a lot of expertise in working with young people on different levels and giving them a voice; in Germany, in Southeast Europe, in Jordan and in Ukraine. As a well-known and well accepted actor in the area of Youth Engagement in Germany and especially in Southeast Europe we can offer a wide range of networks in these regions. Furthermore, through our SAME (Solidarity Action Day in Europe)-Programme in Lübeck we are connected across Europe within a network of community philanthropy of young people. As a funding and at the same time funded organization we have knowledge for both sides of funding processes.
As we are the biggest youth-led organization in Germany we are constantly in a process of learning and improvement. Broadening your view or refocus your perspective through other organizations is one of the ways to get there. It could be through seminars, bilateral exchanges, joint projects etc.