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THW Foundation

The demands on civil protection organisations have increased noticeably in recent years. Natural disasters, wars and pandemics all pose threats to human lives around the world. In order to meet these demands in times of declining government budgets, the Technische Hilfswerk (THW) is also dependent on other partners who can support its work.

Three people in THW clothing are each pulling a travelling bag with wheels and a shiny blue surface with the lettering "THW-Stiftung" behind them. In the background is a blue THW emergency vehicle.
Maurizio Gambarini

The “Foundation Technische Hilfswerk (THW) - Technically Helping Worldwide” (Stiftung THW) was set up in 2004 to be this type of partner for the federal agency, pursuing the goal of promoting civil protection and disaster relief both in Germany and abroad.
For more than 88,000 volunteer operatives in the THW, a primary motivation is providing quick, unbureaucratic help at no cost to people in need. However, saving lives and dealing with the consequences of natural disasters can only be achieved by well-trained and well-equipped operatives. As a federal agency, it is the THW who bears responsibility to ensure these necessary conditions are met. However, budgetary pressures mean the money provided from taxes is no longer sufficient to maintain an effective civil protection that remains functional at all times. The supplementary financial support from the THW Foundation helps the THW to provide consistently reliable civil protection and disaster relief across Germany and around the world. This form of funding is made possible in many ways, in particular due to the willingness of the population to donate.

The THW Foundation has provided financial assistance for

  • specific measures for disaster relief abroad,
  • particular measures to increase the proportion of women among the operatives active in civil defence,
  • development of special equipment for civil protection,
  • international co-operation in civil protection,
  • international projects,
  • youth work in the THW,
  • special training for civil defence, and
  • cooperation with universities and colleges.

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