The former liberal Federal Minister of the Interior was a member of the Grünhelme (Green Helmets) board of trustees and a long-time supporter of our work. He was 92 years old.
Gerhart Baum in 2019 at an event by “Netzpolitik.org”. Photo: CC-BY-SA 4.0 Jason Krüger
By Christel Neudeck
Bonn, February 16, 2025 – Gerhart Baum has died, because we are all born with death inside us. He was a member of the Green Helmets’ board of trustees for many years and greatly appreciated our work. We mourn him.
Gerhart Baum was among those people who would not be silenced. He stood up for his convictions, just as Heinrich Böll did, for example. In the madness and confusion of our tangled times, we need people who, alongside their intelligence and emotionality, have the courage to publicly stand by their convictions, to swim against the current.
Gerhart Baum was a true democrat! We can learn from him. Not only the Green Helmets will greatly miss his voice.
Current project reports:
The Secondary School in Malawi Has Been Completed
As part of the final volunteer team, Vincenz was involved in completing the new Secondary School in Kalanga. He shares what he encountered in everyday life between responsibility, community, and real learning – and why the school is so important for the region.
Regaining Her Smile, Rebuilding Her Confidence
In our mobile dental clinic in Aleppo, we see how a simple treatment can change a child’s life. Hadeel, 10 years old, had been living with pain, shame, and exclusion — until she found help from our team.
Experiences That Stay: Five Volunteers Share Their Stories
Every year, volunteers dedicate themselves to Grünhelme’s projects around the world. In 2025, 26 individuals contributed their time and skills. Here, five of them share their personal experiences.
As a Volunteer for Five Months in Malawi
An experience report about a hands-on volunteer assignment in the village of Kalanga, the day-to-day work on a construction site in a rural region of Malawi, and encounters that resonate far beyond the time spent on site – carried by shared responsibility.