German Doctors for Developing Countries

In 1980 the committee Ärzte für die Dritte Welt (Doctors for Developing Countries) was established by Jesuit Father Bernhard Ehlen. The committee was founded in Frankfurt, Germany and still has its location there.

More than 3,500 medical missions were carried through, since the humanitarian organisation has been started its service for the poorest of the poor in distress-areas of the so called Third World. Till the end of 2004 a total of 1910 doctors from Germany or neighbouring European countries took part in the medical services, nearly every third of them more than once (316 three times or more). Year after year around 260 doctors spend their annual holidays to help without payment.

Eight projects on the Philippines, in India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Nicaragua are continuously operated by two to six doctors. On the island of Mindanao/Philippines and in Nicaragua an additional dentist completes the team (during the last years more than 200 dentists were assigned).

Financing
The charity organisation is financed from donations, federal aid for help in development countries and from fines (from petty crimes, traffic violations, etc.). All donations are used exclusively for the projects. A group of sponsors takes over the administrative costs.

Only around 6% of total expenditures went to administration. As in the past years, a special group of sponsors assumed these costs. The administration consists of 8 full-time employees and 15 volunteers. Father Dr. Bernhard Ehlen, managing director, has worked in volunteer status for more than 21 years.