History

RobinAid‘s initiators working together with Dr Matthias Angrés used the experiences they have made in the last years by successfully completing several medical missions in Kabul. At the beginning we focused on children that could not be treated in their home country and were transferred to German hospitals for treatment. With the constitution of the RobinAid Foundation and joint projects with La chaîne de l’espoir in 2009 we continue to pursue our commitment to an adequate extent which corresponds to the complexity of the targets with regard to adequate structure, quality, transparency and responsibility. Also we developed our strategy further to today's emphases.

Facts and figures regarding the development of RobinAid:

Mid 2004: The Mülheim registered association “Children need us“ approached the Medical Director of the Hamburg Albertinen Hospital, Dr Matthias Angrés, to support cardiac children patients from Afghanistan.
Until the mid 2008 more than 40 Afghan children have been successfully treated by PD Dr Rieß, Head of the Albertinen Cardiac Center, for the project „Heart bridge“ together with the Albertinen Foundation.
April 2007: For the first time Dr Angrés went on an emergency mission to Kabul; overwhelmed by the degree of suffering he comes across, he decided to regularly fly to Afghanistan in order to be of support there as medical doctor. He joined the work of the association “Children need us“.
October 2007: The first airlift Hamburg – Kabul was operated as a charter flight after an intensive medical preparation phase of 3 months; 59 seriously ill and injured children were transferred to Hamburg (partly under intensive medical monitoring) and treated at hospitals nationwide for further medical treatment.
November 2007: The German Burda media gave an popular award (called Bambi) for Social Engagement to the president of the association “Children need us“, namely Mr. Dewender, and the representative of the team of the airlift Hamburg – Kabul Dr Angrés.
December 2007: The news magazine “Der Spiegel“ discovered that Mr Dewender has obtained his two PHD titles with illegal means. The magazine raised further accusations against the association.
January 2008: Dr Angrés and three other medical colleagues were elected to be members of the new management board after presenting a profound concept to professionalizing and changing the association „Children need us“.
February 2008: 60 children recovered from their illnesses have been taken back to their home country with the second airlift Hamburg – Kabul. On the return flight to Hamburg 69 seriously ill and injured children arrived and they were sent to the clinic network within Germany for further treatment.
Juli 2008: Dr Angrés and his management board colleagues resigned as members and left the organisation „Children need us“. They realised that the necessary requirements in form and content could not be implemented within the Mülheim association.
August – December 2008: Dr Angrés and his team founded the RobinAid Foundation and cooperated with the French medical aid organisation „La chaîne de l´espoir“ as international partner for a long-term partnership.
February 2009: RobinAid has been officially acknowledged and certified by the Foundation Supervisory Authority of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
March 2009: RobinAid and “La chaîne de l’espoir” signed a permanent agreement of cooperation as German – French sister organisations.