Blumenthal, Feb. 2026
Dear friends of the Yanomami,
with all the actual wars, disturbances in Gaza, the Ukraine, Southsudan, Iran and the permanent threats from Donald Trump it’s not easy to remain relaxed and look positive into the future. Global challanges like hunger, poverty, injustice, environmental distruction and change of climeate all influence our lives. Astrid Lindgren wrote in her diaries in 1939-1945 mankind has lost their mind.
20 years of Yanomami-Hilfe e.V.: a review in retrospect.
Interested students at the lecture in Bavaria
Our Yanomami-Hilfe club turned 20 at March 11th 2026. The non profit club was being founded in the village of Westensee in Schleswig-Holstein. Today it’s located in Blumenthal where I live in a community.
For 37 years I live at least 3 months annualy with the Yanomami in the Amazonas region and am engaged in excting schools and hospitals and maintaining them as well as supplying walky-talky’s, solar gadgets, microscopes and mosquito-nets to the villages. I’m always invited to their meetings at Rio Marauia who are also supported by us finacially.
In the meantime I’ve held countless lectures at schools and universyies in Germany, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, USA, Brazil, Venezuela and even out the Fidshy Islands. I am particularly found of my alibility to give my lectures in 5 different languages and thow point at the situatuion of the Yanomami. The interest of the students is gratifyingly high. Sometimes after lectures I’m getting enquiries to some particular questions.
Successful solidarity march in Altötting
The Yanomami are being mentioned in several German school books as inhabitiants of the rainforests like Terra from Klett publisher, Diercke from Westermann and Unsere Erde from Oldenbourg publisher. For further information these books refer to our homepage www.yanomami-hilfe.de. What more can we ask for! So high apppreciation is hardly imaginable. I’m some schools my lecutes are even duty.
Our long standing activitys are being documented in our annual reports. Additional there are links to Interviews, Videofilme and Podcasts on YouTube. One can also borrow a Yanomami environment exhibiton (German).
After a lecture many school classes organize some public events like flea markets, bazaars, collecting returnable bottles etc and spend the money to the Yanomami-Hilfe. The pupils of the Maria Wardschule in Altötting do an annual soli-run in aid of the Yanomami and other benefit programs. For many years this run was led by the teacher Uli Wandt. After his retirement Andreas Gruber from the same school took successfull over.
Our long-time supporters Andreas Gruber (left) and Uli Wandt (right)
My evening lecure I’m performing in foundations, Rotary Clubs and saving banks, in churches, monasterys and all sorts of public locations. I’m also being hosted by scout-groups, kindergardens, sailing clubs, soldiers clubs, museums, Amnesty International and many various sorts of clubs.
During my tour in spring 2025 I had a bad fall with my bike and broke my collarbone as well as 2 ribs. Despite the pain I resumed my lectures in Bramsche, Osnabrück and Borgholzhausen. After the OP I had several months of intensive physiotherapy in order to regain the mobility of my shoulder as much as possible.
Marciel can now work optimally in the infirmary.
Successful launch of the fourth clinik station
In march of last year our fourth clinik station was inaugurated in Pukima Beira by Sofia and Russ and taken into use immediately. The Brazilian ministry of health (SESAI ) sent a medicine and a nurse. Now Marciel, our diligent Yanomami microscopist in pleased to do blood checks for malaria in a clean and well equipped laboratory.
Climate conference COP 30 in Belem
The 30th UN climate conference took place from Nov. 10th – 22th 2025 in Belém, Amazonas. Participants were almost all representatives of the UN-member states to dabate about the worldwide climate protection and keeping the Paris Agreement. Indigene groups were not invited and as feared no binding commitments about withdrawed from fossile energy were reached. A sad result.
Because of a planned coup d’etat in Brazil the former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years of imprisonment. Which means he can’t run for election in this election year. Though after his conviction new rightwing leaders appeard, i.e. his son Flávio Bolsonaro who are organizing themsleves now and rum for presedency.
The former and current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva intends to run for presidency despite his age of 81 years. So far Lula has kept his election promises and more than any other president stood for the rights and protection for the Indigenes of the remaining Brazilian rainforests.
Support and actions
Clemens Bittlinger at his release from his duties in the Protestant church in Roßdorf
Clemens Bittlinger, a well known songwirter, author and priest celebrated last year for the second time a big birthday party in favour of the Yanomami. Instead of gifts he asked his visitors for donations for the Yanomami. But thats’s not all. On November 1th he was being released of his priest obligations. The collection of the church service as well as any proceeds from the following concdert “festival of faith” went completely to the Yanomamis. Thus the festival of faith became the festival of one’s fellow human beings! His musicians David Plüss, Mattl Dörsam, David Kandert and the Duo Camillo played without any fee. Merci!
Sofia is impressed by Mauricio’s paintings
Support for Mauricio Iximatherie
Mauricio is an exceptional Yanomami. For more than 20 years he worked in our first hospital station Ixima as a responisble nures. In the meantime his younger borther Melito took over his job.
Mauricio started to paint pictues from the life of the Yanomamis. Of their mythology and culture, colourfull, poetic and full depth. In order to do so we would like to help him with paint, paper c canvas and brushes. Perhaps one day he’ll even have an exhibiton.
Climate cantata
The dedicated choir director Jean Kleeb in Marburg
„Protecting Earth – What are we waiting for“
Under the leadership of the German-Brazilian componist Jean Kleeb varoius choirs joinned on September 7th in the Lutherian church in Marburg. The newly composed, transculturell cantata joined voices and texts from various cultures and made clear: the maintaining of creation is everyones concern. Thus the theme of creating and maintaining was given a powerful voice, musicals, social and beyond culutral borders. Inbetween the songs of the chirs texts were being read from Leonardo da Vinci, Hildegard von Bingen, Davi Kopenawa (Yanomami shaman), Angaangaq (shaman from Greenland) and Marcia Wayna (Indigene from Amazonia).
“The world is moving in the wrong direction.“ in 56 days reverse march of Sofia Kovarich, Lavrenty Repin and Russ Cubrich.
From June 26th – August 25th these 3 marched backwards 802 km from Oslo via Göteborg to Copenhagen – Christiania.
Convinced ot the power of collective action in order to perfom concrete changes they wanted to inspire people to changes within their own communities During their long march they lived at the international poverty limit of daily 3 $, slept outside in nature and with locals sustainability, environmental justice and growth. Simultaneously they were collection donations for Yanomamis, famiies in Gaza and a village in Congo. There are videos and reports of these trips on @stepinreverse.
Swedish newspaper article about the retreat of the three
There Sale of bunches of herbs in “One world district Mering“
Like every year women and childeren of Mehring made more the 100 brunches of lacal herbs. These brunces are being glessed on August 15th, Mars Ascension and taken home by the faithful. They are being regarede as signs for protection and healey and their deep beliefe in nature and faith. The proceeds of these sales are going to the Yanomami.
Yanomami lecture in the cloister of Zesano in Verona with Sofia
Sofia during her presentation in Zesano
On October 16th Sofia and I held a lecture in the old cloister of Verona. After 2 days of reherarsal Sofia mastered her first Yanomami lecture professional and convincing. She was also able to answer many addional questions. A few says afterwards she even gave a radio interview on the national Newscast. Bravo!
What will I do in the future?
Being a 67 year old teacher I’ve reached pension age a little while ago. But work for human rightys never ends. Due to numerous Malaria illnesses – growing fiercer all the fime – even in Germany, my doctor advices me not to stay in Yanomami region for months on end. My body is getting more and more resistend against the medicines which means treatments are becoming more and more unsuccessful.
Sofia, Christina and Russ, a functioning trio
I’m glad to have found freinds with Sofia and Russ who are interested and motivated to carry on my work.
It’s nice to be able to pass on my knowledge to them. We have to give the young generation the chance and trust then – and I have to learn to let go. Of course I’d like to visit the Yanomami and the projects although in shorter stages. I’ll carry on my work in Germany, raise money with lectures and sensitze, motivate and inform in order to activate then somehow for the Yanomami. This is and remains my task, which also brings me fulfilment.
The next project
Sofia and Russ are already on the way to the Yanomami. They will install wireless communication in several villages, repair the roof of a hospital and renovate as need be another one. In the middle of March they’ll participate in a gathering in Pukima of the Yanomami organisation Kurikama. Goal of the meeting is to strengthen their culture and selfdetermination, to sharpen their awarness of actual problems and national politics. The representatitves of the 15 villages discuss and try to find solutions for the challenges of their community.
Invitation to the Yanomami Assembly
20 years of Yanomami-Hilfe – and we carry on!
Our Yanomami-Hilfe club will. of course, after 20 years contnue their work. Our efficency in all those years we owe to you: the members, the spenders and supporters. Each hospital build by us saves lifes and enables a medical support for the Yanomami who otherwiese would have no help!
Thank you for 20 years of trust, engagement and humanity.
Our devoted members of the Yanomami friends
Dr. Elisabeth Albert, Tom Avsic, Matthes Baier, Volkhard Bauer, Uwe und Nicole Berger, Kathrin Beutin, Stephanie Breitbach, Marlen Breitinger, Beate Brocke, Brigitte Christel-Klefenz, Adolf Dibbern, Ellen Dommel, Mareke Dreyer, Gesche Felgentreff, Anne-Doris Forbriger, Natascha Gaedecke, Anja Gerdes, Isa Gern, Diane Granitz, Constanze Grohmann, Johanna Groß, Norbert Grütjen, Anna Hegele, Angelika Heinsen, Werner Heß, Marliese Hirsch, Veronica Huber, Jonas Jasse, Isabel Jepsen, Rita Jungfer, Hans-Hinrich Kahrs, Sinje Kätsch, Hans Georg Kling, Antje Köhler, Andrea Konopka, Dagmar Kuhnhenn, Beate und Olaf Langenhorst, Elfi Lindner, Hermine Mittermeier, Ute Müller, Birthe Müller-Lucks, Yvonne Münster, Marc Nitschmann, Barbara Nyhuis, Rolf Osterloh, Susanne Pfisterer, Christiane Pieper, Eva-Diana Piest, Hildegard Plüdemann, Rolf Pranz, Ruth Puchta, Karin Ramm, Norbert Reiß, Sujaani Hans Röger, Detlef Rupprecht, Nikolaus Saller, Uschi Siegel-Stallforth, Cordula Stahl, Ulrike Steffen, Marion Strauss-Barthel, Gabriele Sutor-Krüger, Lothar Viehöfer, Katrin von Scheven, Ellen Walden, Fin und Simone Walden, Ulrich Wandt, Harald Weber, Stefan Welzel, Manuel Wesche, Angelika Wilke, Angela Zichner
Last years support of firms, organisationen and schools
Binder GmbH, Burgstetten
Camping Internazionale La Quercia SRL
Eine Welt Kreis aus Mehring, Bayern
Friends of Hihiri Pipiri Hillsboro, USA
Lebensraum Regenwald e.V. von Roland Zeh, Nürnberg
Maria-Ward-Schule Soli-Lauf, Altötting,
Thorsten Görgens GmbH, Köln
Wortwechsel Verlag von Ulrike Steffen, Neumünster
Further donors and supporters
Dr. Elisabeth Albert, Helmut Barthel, Wolfgang Baumüller und Regina Häusler, Margot Bausewein, Kathrin Beutin, Julia Bornefeld, Steffi und Simon Bossmann, Sabine und Fritz Bremer, Clemens Bittlinger, Petra und Jörg Bonin, Rudolf Brunner, Andrea Fischer-Bickert und Stefan Bickert, Prof. Dr. Stefan Diethmar, Monika Maria Gernert, Andreas Gruber, Brigitte und Friedhelm Gutknecht, Ferdinand Guttenberg, Gerhard Haverkamp, Angelika Heinsen, Monika Hinterhuber, Isolde und Wolfgang Höfer, Veronica Huber, Hans Hinrich Kahrs, Robert Keil, Monika Kienass, Christian Kotte, Ettore Kovarich, Henning Köhlert, Christhard Kotte, Francesco Kovarich, Dagmar und Bodo Kuhnhenn, Elfi und Volker Lindner, Helena de Lino Correia, Alexander Mater, Gerald Mauer, Julia Melzner, Hermine Mittermeier, Andrea Moser, David Muchau, Michi und Marianne Müller, Beatrice Padovani, Anna Pavesi, Camilla Pavesi, Markus Pfeifer, Ricarda Quick, Ute Rafflenbeul-Dormeyer, Jens Riepen, Anne-Katrin Roever-Plagmann, Giesela Schmieder, Jasmin Seddigh-Raig und Dr. Wolfgang Raig, Dr. Florian Steiner, Herbert und Marion Strauss Barthel, Alessandro Rocco und Fatma, Dietmar Volkers und Dagmar Olsen, Claudia und Ulrich Wandt, Desireé Woinowski-Guggenmoos, Familie Weber, Gela Weyer, Wolfgang Zierke, Beate Ziethen.
Our work with the Yanomami began in 1989 with a typewriter and telephone. Our motto: “When, if not now?”
With your support we could help directly where it was needed the most and could give hope, health and perspective to the Yanomami.
Perhaps a democracy will finally develop in Venezuela after Maduro’s long dictatorship. Then we could also support the Yanomami people along the Orinoco River, who urgently need medical assistance. For the past five years, the Venezuelan military has prevented any aid from reaching them.
Dear clubmembers, donors and supporters,
for many years you’ve escorted and supported my work for the Yanomamis. Many, many thanks for that. Personally it means more to me than just the money.
It’s a sign of solidarity, relayability and alliance. The challenges for the Yanomami are still very much present. So it’s more important to have human beings like you at my side!
Yanomami-Hilfe e.V., Hökerberg 1, 24241 Blumenthal, Telefon 0 43 47 – 70 81 34
E-Mail: office[at]yanomami-hilfe.de, Internet: www.yanomami-hilfe.de
Sparkasse Mittelholstein, IBAN DE 08 2145 0000 0003 3882 28 6