English
Danish People’s Aid was established on July 31st 1907 as Arbejdernes Samariter Forening (The Labour’s Samaritan Association).
The establishment of the association was caused by an industrial accident invol-ving many injured workers at a building site in Copenhagen; incapable of help-ing their wounded colleagues the other workers could do nothing but watch the scene. After this tragic incident, Frederik M. Nielsen, a house painter, took the initiative in establishing an association, whose aim was to offer first-aid courses in order to be able to help other people who had been involved in an accident. The first board of the association consisted of two machinists, one bricklayer, two unskilled labourers and one dental technician, elected at the very first general meeting on July 31st 1907.
In 1962, the name of the organisation changed specifically into ASF-Dansk Fol-kehjælp (Danish People’s Aid), as the organisation wanted the social work to be reflected in the identity of the organisation.
Today Danish People’s Aid is represented nationwide in 5 regions and by 50 branches in Denmark and Greenland. The activities of the organisation are mainly based on voluntary work carried out by more than 3 000 individual members and a large number of trade unions, collectively representing approx. 1.5 million members.
Danish People’s Aid operates worldwide as well, and to secure both nationwide and worldwide cooperation for humanitarian work, Danish People’s Aid is a part-ner in a number of different organisation networks like e.g. DACAAR (Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees), a development non-governmental organisation established in 1984, which works towards sustainable livelihoods in rural Afghanistan including the lasting return of refugees and internally displaced people and represent DAARTT (Danish Assistance to Afghan Reconstruction and Technical Training) – established in 2003 as a non-political, non-profit humani-tarian organisation, registered and approved by the Afghanistan government.
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The statutes of Danish People’s Aid
The international involvement of Danish People’s Aid
Where? In the afflicted areas of the world
At the international level, Danish People’s Aid is actively involved in two funda-mental areas:
1. Disaster and emergency aid
2. Humanitarian assistance
Disaster and emergency aid
The international commitment started back in 1940 with the crises in Finland. In 1954, emergency aid was provided for Austria in connection with a major flood, and in 1957 a large collection campaign for Hungary was made by Danish orga-nisations in the wake of the Russian invasion. Since then, the international pro-gramme has developed into providing worldwide assistance to civilian victims of disasters. The twentieth century was characterised by wars, fights for freedom, and civilian conflicts, which resulted in increasing inequity between individuals and groups plus unequal access to possibilities and resources.
Danish People’s Aid has contributed to better conditions for victims of catastro-phes and has accumulated comprehensive experience in purchasing, transpor-ting and distributing food and other fundamental necessities of life in countries like e.g.: The Czech Republic, Poland, Albania, the former Yugoslavia, Russia, Caucasus, Georgia, Armenia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Eritrea and Somaliland.
Humanitarian assistance
In the twenty-first century, we have witnessed a continuous marginalisation of people, countries and regions. Globalisation has changed the world order and has changed the roles inside international economy significantly. The need for permanent solidarity as direct aid and support for self-help is more massive than ever and is an integral part of the international struggle against poverty. The first decade of the twenty-first century has confirmed the need for better, efficient, professional humanitarian assistance and aid. Technical and human capacity-building of weak and vulnerable individuals and groups are some of the means with which to meet the objectives.
The national involvement of Danish People’s Aid
Where? In Denmark and Greenland
At the national level, Danish People’s Aid operates within the areas:
1. Social work
2. Prevention and first aid
Ever since the founding, prevention and first aid has been the heart of the nati-onal programme of Danish People’s Aid. At the end of the 1930s, a number of branches of the organisation developed a new line of action: the voluntary social work.
The social work of the organisation comprises activities like:
a) Voluntary services like visits to socially weak/handicapped/senior citizens, or escorts in connection with shopping and visits to the dentist, referrals to public authorities etc.
b) Holiday stays for physically and mentally disabled, single parents, vulnerable groups, children of addicts, pensioners, asylum seeking or immigrant families etc.
c) Emergency standby service in connection with major events like sports festivals, concerts etc.
d) Christmas events and Christmas aid for badly off or lonely people
e) Drop-in centres for homeless and mentally ill persons
f) Establishment of social networks for children of addicts
g) Establishment of coaching assistance for immigrant children
h) Cafés for immigrant girls
i) Women’s refuges for battered wives in UUmmannaq, Greenland
j) The ambassadors’ group, selected among celebrities The preventive work of the organisation comprises activities like:
a) Information for special target groups
b) Special campaigns for target groups
c) First aid courses/training offers for target groups (childcare centres, schools, companies and private individuals).
The basis for these activities is the group of volunteers, who do an admirable job helping their fellow citizens for free. As the present group of volunteers is ageing, Danish People’s Aid is in the process of recruiting a new basis of young members, who can gradually take over the many duties to meet the objectives of the organisation.
