NDR starts a big charity campaign: Together against addiction in northern Germany!

NDR starts a big charity campaign: Together against addiction in northern Germany!

On December 1st, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) launched this year's charity campaign “Hand in Hand for Northern Germany - Life without Addiction”. This campaign, which runs until January 30, 2026, is being carried out in partnership with the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband and five northern German regional associations. This dedicated initiative aims to raise awareness of addictions and provide support for those affected and their families. NDR director Hendrik Lünenborg describes the social relevance of the topic of addiction as enormous, while Dr. Joachim Rock, general manager of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, emphasizes the need for support and the stigmatization of those affected.

As a survey by the #NDRfragt community shows, addictions are a major social problem for most people. 92% of respondents agree that these issues deserve more attention. More than half believe that addictions are often taboo, and around 24% of 20,000 participants do not know of any concrete offers of help. This shows the urgency of talking about such topics and promoting options for help, especially in northern Germany, where over 8 million people are affected by addiction.

Donate to the good cause

Fundraising is also a central part of the campaign this year. All donations from the campaign go 100% to the regional associations of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband. The money collected goes directly into projects that help those affected in the region. A special highlight of this fundraising campaign is the big donation day on December 12th.

Participants are invited to contribute a few euros. A donation account has been set up at the Sozialbank and the IBAN is DE90 201 205 200 500 600 700. Information about donation options is also available online at www.NDR.de/handinhand.

Health and addiction prevention

The German Center for Addiction Issues (DHS) is also active in addiction prevention and offers directions to the professional help system. Together with the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), the DHS publishes information materials and raises public awareness of the health consequences of addictive behavior and substance use. Their main goal is to promote a life without dependencies and abuse of addictive substances.

In the past, the charity campaign has already achieved remarkable results: since 2011, more than 51 million euros have been collected for charitable purposes. The funds collected not only support the public in educating the public, but also support projects such as the multifunctional sports field for the Haus Braunschweig dormitory. The aim is to create positive experiences away from addictive substances.

Overall, the charity campaign “Hand in Hand for Northern Germany – Life without Addiction” is an excellent opportunity to show solidarity and significantly increase awareness of a topic that is far too often neglected. Together we can make a difference, because a lot is up to us here!