STELP: What is your STELP story?
Christian Gärtner:
My STELP story begins in 2015 with the first transport of donations in kind to the Macedonian border. My wife Jenny and I had seen Serkan’s Facebook appeal and packed bags for 50 children with a wide variety of needs. We got to know Serkan at the handover. A year later, we were involved in founding the association and a short time later we were also involved in the first volunteer assignment in Turkey.
My STELP story begins in 2015 with the first transport of donations in kind to the Macedonian border. My wife Jenny and I had seen Serkan’s Facebook appeal and packed bags for 50 children with a wide variety of needs. We got to know Serkan at the handover. A year later, we were involved in founding the association and a short time later we were also involved in the first volunteer assignment in Turkey.
Over the years, I have been active in a wide variety of roles. STELP and the people behind it are a very special and important part of my life today.
STELP: Which project is particularly close to your heart?
Chris: The new orphanage for babies in Tanzania. In addition to the boys and girls in the existing orphanage, the first two babies have now arrived and we can already see the impact it will have. There is also the soup kitchen project in Yemen. The team there, led by our project coordinator Mohammed, is doing an incredible job under the most difficult conditions so that more than 2,000 children can go to school and not go to bed hungry at night.
STELP: What makes STELP special for you?
Chris: Above all, I associate STELP with incredibly great people who are committed to the good cause with great personal dedication. I’m super proud of how we’ve developed over the last nine years and how we’ve repeatedly pushed the boundaries of the seemingly impossible together as a team. The first fundraising gala at the end of 2018 was a very special moment. We were still a small organization at the time and the chances of successfully holding such an event were virtually zero. But somehow we managed it together. I still get goosebumps today when I think about the moment when Max Herre played the closing song and the incredible amount of €103,000 was announced.
STELP: What does your perfect lunch date look like?
Chris: Somewhere in the city in a place with some peace and quiet, good food and plenty of sunshine.
STELP: How do you clear your head?
Chris: On vacation, spending time with my family or friends and doing sports.
