Rotarian Hans Stirnemann worked as a surgeon in ICRC hospitals in Thailand, Pakistan, and Sudan. He then recognized the misery of the numerous landmine victims and their difficult fates. Intensive talks were held with incoming governor Walter Limacher. At that time, anti-personnel mines (APM) and their devastating consequences were not yet an issue in Western countries. Both become convinced that Rotary should get involved in humanitarian aid for the victims.
The two find a competent, professional, and reliable partner in the ICRC. The concept and goals of mine-ex are developed:
In consultation with the ICRC, aid is concentrated on the severely affected country of Cambodia.
Funds are raised through numerous events within and outside the Rotary Clubs, through donations from private (also non-Rotary) sources, through Christmas card campaigns, concerts, sponsored runs and much more. mine-ex also receives considerable support from charitable foundations.
Since 1997, annual information trips to Cambodia have been made by members of the working group (later the foundation board; in each case at their own expense).
Tearing out the evil at the root would be ideal. In addition, to remove all mines immediately and...
In 1995, when I heard Prof. Surgeon Hans Stirnemann, a Rotarian at RC Burgdorf, present his proje...
"To be able to move freely" - To make this privilege possible again for mine victims in Cambodia ...
Personal contact with mine victims and their relatives in Cambodia has left its mark on me. Above...
As a physician and surgeon, it is a matter of concern to me to use my expertise for the benefit o...
My commitment to people with disabilities is intended to help them build a sustainable livelihood...
40 years of professional life - 40 years of being privileged and on the sunny side of life. Today...
Passivity and indifference are abhorrent to me. As a Rotarian, I want to actively support people ...
Today, I contribute my entrepreneurial experience to non-profit organizations. The well-being of ...
Having visited in 2015, as a member of the governance of the International Committee of the Red C...
It is an honor and obligation for me to be active in the mine-ex foundation board as a representa...
The people in Cambodia and Afghanistan are confronted with a harsh reality on a daily basis; I am...
As a doctor and Rotarian, I am committed to helping people who need our support. Providing mine v...
I have spent 16 years researching and testing for Otto Bock and Oessur in prosthetics and artropr...
Mine victims are dependent on help for the rest of their lives. As a member of the mine-ex founda...
Tearing out the evil at the root would be ideal. In addition, to remove all mines immediately and everywhere would be like a dream. Unfortunately, the reality is different. Those who are unlucky enough to step on a landmine will remain disabled for the rest of their lives. Not only by the mutilation, but also in their existence.
I knew all this before my involvement with mine-ex. But when I was able to experience the poverty and gratitude of the people supported on site, it moved me deeply. Through mine-ex, we want to ensure that people who have been victims of mines or cluster bombs are accompanied throughout their lives. Whether physically with aids or in their integration into work and society. If we don’t do it, no one else will. What then? That is why, as a Rotarian, I am at mine-ex, in the humanitarian service of these people.
In 1995, when I heard Prof. Surgeon Hans Stirnemann, a Rotarian at RC Burgdorf, present his project to raise funds for mine victims, I knew immediately that this project was for me. The victims of anti-personnel mines are the ones who are left behind; there are hundreds of millions of dollars available for mine clearance and only one-tenth for victim assistance. For this reason, mine-ex must continue its work in support of victims in accordance with the will of its founder.
“To be able to move freely” – To make this privilege possible again for mine victims in Cambodia and Afghanistan after their heavy blow of fate motivates me again and again to continue my engagement with mine-ex.
Personal contact with mine victims and their relatives in Cambodia has left its mark on me. Above all, I was impressed by the survivors’ will to live and their gratitude for helping them to help themselves. With the work of mine-ex, we cannot “only” show respect to these fellow human beings, but also provide them with very concrete support in reintegrating into their families, society, and jobs.
As a physician and surgeon, it is a matter of concern to me to use my expertise for the benefit of the care and rehabilitation of landmine victims.
In this way, I can give back something of what society has generously provided me with throughout my life in my professional and private life.
My commitment to people with disabilities is intended to help them build a sustainable livelihood and regain their zest for life. In doing so, I experience the cooperation with motivated colleagues of the Foundation Board as a personal enrichment and an energetic implementation of Rotarian values.
40 years of professional life – 40 years of being privileged and on the sunny side of life. Today, I am happy to stand up for people who are granted a dignified life without outside help – for people for whom my collaboration on the mine-ex Foundation Board brings a little bit of sunshine into their lives.
Passivity and indifference are abhorrent to me. As a Rotarian, I want to actively support people who are not on the sunny side of life.
Today, I contribute my entrepreneurial experience to non-profit organizations. The well-being of children and health issues of all kinds are particularly close to my heart.
Having visited in 2015, as a member of the governance of the International Committee of the Red Cross, together with mine-ex members, the physical rehabilitation projects in Afghanistan, and in the years that followed those in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, I understood the deep humanitarian significanceof the important contribution that Mine-Ex offers, through the ICRC, to the victims of landmines. It is therefore with pleasure and gratitude that I agreed to join the Mine-Ex Foundation as a representative of the ICRC in order to offer my contribution to the effective functioning of this important humanitarian cooperation.
It is an honor and obligation for me to be active in the mine-ex foundation board as a representative of the founders’ club RC Burgdorf. I had the opportunity to experience mine-ex from the very beginning. The first lectures of Rot Hans Stirnemann remain unforgettable, in which he reported enthusiastically about his work as a doctor in the mined areas of Cambodia. I feel committed to his credo of “helping victims” and I am looking forward to helping the mine-ex foundation develop further together with my competent colleagues on the Board of Trustees and to contributing to enabling as many mine victims as possible to lead a self-determined life.
The people in Cambodia and Afghanistan are confronted with a harsh reality on a daily basis; I am convinced that with commitment and mindfulness we can strike a balance and contribute to their well-being. In particular, those who have been injured or even maimed through no fault of their own should have hope again and the prospect of a life in dignity.
As a doctor and Rotarian, I am committed to helping people who need our support. Providing mine victims with prostheses and thus enabling them to return to life is a meaningful task that I am happy to support.
I have spent 16 years researching and testing for Otto Bock and Oessur in prosthetics and artroprosthetics. In the last 20 years I have taught rehabilitation in more than 50 countries. As a Mine-Ex foundation board member, I would like to use all my experience to offer mine victims in Cambodia, Afghanistan and in the future in other countries a possibility to move again.
Mine victims are dependent on help for the rest of their lives. As a member of the mine-ex foundation board, I am committed to making this help possible in the long term and to raising young people’s awareness of the issue of anti-personnel mines and mine victim assistance.
