The Covid 19 pandemic hits the whole world, but the situation could be particularly bad on one continent: Africa. That is why a young Gernlindener founded an aid organization. Niklas Huppmann and “Covaid Africa” have already raised around 20,000 euros in donations.
Gernlinden - Niklas Huppmann felt the same way as many at the beginning of the pandemic: "I wanted to use my free time to do something good." The 21-year-old student has experience in aid organizations. At the age of 16 he was a co-founder of "Shades of Love", an aid project for eye diseases in high mountain regions.
Niklas Huppmann helps from Gernlinden in Africa.
Regarding the idea for Covaid Africa, he says: "I added up one and one." Because the corona virus can have much worse effects in Africa than in Europe: Many Africans suffer from tuberculosis or HIV and therefore have an already weakened immune system. In addition, the medical infrastructure there is not at a good level.
Huppmann first had the idea of having food packages delivered to a location in Kenya - so that people could stay at home. But that didn't work. Then the student considered: "What could you offer as a fundraising campaign?" The result was a fundraising event, to which everyone can contribute from home.
The choice fell on the music. Huppmann's parents work in the music business, so he knew that all musicians are also at home and cannot give concerts. The final idea was then live concerts on the Internet, where calls are made to donate to the project. After an initial call, 150 volunteers from all over the world came in to help. One of these assistants conveniently had contacts in the music industry. So the bands came on board.
There were also start-ups from celebrities such as soccer player Jérôme Boateng and singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. They became aware of Covaid Africa and shared the project through their social networks.
Live concerts have been running on a YouTube stream every Sunday since mid-April, and young German musicians such as Fil Bo Riva and Etna have already played. Two to three more concerts are planned, then the series should end with "a big bang", as Huppmann says. So far, Covaid Africa has raised around 20,000 euros in donations. The money goes to MSF. Huppmann already had contacts to the association: "I noticed that MSF is a great organization and that the money arrives directly there."
When the concert series ends, Covaid Africa should not simply be ended. The aid project is to be transformed. Niklas Huppmann would like to build a digital platform for any kind of humanitarian aid from it. After all, you have many volunteers, the right network and PR agencies on board. “What we have built will continue to go to Corona. It would be stupid if we didn't keep this network alive. "
