Helpers with a heart: Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU) honors volunteers - Ludwig Prince of Bavaria helps Ukrainians

Created: 05/21/2022, 08:32

By: Cornelia Schramm

The prince of good deeds: Ludwig Prince of Bavaria received the State Medal for Social Merit.

With his “Learning Lions” initiative, he supports young people in Kenya.

Now he is also helping in Ukraine.

© Marcus sleep

Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf has awarded a medal to socially committed Bavarians.

Among them is Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.

He has been involved in Africa for a long time.

Now he is also helping in Ukraine.

Munich – Ludwig Prince of Bavaria briefly flashes a smile across his face.

Bavaria's Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf (CSU) has just awarded the 39-year-old the State Medal for Social Merit at Nymphenburg Palace.

Now photographers immerse the prince in flashlight.

The hype is not quite right for him.

You can tell.

"Actually, it's a pity that such a medal is only pinned on one person," he says.

"I'm delighted, but I accept the award on behalf of the many helpers who stand behind me."

20 volunteers from the Nymphenburg aid association are currently gathering aid supplies again.

Trucks will soon be going to Chernivtsi in the Ukraine.

"The helpers pack survival packages for people in the war zone, including many internally displaced persons," says Prince Ludwig.

"For example, they need water filters, first-aid supplies and cell phone and flashlight batteries that can be charged with a crank."

War in Ukraine: Nymphenburg Aid Society delivers survival packages

Right at the beginning of the war, Prince Ludwig went to the Romanian-Ukrainian border to help.

In the meantime he was already in the Ukraine to organize the redistribution of the packages.

"You can trust people from one person to another," he says.

"It doesn't work so well on paper." That's why it's important to the prince to be there himself and to build up support networks.

He has just returned to Bavaria after a month in Kenya.

He is also active in Africa.

In 2015 he set up the “Learning Lions” school in the middle of the desert.

Young people learn there how to develop websites and computer animations and how to market them internationally.

Google and Ebay, for example, support the initiative.

And once a year, Prince Ludwig collects donations on the 24-hour "Lion's March" from Castle Kaltenberg to Castle Hohenschwangau.

“It is a privilege to be able to organize my time freely.

I know that not everyone can travel the world and help," says Prince Ludwig.

"But I also know that everyone can help." Most recently, it was schoolchildren who had donated to help him in Ukraine.

"There's always something," jokes Prince Ludwig, but then gets serious.

"Those who help must know their options and need staying power to finish what they start." The Germans' willingness to help Ukraine is overwhelming.

"I hope it stays that way, the war will probably accompany us for a long time."

Ulrike Scharf (CSU): "They are role models for our society"

The prince was in good company at Nymphenburg Palace on Friday.

Social Affairs Minister Scharf has awarded the medal for social services to 14 other Bavarians.

"They are people of character and role models for our society," said Scharf.

Barbara Stamm, former President of the State Parliament and today State Chair of the Lebenshilfe for people with mental disabilities, was moved to tears.

"When people feel that you love them, they love them too," said the 77-year-old.

Dagmar Wöhrl, Deputy Chairwoman of Unicef ​​Germany, is also among the honorees.

Her son died in 2001 at the age of 13, after which she founded the Emanuel Wöhrl Foundation, which helps children in need.

Because of her personal fate - she is in a wheelchair - Benedictine Sister Mirjam Ullmann also volunteers for people with disabilities.

She honored Scharf as well as Helene Nestler.

The 66-year-old is committed to the AWO neighborhood help in the district of Munich.