The Workers' Samaritan Federation (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland, ASB) is an aid and welfare organization comprising 16 subnational and around 250 branches at the municipal, district, and regional level as well as more than 100 non-profit associations throughout Germany. Ever since its founding in 1888, humanitarian and democratic principles have been the basis of ASB’s activities in Germany and abroad. ASB has no political or religious affiliation and receives support from more than 1.1 million members in Germany. To complement its mission in rescue services – extending from emergency rescue to disaster protection – ASB’s tasks cover care for the elderly, child and youth services, assistance for disabled people as well as education and further training for adults. ASB extended its mission to foreign aid in the 1980s and at present is actively engaged in emergency aid, rehabilitation, and long-term development project in Africa, Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe.