To be active nationally and internationally, transparently and independently, an organisation must work hard with research, advocacy, and education for the communities.
This is where Kinderherzen e.V. excels. This Yardi-supported non-profit, founded in 1989 in Bonn, Germany, aims to significantly improve the treatment options for children, adolescents, and adults with congenital heart defects worldwide. Conducting research around 20 locations throughout Germany, Kinderherzen develops the latest standards in cardiac medicine. This enables heart children to receive gentler, less painful treatment and comprehensive therapy. Kinderherzen equips children’s heart centres in Germany and crisis areas worldwide with modern and gentle technology, enabling interventions at the highest medical level.
“Therapy measures initiated by us represent highly emotional and social offers for children with heart disease and offer small long-term patients developmental support that encompasses all the senses,” said Maria Zach, press and public relations for Kinderherzen e.V.
This organisation also promotes measures for further education, exchange and training of doctors and nursing staff. This ensures that all those involved have the best possible expertise long-term. In addition, they provide scholarships for those in paediatric cardiology, which is intended for specialists to further their education and gain experience.
Kinderherzen’s international emergency aid enables children with heart conditions from crisis regions to receive life-saving surgery directly in their home country, so they are not torn away from their familiar culture and family environment and do not have to make a long flight to Germany in their poor state of health.
“Our volunteer medical expert teams from Germany ensure the best possible cardiac medical care during our surgical missions. We create sustainable structures and help people to help themselves directly on site,” explained Zach.
MOHKI
Kinderherzen developed the world’s first mobile children’s heart clinic, MOHKI, which opened in January 2024. The first mission took place in El Salvador, where three teams of doctors operated on children with heart disease on site. Since operating costs are cheaper and less stressful, MOHKI treats younger patients worldwide instead of treating them in Germany. Kinderherzen plans to ship the clinic to more countries, starting with Burundi this year.
Another project that Kinderherzen is financing is a new cardiac catheterisation at the German Heart Centre in Munich. This medical device is used for gentle diagnostics and treatments of congenital heart defects. In addition, Kinderherzen will provide emotional support for heart children with several music therapists and psychologists in various cities.
Yardi funding helps Kinderherzen spread knowledge about congenital heart defects and raise awareness, finance modern medical devices for gentle treatment and support forms of therapy not covered by health insurance. This ensures that every donation helps children with heart defects live a heart-healthy life.
“We would like to thank Yardi from the bottom of our hearts for the many years of reliable support. It is great to see how many important projects can be realised with Yardi’s help,” expressed Zach.
Marcelo- El Salvador
Every year, over 1,000 children are born in El Salvador with a congenital heart defect, and without the proper medical care, they cannot survive for long. However, there are only two pediatric cardiac surgeons and five pediatric cardiologists in the entire country. Once a year, Kinderherzen and pediatric heart surgeon Prof. Dr. h.c. Christian Schlensak, medical director of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at Tübingen University Hospital and his surgical team operate on children with heart disease there.
Little Marcelo was born in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, in Central America. Although his pregnancy and birth were normal, a few days later, he was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart defect: tetralogy of Fallot. This combines four anatomical malformations of the heart and the surrounding circulatory system. An operation during the first year of life is necessary. At just ten months old, Marcelo was successfully operated on by Prof. Schlensak in San Salvador.
Today, Marcelo is doing well and is a lively, bright boy. However, due to the severity of his condition, he needs to be monitored regularly on-site by the experienced paediatric cardiologist, Dr. Mauricio Velado.
Stories like Marcelo’s show the importance of Kinderherzen and how they help children worldwide with congenital heart defects.
Volunteer Opportunities
Kinderherzen welcomes and is grateful for volunteers and donations. For its operations abroad, it can count on doctors and nurses who specialise in paediatric cardiac medicine and have experience in this field. It is also looking for helpers to support dismantling its mobile clinic in El Salvador and setting it up in Burundi. If you are interested in joining, please email them at [email protected].
For the German version, visit our Germany site.
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