Category: Association

Khublei – 5th General Meeting on April 11, 2025

Our 5th Annual General Meeting is once again a special moment in the association's life. In a hybrid format—in person at the Nettuno Restaurant in Stegaurach and online—39 members will gather. Together, we look back on an eventful year full of commitment, encounters, and projects: the trip to India, exciting presentations, a successful fundraising run, the St. Henry's Festival, and the Christmas markets in Trunstadt and Stegaurach bring people together and raise awareness of our work.

With gratitude we say goodbye Madlen Jankowskiwho held office as Treasurer for personal reasons. We would like to thank her for her valuable work on the Board. We unanimously elect Georg Lückemeier from Kemmern as her successor – we are very much looking forward to working with him and warmly welcome him!

A new heartfelt project particularly moves us: PT Medicare – a relief fund that provides medical assistance to sick people who lack financial resources. Within just seven months, we have been able to support over 150 people. More information will soon be available on our website under "Projects."

Our Turmeric project is making progress: Two main sponsors are securing the majority of the funding. We aim to complete construction of the facility this year. 240 women from Thadsning, Meghalaya, who previously processed turmeric under great physical strain, will now take over the entire production process with the new technology – from harvesting to the finished powder. They are becoming entrepreneurs. Our partner Rev. Manbha is supporting them on this journey.

A very special highlight: Four young Don Bosco Sisters from Shillong in Meghalaya are coming to Würzburg through our agency. Three of them are beginning their nursing training at the Juliusspital vocational schools, and the fourth is already working as a nurse in the Caritas facilities. They feel welcome and well looked after – a new beginning for them, a moving moment for Khublei and Caritas- Einrichtungen gGmbH. Thanks to their managing director, Georg Sperrle, and his consultant, Susanne Scheiner, for the excellent and trusting collaboration so far.

These encounters, stories and developments show: Khublei is growing – with heart, courage and together with you.

A contribution by Georg Sperrle

Bishop Ferdinand Dkhar and Father Manbha Pakem visit the Diocese of Würzburg

A long journey lies behind them. Bishop Ferdinand Dkhar and Father Manbha Pakem covered almost 9000 km on their way to the diocese of Würzburg. The contact was made by Gerhard Albert, who as 1st chairman of the Khublei - Hilfe für Nordost-Indien e.V. association has been coordinating comprehensive India aid with and for the diocese of Jowai in Meghalaya for many years. Domkapitular Clemens Bieber, 1st chairman of the diocesan Caritas association, and Georg Sperrle, managing director of the CEG, warmly welcomed the guests to the Caritas House.

Challenges of Nursing in Germany

The reason for the meeting is a more intensive exchange and cooperation to support care in Germany. Georg Sperrle will present the demographic development in Germany and its impact on the situation of people in need of care. By 2055, the number of people in need of care in Germany will increase by a further 2 million to a total of 7.2 million people. At the same time, the number of people of working age is continuing to decline. The German Economic Institute in Cologne predicts that by 2030 there will be a shortage of around 500,000 skilled workers in the care sector. The recruitment, integration and retention of international nursing professionals and trainees is therefore of great importance so that people in need of care can continue to be well looked after and cared for with dignity in the future.

Building international networks for strong care

Against this background, the CEG is building international networks for strong nursing in the Diocese of Würzburg. A very important contact person in this context is Alexander Sitter from the Diocesan Office for the World Church in the Diocese of Würzburg. During the meeting, he reported on the exciting friendships and relationships of the diocese in the world church. He is in contact with numerous organizations and establishes valuable contacts that strengthen nursing in our diocese.

cooperation with international religious orders

Collaboration with international religious orders is of great importance to the CEG. In this context, Gerhard Albert has made contact with a religious order from Meghalaya who would like to establish their first convent in Germany. The aim is for sisters from the religious order who are trained as nursing professionals or who want to train in Germany to come to the Diocese of Würzburg and make a valuable contribution to care as nurses. Bishop Ferdinand Dkhar and Pastor Manbha Pakem, who are both working hard to achieve a sustainable improvement in the living situation locally, also welcome and support this. Susanne Scheiner, CEG's consultant for life in old age, takes care of the formal hurdles and makes a valuable contribution by coordinating various tasks to make this vision a reality.

The meeting is characterized by great warmth and the shared Christian mission to help people. Gerhard Albert, who has been traveling in the region for many years and has met many people, says: "The warmth of the people from Meghalaya always moves me. They will be a great asset to nursing in the diocese of Würzburg!" This warm meeting ends with a visit to the cathedral, a short tour of the Old Main Bridge with its bridge saints and a shared Franconian dinner. All those involved agree: getting to know each other has strengthened the connection between Würzburg and Meghalaya and broadened the common view of people's worries and needs.

Hard to top: This year, streams of people in good spirits are walking around the cathedral! Is it the 1000th anniversary of Emperor Henry's death the day before that is drawing people to the Henry Festival in Bamberg? Or is it the pleasant sunny weather? Or do both contribute to it?

Whatever the case, there is a lot of activity on the cathedral square. Many clubs present their projects at their stands. We at Khublei are also there and our colorful pavilion is very popular. Archbishop Herwig Gössl is of course one of the visitors to our pavilion and he is keen to find out more about our activities and projects.

Children in particular are magically drawn to the children's bench and the box of crayons. We use photos to explain to them how children live in India.

Now you can write a wish for children in India on a prepared postcard or paint a picture for them. This card will then rise into the bright sky on a balloon filled with gas. A real eye-catcher!

Four cards have already been returned within two weeks!

But many adults are also interested in “our cause”. The afternoon flies by. We are already looking forward to the next Henry Festival on the 1001st anniversary of Emperor Henry’s death.

Under this title, a richly illustrated presentation of the almost completely unknown region of Northeast India took place on June 30, 2024 in the Church of St. Martin in Bamberg:

The main portal is wide open, lively music penetrates the pedestrian zone and a light installation at the entrance attracts many visitors to the city church.

In this inviting atmosphere, it is easy for the speakers, Gerd and Ulli Albert, Angelika Kraus and Norbert Röhrer, to report on their experiences during their trip to India in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya.

They tell moving stories that bring tears to the eyes of many visitors. At the same time, they paint a picture of the contrasting nature with impressive waterfalls. They talk about their visits to children's homes, whom they lead to a better life through sponsorship. They provide information about the house building by the association, which paves the way for poor families to leave their homes and live a dignified life.

The pictures from the inauguration of the school financed by Khublei are astonishing: A club with a lot of power and the best possible support from sponsors makes this possible!

A look into the near future is also taken: a turmeric project has been started to help many families.

As every year, we held our members' meeting in March. It will once again take place in the Nettuno restaurant in Stegaurach. There is a stable internet connection there, so that members can also easily participate in the meeting online.

After the welcome from our first chairman Gerhard Albert, the many activities of the past year are briefly mentioned. The treasurer Christine Wolf then names the Khublei association in figures. It is on very solid financial footing. The two auditors present their audit report and confirm that the association has kept its accounts very clean. The board is unanimously discharged.

Ulrike Albert reports on the sponsorships and implemented projects. They continue to grow.

This year, new elections for the board, treasurer, auditors and the entire board are due to take place. Bernd Fricke will take on the role of chairman of the election committee and will lead the election confidently and humorously.

Result: The club's fortunes will continue to be managed by Gerhard Albert (1st Chairman), Thomas Zens (2nd Chairman) and Ulrike Albert (secretary) for the next four-year period. Christine Wolf is no longer running for election as treasurer due to time constraints. This role will now be taken over by Madlen Jankowski. The auditors Christine Herold and Norbert Röhrer are confirmed in their positions. Kerstin Zieg-Kögler and Manuela Uhl are joining the "old" general board with Beate Offermanns, James Fulness Jyrwa, Sigrid Selzer and Marita Helget. Ludger Schwab is no longer running for election. As a new grandfather, he is taking on other family responsibilities.

In the preview of the activities for 2024, the visit of Archbishop Victor of Shillong together with Bishop Wilbert of Nongstoin in May is particularly noteworthy. In addition, our project partner Rev. Manbha will be visiting Germany for the first time in September. On April 5, a group of four will set off for northeast India. The program includes the inauguration of the school with eight classrooms in Mihmyntdu/Jowai, financed by Khublei. This will certainly be a big celebration. We will report on further activities in due course.

The meeting ends after two hours. The discussions continue in a relaxed atmosphere...

This year, four of us from our club went to the municipality of Stegaurach - we were assigned the Kreuzweiher area up to the school. Here we collect the rubbish from the street. 
It doesn't sound very exciting at first, but it's actually a lot of fun in a team.
Guess what object we most often throw in the garbage bag! Well, what is it? Of course: carelessly discarded cigarette butts!!!

In our lectures on the subject of house building, we present the precarious housing situation of particularly poor people. We can hardly imagine how people can live in such conditions.

Yes, what's going on there? On August 7, 2023, the motto in the old forester's house is: “Experience India with all your senses!” Khublei invites you to the holiday program in Stegaurach for the first time.

Some children accept this invitation. They learn about objects from the great country of India that were previously unknown to them. They learn how to tie 10 meters of fabric into a sari and then transform the fabric into an Indian garment themselves! 

There is a lot of crafting and laughter and at the end there is a small taste of Indian food: Dal with chapati, a lentil dish with Indian bread. – club internal

Doors open: A “cellar visit” to Marita on the terrace!

On July 10, 2023, friends and supporters of Khublei will meet on the Helget family terrace.

Rev. Thomas Manjaly from Northeast India is warmly welcomed with Franconian and Indian specialties and gets to know Franconian hospitality. He reports first-hand about the situation in his homeland. He presents the challenging reality of people's lives in an authentic way. No question is left unanswered and in almost perfect German.

We experience a wonderful summer evening with good conversations in a relaxed atmosphere!

Many thanks to the Helget family and Rev. Thomas Manjaly

internally

Every year in July, the Archdiocese of Bamberg commemorates the founder of its diocese, the Holy Emperor Henry, with a church service followed by a festive event around the cathedral. On the cathedral square, clubs present themselves and their project work in pavilions.

Khublei will be present for the first time with its own information stand on July 9, 2023. With tropical temperatures, everyone will be sweating profusely on this day. Visitors are slow to arrive. We can only welcome a few guests to our stand. Our highly committed team is well prepared, but mostly on hold.

We are waiting to see whether the organizer can revise the stand concept so that we can be part of it again in 2024.

internally