[citation needed] As umbrella organisation for the German government-sponsored Voluntary Services, the association places approximately 1000 volunteers per year both inside Germany and internationally.
In order to bring together a group of people who would support the growing school movement both ideally and financially, Ernst Weissert founded the Friends of Waldorf Education on 10 October 1971.
[citation needed] Ernst Weissert himself did not stand for membership of the Executive, leaving this task to his closest assistant and second member, Dr. Manfred Leist.
Both Ernst Weissert and Manfred Leist had, however, other pressing tasks in building up the German school's movement and within the leadership of the Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen, so that there was little time left over for this association.
Andreas Büttner, Nana Göbel and Justus Wittich were elected onto the executive in November 1978, Günther Ziegenbein and Armin Scholter withdrew.
In order to support essential larger investments, the Friends work together with foundations and other aid funds, as well as with the BMZ (Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development).
By means of artistic endeavours or day jobs, they collect money for Waldorf institutions and projects that are in need of financial assistance.
Students learn to become engaged on behalf of others and to take an interest in other cultural environments, as well as experiencing how to organise community events and transform their ideas into reality.
[4] Emergency or crisis education concerns itself with the psychological stabilising of children and young people in warfare and the aftermaths of natural catastrophes.
[5] Following on armed conflicts and natural catastrophes the Friends have thus far worked in Lebanon (2006, 2013), China (2008, 2013), Gaza (2009 – 2013), Indonesia (2009), Haiti (2010), Kirgistan (2010), Japan (2011), and Kenya (2012, 2013).