HIFA is carried by people who volunteer their time, their knowledge and their hearts. Get to know the board – a doctor, an agricultural economist, a teacher, a social manager and a plumber, united by a shared conviction: help for self-help, with respect and dignity.
Adolf Paster† Founder
FestusImarhiagbe
Ulrike Mayr
Ulrike Schauer
ChristophMaunz
Erni Eigner
ChristineTarnai-Hammer
Johann Schill
Martha Paster
Adolf Paster
In 1971, together with my family, I decided to give up my profession as a publishing manager and to work solely for HIFA.
Because my NEIGHBOUR is as important to me as I am to myself, because talking alone does not feed anyone, because HIFA forms a good basis for realising the idea of “ONE for ALL and all for one” – and because HIFA has shown in practice over the 50 years of its existence that this is truly so.
Dipl. Ing. Festus Imarhiagbe
I began my work on the board in January 2021 as Officer for Agriculture and was elected President at the General Assembly in August 2025 as the successor to Dipl. Ing. Uwe Kraus.
My previous appreciative and understanding cooperation with HIFA was the basis for me to join the board. The foundation for HIFA’s project policy and project development is a Christian economic ethic, which also matches my personal attitude.
Ulrike Mayr, MAS
I have been involved since HIFA was founded, was in Africa for the first time in 1975, and have been Managing Director of HIFA and Vice President since 2003.
I am convinced that immersing oneself in foreign worlds and the mutual learning that becomes possible through it makes one deeply affected. My task as Managing Director is to ensure that administration and aid projects are organised efficiently and that donations and stored data are handled with the utmost care and responsibility.
Dr. Ulrike Schauer
I accompany projects in an evaluative role and pay attention to sustainability and environmental issues in both concept and implementation.
When I am confronted with problems and development needs, it is important to me to stand up for the well-being of people and to provide support. I simply keep “Nigeria” in mind in everyday life. Through my stay there I gained friends and met dedicated and grateful people.
Dr. Christoph Maunz
I accompany HIFA’s medical projects and advise on the development of measures for healthcare and prevention.
It is a great honour for me to complement my medical work through voluntary engagement in this field. Working in hospitals in countries with more limited resources has given me valuable insights into medical needs and challenges on the ground. A particular concern of mine is to approach every form of support with respect and appreciation and to follow the principle of help for self-help.
Mag. Erni Eigner
I have known and accompanied HIFA since the 1980s, have supported countless sponsored children since 1994, served on the board as a representative of Fraternität, and took over the minutes in 2025.
As a professor, I know how crucial education is for the future of young people. That is why I have been involved in the sponsorship programme for many years and have already been able to support numerous children on their educational path. This opens up new perspectives and chances for a better life for them.
Christine Tarnai-Hammer, MA
Teacher (which also means educator and entertainer), art therapist, work in adult education at the University of Teacher Education, studies in intercultural competences.
I want to place my time, my knowledge, my skills and my strength at the service of a cause that focuses on human dignity, mutual help and justice. My journey to Nigeria showed me that people do not need charity, but help in the sense of “Help me to do it myself”.
Johann Schill
I provide advisory support for the craft projects and take part in missions on the ground.
I am involved with HIFA because I can supervise a project myself and work on the ground, because 100% of project donations arrive where they are needed, and because there is no greater feeling than seeing the joy of people when you have taught them something and done something good for them!
Martha Paster
I am a founding member and have been involved since HIFA was established. I am the Finance Officer and have been doing the bookkeeping free of charge since 1974.
For me it is important that everyone who works within HIFA feels comfortable and that God’s blessing rests on our work. That is why we always place our work in God’s hands, just as Aaron Ekwu showed us by example.
