It has always been something meaningful for me

A conversation with the first chairwoman of the former association Rita Diop

She was the face of help alliance. For more than twelve years, Rita Diop stood in the front row as the first chairperson of the former association, where she worked tirelessly in the interests of disadvantaged people in the help alliance projects, and raised funds both within and outside the group. She was the point of contact for all questions regarding the charitable organization. Now she has said goodbye in order to make way for long blocks of free time during her semi-retirement. In a conversation with ONE, she tells of pioneering encounters, commitment and passion.

Ms Diop, you were the first chairperson of help alliance for over 12 years and have been a passionate Lufthansa employee for 31 years. Hand on heart, did you find yourself making your way back to the office on your first free day?

I have definitely found myself lost in thought, packing my bag and setting off en route. 31 years is a long time, and the last twelve years especially were always packed with work and kept me fulfilled.

help alliance was founded in 1999 by 13 dedicated Lufthansa employees. How did you hear about the former association?

It was at the end of 1999, just before Christmas, at a roll-in-event for a Lufthansa jumbo. There was a raffle in aid of help alliance as part of the celebrations. At the information booth the first chairperson, Bernadett Scholand, explained to me the causes help alliance dealt with. I wanted to get involved directly as I had the feeling that the members really were serious about it.

And how did you get involved?

At the beginning I sort of embodied the archetypal friend of help alliance who supports the cause, mans information booths and helps out when emergency calls. Relatively quickly, I began dealing with the help alliance communication.

What happened next?

There was a limited number of members. Then there was a vacancy and I was asked if I wanted to fill it – quite untypically without any projects at first. I then very quickly began to look for a suitable project in Senegal, as my husband is Senegalese and I knew that there was a great need for support there. After many discussions, I found what I was looking for and the first funds began to flow in. When I was choosing a project, there were two things which were particularly important to me: One was the focus on education and training, and the other was that I wanted to support women who traditionally have a difficult time in the country, with regard to the first point. Around the same time, I was also elected onto the executive board and in 2005 as the first chairperson.

Many colleagues contemplate the idea of becoming involved. What was it about help alliance that convinced you to?

The great cooperation among members of the association. All of them supported the idea of making the world a little better in any way they could. We only have one world. The work always held something meaningful for me.

Since 1 January, the association has been a charitable limited company (GmbH) and the central pillar of the social commitment of the Lufthansa Group. Was this the right way to go?

We never saw ourselves as completely independent, we just wanted to make a difference together with the company. From our point of view, both sides have benefited from this. I am very pleased that there is now a closer link.

What has been your impression of the help alliance development over the last six months?

I think that it is now easier to put things into practice. The connections and the network within the company have also become considerably more extensive so that we have greater leverage in bringing about decisions. We know how important personal contacts are. It makes me proud that our work has laid the foundations for this.

In addition to your work as the first chairperson of help alliance, you also support a project in Senegal. Will you now have more time for the project work?

Unequivocally and absolutely. In my role as the first chairperson, I had little time to devote to my project. The job was very energy intensive and time-consuming. I am already looking forward to investing more time in things which are close to my heart

We’re sure you’ve had many unforgettable moments. Much suffering and sorrow, but above all hope and trust. Was there a moment that fundamentally changed you?

The motivation was always meeting the people: the many colleagues who drove their projects forward with passion and commitment, but also the people who have benefited from our work. One story that stuck in my mind was that of a Senegalese girl who didn’t have an education. She came to the project a few years ago and learned dressmaking, numeracy skills and to speak French. With these skills and knowledge, she opened her own business and now runs it very successfully. And that’s exactly what it’s all about: Having nothing and then getting the chance to learn something, to make something of yourself. When telling such stories I find I sometimes lose my professional distance which I need for my work, and cry with happiness.

What do you wish for the help alliance?

I wish for help alliance and the Lufthansa Group to grow closely together and that they continue to be able to tell such success stories. And of course I hope that the great commitment of the colleagues from the Lufthansa Group will be developed further. Our work thrives because we have supporters.