Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

The President of the Duisburg-based aid organisation I·S·A·R Germany, Dr Daniela Lesmeister, has been awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. Federal President Joachim Gauck presented the award to the 38-year-old from Kleve in North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday in Berlin. The head of state honoured Daniela Lesmeister's services to civil protection. Gauck particularly emphasised her commitment to I·S·A·R Germany. Lesmeister co-founded the aid organisation in 2003. At the award ceremony in Bellevue Palace, the Federal President said that „the commitment of the many volunteers all over the world is a bond that connects us across borders, that brings people of different skin colours, religions, cultures and languages together.“

Lesmeister was impressed by the honour: „I accept the award on behalf of the 170 or so volunteers from I·S·A·R Germany. Every year, they invest countless hours in training so that they can provide rapid and comprehensive assistance in the event of a disaster anywhere in the world. Without the tireless work of all team members, I-S-A-R would not have been able to develop so positively in recent years.“