German Craftsmanship on the International Stage: Pedorthics for Ukraine’s Reconstruction
Bernd Franke, International Master of Pedorthics, has increasingly drawn political attention for his work in Ukraine. At the invitation of GIZ Executive Board Spokesperson Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel, he first presented the training curriculum for his craft in Ukraine at the GIZ headquarters in Eschborn—a presentation that opened further doors.
This was followed by an invitation to a partner meeting of the Agency for Economic and Development Cooperation in Berlin, where Franke spoke to representatives of the BGA, the German Savings Banks Foundation, FidAR e.V., and the ZDH about development work and investment opportunities in Ukraine.
The highlight so far was a parliamentary breakfast at the German Parliamentary Society on April 15, 2026. Under the motto “Made with Germany – German Craftsmanship for Reconstruction, Training, and Resilience,” Franke presented his work alongside two other master craftsmen from the “Craftspeople without Borders” network. Master goldsmith Anna-Lina Puna reported on her project in the Congo, while master metalworker Fabrice Carstens spoke about assignments in Rwanda and Namibia. Franke used the opportunity to advocate for greater political support for his profession—especially in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Members of the parliamentary groups asked numerous questions about the local supply situation, and Franke was able to explain important differences between orthopedic shoe technology and orthopedic technology, which have been largely unknown at the political level until now.
Schäfer-Gümbel repeatedly emphasized the high standing of German craftsmanship abroad. At Franke’s invitation, he will visit the Lindemann Foot Orthopedics workshop in Vellmar on July 30, 2026—a visit he also recommended to the parliamentary group representatives present.
Meanwhile, work in Ukraine continues: Discussions are planned with Olena Zelenska, wife of the Ukrainian president and member of the supervisory board of the Superhumans organization, as well as with the Deputy Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy in Kyiv, who focuses on social cohesion, rehabilitation, and prosthetics.
