In 2017, Diakonie wanted to gain more visibility and take a stronger role in political discussions around social issues. That’s when the idea for the “Unerhört!” campaign was born.

It all started with a speech by Diakonie’s then-president, Ulrich Lilie, where he spoke about how important it is to truly listen to one another. His message was clear: without real listening, meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding can’t happen.

The campaign was built around the German word “Unerhört!” – a word that means both “unheard” and “outrageous.” That double meaning became the core of the campaign. It grabs attention and invites reflection: when we stop listening, important stories remain unheard—and that’s outrageous.

The aim was to shine a light on social issues and to position Diakonie as a strong and active voice in political and social debates.

The campaign ran nationwide across Germany for three years and helped bring attention to voices that are often ignored.