News
January 2026
Food System Change
In 2026, the TAO Foundation continued to support the “Food System Change” energy seminar organised by TU Berlin in cooperation with the “Dachs in Garz” farm in Brandenburg. As part of the project, further raised beds are being created to enable young people to gain practical experience in sustainable vegetable growing and future-proof agriculture.
February 2026
Support for a turtle project by Pro Ocean
In February 2026, the TAO Foundation supported the Pro Ocean (Life e.V.) association in planning a new turtle conservation project. During the first few months of the project, the focus was particularly on developing the basic concept, analysing the situation on the ground and holding discussions with partners.
Organisational preparations for the practical implementation are currently underway, including the establishment of a local team on site. The TAO Foundation has already been accepted as a supporter of the project and looks forward to accompanying its further development.
March 2026
Berliner Herz
In March, the TAO Foundation received a personalised donor heart from the Berliner Herz children’s hospice as a token of appreciation for its support of animal-assisted work at the hospice. The Foundation’s support contributes to the care of the animals as well as to animal-assisted programmes for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
March 2026
Bestbuddies
In March 2026, a new family member was welcomed through the Bestbuddies project: the little dog Zwergi. After her previous owner passed away, she found a new loving home and is now permanently supported as part of the project.
April 2026
Update on the Turtle Project
In April 2026, the TAO Foundation received a further update on the planned turtle conservation project by Pro Ocean (Life e.V.). In the meantime, a local staff member has been recruited, whilst rangers are being trained, necessary equipment procured and the first events prepared.
With the start of the nesting season in June, active implementation of the project on site will begin. The TAO Foundation looks forward to supporting the project’s further development and to receiving the first insights from the project area soon.
March 2025
Food System Change – Energie Seminar Berlin
In March 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the Food System Change project run by the Energy Seminar e.V. at the Technical University of Berlin. Funding was provided for the construction of a sustainable greenhouse and a resource-efficient irrigation infrastructure for regional agricultural land in Brandenburg. The student project combines practical environmental education with innovative approaches to sustainable food supply.
June 2025
Support for Paws of Bačka Palanka
In June 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the Serbian animal welfare organisation Paws of Bačka Palanka in settling outstanding veterinary bills and funding a further necessary operation for the dog Srećko. The volunteer-run organisation works under difficult conditions to help stray dogs and cats.
August 2025
Support for Radu Termure in Romania
In August 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the Romanian animal welfare activist Radu Termure with emergency aid to settle urgent rent arrears for his animal shelters. This ensured the care of numerous animals and allowed his work to continue.
September 2025
Support for the IFPE Conference 2025
In September 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the scientific conference of the Institute for Plant-Based Nutrition on the topic of plant-based nutrition and health. In addition, the project’s visibility was boosted through a ticket prize draw on social media.
September 2025
Food aid for the Prijatelji animal shelter
In September 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the Prijatelji animal shelter in Croatia with short-term food aid amounting to over 3 tonnes. This ensured that around 700 dogs could be cared for in an acute emergency situation.
November 2025
New project partnership with Pro Ocean
In November 2025, Pro Ocean approached the TAO Foundation with a new project idea in the field of marine conservation. The planned collaboration aims to protect marine ecosystems and is set to be implemented in 2026.
November 2025
Raising awareness for the Sentana Village project
In November 2025, the TAO Foundation presented the Sentana Village project to the Sentana Foundation and helped raise its profile through a social media prize draw for farm tours.
December 2025
Support for the Berliner Herz Children’s Hospice
At the end of 2025, the TAO Foundation supported the Berliner Herz Children’s Hospice in the area of animal-assisted therapy. The funding contributes to the care and medical treatment of the animals, as well as to the provision of animal-assisted activities that offer children and their families special moments of calm and closeness.
2025
BestBuddies: A new home for Mats
As part of the BestBuddies project, another rescue dog, Mats, was successfully rehomed in 2025. The young dog has found a new home and is now part of a new family.
January 2022
VEGAN START
February 2022
Excursion
Berlin, 3 February 2022
Trip to the Berlin Planetarium with the Strassenkinder e.V. association
For over 21 years, Straßenkinder e.V. has been committed to helping homeless and socially disadvantaged children and young people, with and without a migrant background, to (re)integrate into society, to take preventive action against child poverty and educational disadvantage, to promote participation and equal opportunities, and thus to give young people prospects for the future. Across its three areas of work, the association supports up to 200 children and young people every day. The non-profit association is a state-recognised provider of independent youth welfare services and funds its work almost entirely through donations.
The Planetarium in Berlin offers a wonderful opportunity to use special projectors to create the illusion of a real starry sky and to introduce children to stars, planets and other celestial bodies in a playful way.
That is why we organised a special outing during the winter holidays for the children of the Strassenkinder e.V. association. We booked the show “Beyond the Sun” and watched it together with the children. We always look forward to our lovely outings together.
TAO Foundation
TAO Foundation Representative Office: Koenigsallee 7, 14193 Berlin
TEL: +49 (0)30/88 77 43 63 FAX: +49 (0)30/88 77 43 68 E-MAIL: info@tao-stiftung.org WEB: www.tao-stiftung.org
Berliner Volksbank eG IBAN: DE83 1009 0000 2845 6630 01 BIC: BEVODEBB Baden-Württemberg Foundation Office No. 14-0563.1
Chairman Jürgen Wowra Place of jurisdiction: Berlin
Original text ‘Trip to the Berlin Planetarium with the Strassenkinder e.V. association’ Open as PDF
June 2022
Emergency at the Lefkimi Animal Shelter on Corfu resolved
On 11 June, we were contacted by Dominica and Adam – who are spending the summer in Albania – regarding an emergency. They had rescued dogs from the streets and were desperately looking for a home for the two females. We put them in touch with Tierhilfe Korfu and then arranged for the two dogs to be transferred from Albania to Corfu. Our partners at Tierhilfe Korfu gave the dogs a new home and we made another donation as a thank you for taking them in at such short notice.
June 2022
The Berlin Animal Shelter expresses its gratitude with the TAO tree plaque
On 27 June, Tierheim Berlin dedicated a tree to us with a TAO plaque during a festive ceremony. This was a thank you to the TAO Foundation for our monthly support of Tierheim Berlin since August 2021. We are grateful for this lovely gesture and feel that the tree also fits well symbolically with our TAO logo and our commitment to protecting the environment and nature.
July 2022
“Friends of the Elderly” outing to Peacock Island
On 16 July 2022, 45 senior citizens from across Berlin were able to enjoy a boat trip on the 7-Lakes Tour to Peacock Island. Thanks to the “Friends of the Elderly” association and the support of the TAO Foundation, they enjoyed a wonderful day in nature and with animals and were delighted with this varied outing.
July 2021
Media reports
For animal welfare and environmental protection
Entrepreneur Jürgen Wowra has founded the non-profit Tao Foundation – it is coming to Potsdam and will be given prestigious premises in the Offiziershaus on Schiffbauergasse
Berliner Vorstadt. Potsdam is set to gain a new charitable institution dedicated to animal welfare and environmental protection. The Tao Foundation, established just a few months ago, is to be based in Potsdam. Property developer Jürgen Wowra is behind the initiative; he intends to establish the foundation in the Officers’ House on Schiffbauergasse, as he explained to the MAZ. Wowra is known in Potsdam as the owner of the so-called Lokzirkus in Babelsberg. He is converting this industrial monument into the new headquarters of the Potsdam Main Customs Office. The 58-year-old property developer renovates historic buildings but is also active in new construction. For 20 years, he has also been successful as head of Paranet GmbH with ‘textile structures’ such as air-supported structures.
Although the foundation, which was established at the end of 2020, is based in Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg), where some of the trustees live, Wowra has chosen Potsdam for all operational business. “We are opening a representative office in Potsdam to handle the entire project management,” he told the MAZ. “It is a 100 per cent charitable foundation,” says Wowra. As the sole founder, he has contributed a large portion of his private fortune to it. It amounts to a “respectable double-digit million sum”, which over the next 20 years is expected to “reach the triple-digit million range”.
We are starting with animal welfare, as this is very important to us.
Jürgen Wowra, Founder
The foundation’s name, “Tao”, comes from Chinese and can be translated as “path”. “There are many issues, but they all belong together. The foundation deals with the entirety of things surrounding us humans and our relationship with nature. Tao is the path to that,” says Wowra. Specifically, he wants to support projects dealing with animal welfare, environmental protection, research and health. “We are starting with animal welfare, as this is very important to us,” says Wowra. “We are campaigning for better legal protection for animals and intend to take the matter to German and European courts so that animals too are granted the status of living beings, following the Swiss model,” he explains. Wowra is calling for improved conditions in the rearing and transport of farm animals. Petitions and an advertising campaign are currently being prepared to launch in 2022. In addition to meat consumption, Wowra is concerned about soil contamination from fertilisers. He is therefore campaigning for alternative forms of agriculture.
“Tao will support projects that are fully developed but lack funding,” says Wowra. As an example, he cites the handling of sewage sludge, which is primarily incinerated. Yet there is a process for turning the sludge into a phosphate-rich biofertiliser. However, this so-called hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) is struggling to gain traction. “Only a few local authorities dare to install such a plant. I can envisage funding a pilot project and would be interested in implementing this here.” He also wants to enable researchers to undertake visiting stays in Potsdam.
The Officers’ House on the edge of Schiffbauergasse, which Wowra has acquired, is to serve as the Tao Foundation’s representative office. It previously belonged to Sanus AG, which is currently developing the directly adjacent Villa Tummeley into a luxury residential complex. However, as the property is located within the Schiffbauergasse regeneration area, the regeneration authority’s approval of the purchase is still required. Wowra’s plans for the Officers’ House also resolve a conflict with Potsdam’s heritage conservation authorities. Previously, a new three-storey glass building had been planned on the lakeside of the brick structure. It would have almost completely obscured the view of the Officers’ House. “I have been working with heritage conservationists for almost 40 years and I realise that such a massive new building would completely ruin the view of the façade from the lake side. I have therefore proposed building only a single-storey extension, which is set back about 1.6 metres into the ground and protrudes only about two metres,” says Wowra.
The glass building will become “the foundation’s auditorium, where we intend to host international guests”. The planning application is in its final stages. Wowra plans to begin renovation work on the foundation’s offices and guest rooms inside the monument as early as this autumn. The floor plans are to be “slightly adapted” in the process. “We aim to open at the end of 2023.”
Source:
Peter Degener, Potsdam – The State Capital and the District of Potsdam-Mittelmark, page 15, 23 July 2021
https://www.maz-online.de/Lokales/Potsdam/Immobilienentwickler-Juergen-Wowra-siedelt-Tao-Stiftung-in-Potsdam-an
August 2021
Interviews
October 2021
Excursion
Berlin, 21 October 2021
Trip to the Berlin Animal Shelter with the Strassenkinder e.V. association
More than 6,500 children and young people (aged 14–18) are living on the streets in Germany. The causes include, amongst other things, physical and sexual violence in the home, criminality and temporary imprisonment, parental addiction, and bullying either at home or in youth welfare facilities.
Strassenkinder e.V. was founded in 2000 as a voluntary initiative and takes children and young people off the streets, supports them in reintegrating into society, and ensures future prospects and educational opportunities for socially disadvantaged children and young people. Furthermore, the association is committed to the integration of young refugees into society.
The Berlin Animal Shelter has been a project close to the heart of the TAO Foundation since August 2021. It is Europe’s largest animal shelter and cares for the city of Berlin’s homeless animals 365 days a year.
The TAO Foundation views interaction with animals as therapeutic. Animals open our hearts – they accept us unconditionally, as long as we are loving. They help us to recognise and reflect on our true feelings. Animals awaken joy and a playful spirit within us. They connect us with nature. Animals have a healing effect on our bodies, minds and souls.
That is why we have organised a special outing during the autumn holidays for the children of the Strassenkinder e.V. association. We have planned a guided tour of the City of Animals, where 1,300 animals live and are cared for. We look forward to giving the children a first glimpse into the animals’ home.
TAO Foundation
On behalf of Aileen Maasjosthusmann
-Assistant to the Board-
TAO Foundation Representative Office: Koenigsallee 7, 14193 Berlin
TEL: +49 (0)30/88 77 43 63 FAX: +49 (0)30/88 77 43 68 E-MAIL: info@tao-stiftung.org WEB: www.tao-stiftung.org
Berliner Volksbank eG IBAN: DE83 1009 0000 2845 6630 01 BIC: BEVODEBB Baden-Württemberg Foundation Office No. 14-0563.1
Chairman Jürgen Wowra Place of jurisdiction: Berlin
Original text ‘Trip to the Berlin Animal Shelter with the Strassenkinder e.V. association’ Open as PDF
November 2021
Advent
During the Christmas season, we at the TAO Foundation would like to lend our support to four projects close to our hearts.
Of people and animals who need our loving support
to be able to live a better life.
That is why, for each week of Advent, we have selected
and supported an organisation that fulfils this mission with dedication.
We wish you a wonderful Advent season filled with loving encounters,
thoughts of light and moments of stillness to hear the language of the heart.
December 2021
Animal sponsorships
Sponsorships are very important for the work of the charity Lasst die Tiere leben e. V, as they enable all the animals to be cared for. Please support the charity with sponsorships, as by no means all animals have one yet.
The TAO family welcomes 8 animals:
December 2021
2021 Year in Review
August 2020
5th August 2020
Dear Tao Foundation: Rico Paganini, Delta Bausch and Jürgen Wowra
RE: Gratitude for your solidarity and support
On behalf of Natural Justice and the communities we stand behind, we would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of you for the solidarity and support shown to frontline communities who are protecting the rights of indigenous and local communities, safeguarding their ecosystems and the sacred sites to which they are connected.
As you are fully aware, we are at a crucial juncture on the planet. Whilst we are beginning to reach some tipping points, Natural Justice and the communities we work with continue to challenge the destruction of the planet and the violation of rights. We are working with communities to propose alternatives to current paradigms and systems, ensuring that key principles of respect, cooperation and solidarity take centre stage. This is to ensure we live in a sustainable way, where people live in harmony with the rest of nature and where basic rights are respected.
The support from the Tao Foundation will go a long way in backing these communities and also in protecting the environment and the sacred sites within the territories of life. Initial support will go directly to communities for the incredible work they are doing in protecting sacred sites and biodiversity, ensuring ancient wisdom is passed on and shared in a respectful manner by indigenous wisdom keepers, and also ensuring that communities and the environment are legally supported through the work of Natural Justice.
With deep gratitude,
Pooven Moodley
Executive Director, Natural Justice
www.naturaljustice.org info@naturaljustice.org Tel 021 426 1633
January 2021
South Africa
18 January 2021
Dear Jürgen,
Re: Gratitude for Sponsoring Sacred Pilgrimage
On behalf of all who had the opportunity to take part in the various legs of the pilgrimages through sacred sites in South Africa and Egypt, I wish to offer my deepest gratitude to you for both your sponsorship and the privilege of being a part of this sacred mission.
Whilst most of us may not have met you, your gentle intent was present with us as we journeyed. We are particularly moved by the web formed during the ceremonies at Inzalo Ye Langa, and the incredible visions that you wove into the tapestry. We were indeed in one circle.
I believe that there were many important messages that came through the various sites and that a beacon has been lit to illuminate the way forward. It is a great honour that this work was initiated in the southern tip of Africa – referred to in some places as the Cradle of Humankind and in others as the Cradle or Genesis of Life.
I look forward to continuing with the work that is being called for at this critical time for humanity and our planet.
May I express my deepest appreciation to you, once again.
Yours sincerely,
Rutendo Ngara
Original letter ‘Gratitude for Sponsoring Sacred Pilgrimage’ view
August 2021
T H E A C A D E M Y F O R F U T U R E S C I E N C E
C A L I F O R N I A, U S A
20 August 2021
RE: Thank you for your support
To: The TAO Foundation, Mr Jürgen Wowra
We thank you for your financial support to The Academy for Future Science. We are an international organisation working globally to advance educational and scientific futures. The Academy has held numerous educational programmes since its inception in 1974, exploring the ethical and spiritual dimensions of philosophy, psychology and consciousness development in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Your gift will enable The Academy to convert many of our written booklets and short books in English into a new digital format as e-books in German for readers mainly in Europe.
As an organisation, we have examined the evolution of thought from ancient texts to the modern world. Furthermore, the Academy’s booklets and monographs cover the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, sociology, space law and remote sensing studies (radar), exploring archaeological sites across various cultural and global heritage locations. Additional areas of education include: the environment and fostering a culture of peace.
Once again, we wish to thank you for your support.
Yours respectfully,
James J. Hurtak, Ph.D., Ph.D.
President of The Academy for Future Science
Original letter ‘Thank you for your Support’ view
September 2021
Thomas Rohlfing Media Production and Coaching
Königsberger Straße 7 › 65830 Kriftel
TAO FOUNDATION
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Kriftel, 10 September 2021
Dear Delta, dear Jürgen, dear Aileen, dear TAO Foundation,
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you all today.
The fact that you have come into my life feels like a twist of fate. At first, I could hardly believe it – it was simply too good to be true. I will never forget reading the lines in your first email stating that you considered our film project WALTER to be so valuable that you would ‘provide significant financial support on behalf of the TAO Foundation’.
You have not only enabled my team and me to continue our educational work on the vegan lifestyle on YouTube, but also to take it to a whole new level. Your support came at a particularly critical financial juncture and was what made the continuation of our work possible in the first place. For this, you have my eternal gratitude.
Getting to know you all in person was a huge honour for me and only reinforced the impression I’d gained from our Zoom calls. You are wonderful people who clearly have your hearts in the right place. We need many more people like you, who use their vision and financial resources to help make the world a better place. Thank you for everything you do and for your generous support!
Warm regards,
Thomas
| Thomas Rohlfing Media Production and Coaching Königsberger Straße 7 65830 Kriftel +49 (0) 151 22 77 88 59 hallo@thomasrohlfing.de www.thomasrohlfing.de |
GLS BANK Bochum IBAN: DE98 4306 0967 4092 6991 02 SWIFT: GENODEM1GLS Account holder: Thomas Rohlfing VAT No.: DE326694895 thomasrohlfing.vegan thehabitrabbit |
Original letter ‘Thomas Rohlfing Media Production and Coaching’ view
September 2021
TAO FOUNDATION
Jürgen Wowra
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Munich, 10 September 2021
Your donation for pensioners in need
Dear Mr Wowra,
For more than 9.3 million senior citizens in Germany, the pension amounts to less than 900 euros (source: Federal Government 2019).
Many pensioners go without food to save for a new mattress or injure themselves at home because they cannot afford new glasses. They become isolated because they have no money to participate in social life. Yet they have worked all their lives.
Thanks to your generous donation, we can help pensioners in need quickly and easily with subsidies for medicines (not covered by health insurance), food, washing machines, travel tickets, beds, mattresses, warm clothing, meals on wheels, dental treatment costs and much more.
With your support, we can give senior citizens what they deserve after a lifetime of hard work: care, appreciation and hope. Because they belong at the heart of our society – not somewhere on the margins.
Warm regards
Ein Herz für Rentner e.V.
Sandra Bisping
Chairperson
Original letter ‘Your donation for pensioners in need’ view
September 2021
Animal Welfare Association for Berlin e.V. • Hausvaterweg 39 • 13057 Berlin
TAO FOUNDATION
Mr Jürgen Wowra
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Berlin, 30 September 2021
Dear Mr Wowra,
We are writing to you today to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you!
Thank you for your generous support. Thank you for your compassion for animals in need, and thank you for your foundation’s commitment to fostering a positive relationship between humans, animals and nature. This is precisely what we strive for and work towards every single day.
We, too, as the Berlin Animal Welfare Association, are committed to improving the treatment of animals and care for around 1,300 animals in need at our shelter every day. However, we can only manage this mammoth task thanks to the support of animal-loving people like you, Mr Wowra. The fact is that we finance our extensive animal welfare work and the running of the shelter almost exclusively through donations, membership fees and bequests.
These are not easy times. The coronavirus pandemic has hit many people hard – including animals. Whilst there was a veritable pet boom during the lockdown, many pets ended up at our shelter once the restrictions were lifted – some of them seriously ill. We are therefore delighted that you have reached out to us at this very moment and offered your support! We can certainly make good use of it. And we assure you: your donation will go where it is needed most.
Furthermore, we would like to emphasise once again how much we value the cross-departmental exchange with your foundation. We are already looking forward to the upcoming projects.
Kind regards
Yours
Jan Berge
Managing Director
Original letter ‘Tierschutzverein für Berlin e.V. says thank you’ view
December 2021
Straßenkinder e.V. | Hohensaatener Straße 20 / 20A | 12679 Berlin
TAO FOUNDATION
Jürgen Wowra
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Berlin, 7 December 2021
We would like to say thank you
Dear Mr Wowra,
For over 20 years, Straßenkinder e.V. has been caring for street children and young people, as well as children and young people affected by child poverty and educational disadvantage. In our three areas of work, we reach more than 200 children and young people every day. As our work is funded almost entirely by donations, we rely on supporters such as the TAO Foundation.
We would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your support over the past year! Without your commitment, our work would not be possible.
“Thank you for making it possible for us to go on such great trips!
Lena, aged 9
This thank you from one of our children at the BOLLE Children’s and Youth Centre is therefore not only for our staff, but also for you!
We look forward to future projects.
Warm regards
Josina Moll
Project Management, Straßenkinder e.V.
Contact
Tel. 030 300 244 55-0
Fax 030 300 244 55-9
info@strassenkinder-ev.de
www.strassenkinder-ev.de
Donation account
Straßenkinder e.V.
Bank für Sozialwirtschaft
IBAN DE29 1002 0500 0003 2826 00
BIC BFSWDE33BER
Original letter ‘Straßenkinder e.V. would like to say thank you’ open
December 2021
Friends of the Elderly e.V. Tieckstraße 9 10115 Berlin
TAO FOUNDATION
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Friends of the Elderly e.V.
Tieckstraße 9
10115 Berlin
Tel. +49(30) 21 75 57 90
Fax +49(30) 13 89 57 45
spenden@famev.de
www.famev.de
Thank you very much for your donation
Dear Ms Maasjosthusmann,
With your support, you are making an important contribution to combating loneliness and isolation amongst older people in our society and helping to restore their place within our community.
Loneliness and isolation are a bitter reality for many elderly people in Germany, one that no care insurance fund can alleviate.
You know that voluntary and neighbourhood support are needed now more than ever. With your contribution, our volunteers and full-time staff can provide effective support for the very elderly: as a donor, you enable regular home visits by our ‘Old Friends’, joint events, outings and family-style gatherings on Christmas Eve.
You can find the latest information about our activities on our website www.famev.de.
I would be delighted if you continued to be a friend to the elderly and send you my warmest regards.
Berlin, 16 December 2021
Anna Kamieth
Fundraising and Public Relations
Original letter ‘Thank you very much for your donation’ open
January 2022
TAO Foundation
Ms and Mr
Delta Bausch and Jürgen Wowra
Koenigsallee 7
14193 Berlin
Stuttgart, 19 January 2022
Dear Ms Bausch, Dear Mr Wowra,
We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your extremely generous donation of 21,000 euros towards the poster campaign in Berlin, which will run from January and introduce our Veganstart programme to millions of people.
Never before has the transition been easier for people interested in a vegan diet and lifestyle. With an established interactive app, support groups on social media AND advice from nutrition experts via WhatsApp, people receive comprehensive support as they embark on a life free from animal suffering.
Thanks to determined partners such as the TAO Foundation by our side, we can help even more people make decisions that benefit a huge number of animals, the environment and, last but not least, their own health.
Together with you, I look to the future with confidence, knowing that we can implement many more joint projects and thus steadily make the world a little more liveable.
Warm regards
Harald Ullmann
Executive Director
PETA Deutschland e.V.
PETA Deutschland e.V.
Friolzheimer Straße 3, D-70499 Stuttgart • 0711 860591-333 • 0711 860591-113 (Fax) • PETA.de • Vanguard@peta.de
GLS Gemeinschaftsbank • IBAN: DE71 4306 0967 7800 0780 00 • BIC GENODEM1GLS
Recognised as a non-profit organisation and particularly worthy of support. Registered in the register of associations at Stuttgart Local Court, VR 202128.