Andreas Tölke and the Role of Journalism in Social Impact

Journalism has long played a key role in shaping public opinion and raising awareness about important issues. At its best, it serves not only to inform but to connect people across cultures, beliefs, and borders. Journalism allows us to tell stories, challenge power, and bring attention to those who are often ignored. When used with care and responsibility, it can do more than just report events—it can create real, lasting social impact.
Andreas Tölke is one individual who has used his background in journalism to make a meaningful difference. His life and work show how a profession centered on storytelling and design can evolve into a platform for humanitarian action. Tölke began his career in the world of lifestyle journalism, writing for top publications like Vogue and Icon. His writing covered travel, fashion, design, and culture, taking him to many parts of the world and connecting him with high-profile figures such as Zaha Hadid, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Frank Gehry. Known for his sharp observations and thoughtful interviews, Tölke became a respected name in media circles.
Yet his story goes much deeper than success in journalism. Tölke was born into a family with a complicated relationship to their Jewish heritage. His mother was a Holocaust survivor, but she chose to keep her Jewish identity hidden from the public. This silence had a strong effect on Tölke as a child. Learning about his family's past gave him a deep sense of what it means to be excluded or unseen. These early experiences helped shape his understanding of human dignity and belonging—ideas that would later guide his work beyond journalism.
Tölke studied journalism and design, a combination that matched his interests in creativity and communication. His professional path began with personal discovery, travel, and exploration. Over time, however, his focus shifted. He eventually reconnected with his Jewish roots and developed a new sense of purpose. His career, which once revolved around the glamorous world of fashion and media, began to move in a very different direction—toward helping others in need.
In 2015, during the peak of the European refugee crisis, Andreas Tölke made a life-changing decision. Deeply affected by the sight of refugees arriving in Berlin from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, he decided to open his own apartment to them. He offered shelter to more than 400 people, giving them a safe space during a time of chaos and uncertainty. This act of generosity marked a turning point in his life.
Realizing that temporary shelter was not enough, Tölke co-founded “BE AN ANGEL” with Ulrike Lessing on December 14, 2015. The organization was created to offer humanitarian support, emergency aid, and help with integration for refugees. What began as a personal response grew into a structured, professional effort to address one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. The organization provides food, shelter, job placement, and skills training for people displaced by war and crisis.
“BE AN ANGEL” has played a key role in several major refugee efforts. One of its most visible projects is Kreuzberger Himmel, a restaurant in Berlin run by refugees. The restaurant gives newcomers the chance to work, train, and be part of the community. It stands as a symbol of how integration can work in practice—with dignity, respect, and shared purpose.
When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, Tölke and his organization expanded their work once again. From March 2022 to September 2023, “BE AN ANGEL” helped evacuate over 23,500 Ukrainian refugees, providing them with transportation, housing, and support in Germany and neighboring countries. The organization now operates in Germany, Moldova, and Ukraine, and also receives support from a growing network of partners in the United States. It has raised millions in donations and continues to help refugees rebuild their lives.
Throughout all of this, Tölke’s past experience as a journalist played a major role in his success. His ability to communicate clearly, tell powerful stories, and connect with different communities allowed him to raise awareness and gain support for his projects. His work shows how journalism is not just about reporting the world as it is, but about imagining what it could be—and helping to make that vision real.
His personal journey is also one of reflection and growth. Through his work with refugees, Tölke began to understand more about his own background and identity. He became more open about his Jewish heritage, seeing it not just as a family history, but as part of a broader story about resilience and solidarity. This connection to his past gave new depth to his commitment to humanitarian values.
Andreas Tölke has received several awards and honors for his work. In November 2018, he received 1st place at the DEICHMANN Sponsorship Award for Integration, linked to his work through “BE AN ANGEL” Gaststätten GmbH. In December 2019, he won the Take Off Award, presented by Elke Büdenbender, for excellence in refugee training and integration. Most notably, in December 2021, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, one of Germany’s highest civilian honors. He has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Dr.h.c.) by Arden University, in recognition of his significant impact in humanitarian aid and refugee support.
Andreas Tölke’s story proves that journalism is not limited to the page. It can be a tool for empathy, for justice, and for real-world action. His life’s work bridges the gap between media and service, showing how the skills of a journalist—listening, understanding, and sharing—can be transformed into a life of purpose. In a time when stories are often told for clicks and attention, Tölke reminds us that the most powerful stories are the ones that lead to action.
By choosing to step out from behind the headlines and into the lives of people in crisis, Andreas Tölke has set an example of what it means to live your values through your profession. His career began with storytelling—but it became something more: a force for change.