Volkshilfe project

Poverty campaign that communities can help with

Social worker Elvira Prangl, Steinbrunn Mayor Isabella Radatz-Grauszer, Volkshilfe President Verena Dunst, Frauenkirchen Mayor Hannes Schmid and Monika Rauscher want to do something about child poverty.(Bild: Charlotte Titz)

The future belongs to children. But what if they have hardly any opportunities due to a lack of money? This is where Volkshilfe comes in. 

According to Volkshilfe, 4000 children between the ages of 0 and 14 are currently at risk of poverty in Burgenland. Between the ages of 0 and 24, the figure is as high as 7,000.

"Corona is still affecting many people," explains Volkshilfe President Verena Dunst. Low earners in particular have only received around half of their wages for months, and many have accumulated large debts as a result. On top of this, there is now inflation in all areas: "Often both parents work and yet it is still not enough to live on," explains Dunst.

We can eliminate child poverty
Volkshilfe supports families quickly and unbureaucratically. And with the "We can abolish child poverty" campaign, it also wants to get local authorities on board. Because children in particular need security - and every opportunity to become successful adults.

Every municipality in Burgenland has already received mail from Volkshilfe. "Every mayor can take a photo of themselves with the "We can abolish child poverty" sign on their local signboard and send it to us," says Volkshilfe social worker Elvira Prangl. There is also a petition for child protection on kinderarmut-abschaffen.at.

"It's important that people come to us before the hat burns," says Dunst. "Any shame is completely out of place."

CT