2024-01-24 18:15:15
Graz (OTS) – 39,000 children and young people in Styria live at or below the poverty line. That’s 18 percent of Styrian children. Their parents find it difficult or impossible to afford for their children to take part in school ski courses or school country weeks. A Volkshilfe project with the support of Steiermärkische Sparkasse aims to enable these children to participate more.
Every child every chance
“Volkshilfe, with the support of Steiermärkische Sparkasse, launched the project once morest child poverty “Being there is everything” in 2017 to give children and young people from low-income families more opportunities. We support children affected by poverty in financing their school trips, language trips, school weeks or project weeks,” explains Volkshilfe Steiermark President Barbara Gross. “Last year we specifically supported 122 children from all over Styria with a total of €19,972.30. The children mostly come from large families or single-parent households.”
Faith in the future
“Steiermärkische Sparkasse is supporting the Volkshilfe Steiermark project once morest child poverty for the seventh time. Under the motto “Being there is everything”, we as a regional bank are also proud to enable children and families in Styria who are at risk of poverty or affected by poverty to be sustainably integrated into society.
Every child should have the chance to take part in project weeks or language trips at the school. The experiences gained promote interpersonal contact and thus prevent exclusion from the class. Our society needs children who believe in their future. And it is important to Steiermärkische Sparkasse to encourage them to do so in the present,” explains Dr. Gerhard Fabisch, CEO of Steiermärkische Sparkasse.
Important support
“School country/project weeks/ski courses cost between 150 and 500 euros, language trips are much more expensive,” says Elke Hofgartner, head of the Volkshilfe Office for Social Affairs. “This is where we want to start. The time outside of regular school hours in particular promotes cohesion within the class, enables interpersonal contact, provides space for deeper friendships, deepens knowledge and prevents exclusion.”
Grants up to € 180.-
Volkshilfe pays up to 180 euros for project weeks and language trips. Proof of income from parents is required. “We help quickly and largely unbureaucratically,” says Volkshilfe President Barbara Gross.
The applications for support are available in the schools (HS, NMS, AHS lower school, poly). Families can apply for support directly to the responsible Volkshilfe district association. The families’ anonymity is guaranteed because the school is not involved in the processing. Volkshilfe is committed to confidentiality and data protection.
Steiermärkische Sparkasse has been a reliable partner for years
Steiermärkische Sparkasse has been a reliable partner of Volkshilfe Steiermark for over 12 years. The focus of the collaboration has always been children and young people affected by poverty who, with a little support, can make it from the margins to the center of society.
The aim of the project is to draw attention to the particular burdens faced by families with school children who live at or below the poverty line. In addition, families with school-age children should be relieved of the financial burden and the emotional and social burden of their child not being able to take part in various activities for financial reasons should be relieved.
Support
In order to help as many children as possible, we ask for donations:
Donation account
Steiermärkische Sparkasse
IBAN: AT89 2081 5000 0000 2220
Volkshilfe Office for Social Affairs
Mag.a Elke Hofgartner
T.: 0316/8960 31003
E.: elke.hofgartner@stmk.volkshilfe.at
Information regarding the project: stmk.volkshilfe.at/hilfe-unterstuetzung/fuer-kinder-und-familien/dabei-sein-ist-alles/
Questions & Contact:
Katharina Neuhold
Volkshilfe Steiermark, communication
M: +43 676 8708 30016
E: katharina.neuhold@stmk.volkshilfe.at
1706127499
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