Children & Youth

Growing Up With Opportunities

Childhood is the crucial phase that lays the foundation for a life filled with opportunities and happiness. Regrettably, millions of children across the globe are growing up amidst poverty, war, displacement, hunger, and insecurity. The situation for children in need has been further aggravated, not least by the war in Ukraine and its wide-ranging consequences. Surprisingly, even in Austria, one of the world's wealthiest countries, 20 percent of the children and adolescents face the risk of poverty.

Caritas is dedicated to supporting children in need, both internationally and in Austria, as we firmly believe that every child deserves security, happiness, education, and the opportunity to flourish. We strive to foster an environment where children can thrive even in challenging circumstances. We take care of their well-being, safeguarding them from cold and hunger, and providing access to psychological support and compassionate care during times of crisis.

Facts & Figures

1,669 Activities, Projects and Events

of youngCaritas

112,000 Children and Young People

have participated in the actions and events of youngCaritas

3,321 Young People

get involved in the ‘actionPool’ campaign, the voluntary support pool of youngCaritas

66 Lerncafés

for over 2,100 children and young people

960 Volunteers

are actively involved in Lerncafés

1,000 Children

on the waiting list for a place in a Lerncafé

Shaping Tomorrow with Education

Caritas places a special emphasis on education since we recognize that school access is the primary pathway for most children affected by poverty to overcome hardship. Caritas works to eliminate barriers that hinder education, ensuring that children who would otherwise fall out of the school system due to lack of financial resources, documentation, or disabilities have the chance to develop their potential in a safe and nurturing environment.

Ali in #weiterlernen Project: 2nd Grade Student From Klagenfurt Primary School

Ali has participated in the “#weiterlernen” project at Concordia Lerncafé in Klagenfurt since his first year of primary school. There, he receives tutoring support for German and other subjects. One specific challenge for Ali is the correct pronunciation of German words. In the past, he used to speak very quickly, which resulted in words becoming blurred, and when reading, he would often omit the endings.

Thanks to the support, Ali's overall pronunciation and reading of words from the first to the last letter have improved significantly. He can now read stories, understand them, and retell them, just like other children his age.

In mathematics, Ali rarely requires assistance, as his needs mainly revolve around German homework and additional language exercises. These language exercises are designed to promote a sense of enjoyment through engaging tasks such as word and grammar games, dice games, and listening activities.

What Does Ali Think About It?

"Learning with you was sometimes exhausting, but it was mostly a lot of fun. And the best part is, I can speak German much better now. I'm even good at reading, and I really enjoy it. Sometimes we listened to stories on the CD player, and then I would tell the story all over again. Thank you for everything, you have helped me a lot."