153 projects in 53 countries on four continents were managed, implemented or restarted. These are the sober figures in the annual report now published by the Austrian aid organization Jugend Eine Welt for the year 2023. In terms of the workload, this followed almost seamlessly from the year 2022, which was considered to be particularly challenging: in 2023, too, the “balancing act” between had to be done more and more often emerging humanitarian emergency aid and sustainable development cooperation.
“Adverse external circumstances such as high inflation and cost increases made things even more difficult,” explains Jugend Eine Welt managing director Reinhard Heiserer. Heiserer would like to say a big thank you to the donors of Jugend Eine Welt: “Despite the unfavorable conditions, many of them remained loyal and connected to us and maintained, and in some cases even expanded, their financial support according to their abilities.”
In total, a total donation volume of 10.2 million euros was spent in 2023. Almost the same amount as in 2022 with its record-breaking total donation volume of 10.7 million euros. In 2023, over 84 percent of the donation volume again flowed into foreign projects (education, training, social and humanitarian aid) and into development policy education, advocacy and information work. At around 4 percent, administrative costs remained very low, as in the previous year.
means in use
“What is the use of crying over evils? It is much better to try by all means to eliminate them.” According to this quote from Don Bosco, the patron of Jugend Eine Welt, all available resources were actually used to help people who found themselves in an emergency situation and on the other hand – in keeping with the organization’s motto “Education overcomes poverty” – to support young people worldwide in particular for a better life.
In addition to the continued necessary support for the people in Ukraine and those who have fled the country, humanitarian emergency aid was particularly necessary for the victims of the major earthquake disaster in the Syrian-Turkish border regions in February. Two other earthquakes in Morocco and Nepal, which were not as large in terms of the extent of the destruction, also required immediate assistance.
Good examples of “classic” sustainable development cooperation projects include the new protection center for street children that is currently being set up in Lagos, Nigeria. On the other hand, the “Chocolate Makes School” initiative, a “best-practice cooperation” with the well-known Styrian chocolate manufacturer Zotter: 50 cents per chocolate banana bar sold benefits around 450 children in Don Bosco schools in Madagascar, which means that they are for it finances such important school meals.
Volunteers in action
In Austria, in 2023, there were once again committed missions “for a fairer world” carried out primarily by volunteers, such as the “Stop child labor” campaign supported by Jugend Eine Welt. The number of placements of young volunteers – organized by the sending organization “Volontariat Moves”, which is run by Jugend Eine Welt together with the Salesians – has leveled off again after the “Corona outbreak”. Likewise those assignments by older, (professionally) experienced senior experts.
Heiserer particularly highlights one group: “Our many project partners, who, despite some setbacks or suddenly arising obstacles, work tirelessly and undauntedly to ensure that all people can live well in this ONE world of ours.”
The 2023 annual report (including balance sheet and financial report) is available for download at: www.jugendeinewelt.at/jahresberichte