Jugend Eine Welt asks for “donations instead of firecrackers” at the turn of the year | GF Heiserer: “Think of the people traumatized and suffering by rockets and war.”
Vienna (OTS) – “Millions of people in Ukraine have to spend the New Year in fear of missile attacks for the second year in a row. Project partners in the Middle East, whether from Syria, Lebanon or Bethlehem, tell us about an oppressive mood. Instead of throwing tens of euros into the air again this year, light fireworks of solidarity and give these people in need a little hope with your donation.”
asks Reinhard Heiserer, Managing Director of Jugend Eine Welta few days before New Year’s Eve.
School & kindergarten in Bethlehem affected
Since its founding 26 years ago, the Austrian development organization has supported, among other things, school and educational projects in the Global South. In Bethlehem, the long-standing Don Bosco project partners run a bakery as well as a kindergarten, a school and a youth center for around 300 children from the surrounding towns and villages of Bethlehem. But since October 7, 2023, the day of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and the associated start of the bloody conflict, everything has changed. “I recently received a dramatic cry for help from a kindergarten employee in Bethlehem. She wrote to me that many parents lost their jobs because of the war and could no longer afford school fees. As a result, the school lacks important income to pay teachers’ salaries and running costs. Radiators stay cold and the children freeze. In addition, families lack money for food. “The children come to school on empty stomachs.”
says Heiserer.
Great distress in Syria and Lebanon
But the situation is not only dramatic in Bethlehem. Innocent people also suffer from the consequences of military conflicts in the Youth One World project countries Syria and Lebanon. In the megacity of Aleppo, in the north of Syria, the aftermath of the devastating earthquake last February is causing additional suffering. “The destroyed houses can only be rebuilt slowly. Many residents still do not have a roof over their heads. The cold winter temperatures make them freeze. People are desperate. They find protection and help from our project partners, the Don Bosco Sisters, whose building was fortunately not destroyed.”said Heiserer.
Everyday life seems similarly hopeless for millions of people in Lebanon. “The situation is getting worse day by day. In three and a half years, the national currency has lost 98 percent of its value. More than 80 percent of the Lebanese population lives below the poverty line. According to the World Bank, Lebanon is experiencing one of the world’s worst economic crises since 1850.”describes Lina Abou Naoum, Don Bosco sister and project partner of Jugend Eine Welt in Beirut. Thanks to the support of Jugend Eine Welt, residents in need can be provided with a warm meal every day and their hunger can be satisfied for at least a few hours. “Unfortunately, the number of people in need will increase. The situation is critical. I would even say catastrophic.”so Lina Abou Naoum.
Winter emergency aid in Ukraine
Millions of Ukrainians are also exposed to violence and insecurity. There has been war in their homeland for 22 months. Many have fled, whether to a neighboring country or within Ukraine. Many are still holding out in their four walls, some of which have been severely damaged. But Russia’s concentrated bombardment of energy supplies is leaving houses and apartments cold. With the help of local project partners – in cooperation with Neighbor in Need and the Austrian Development Cooperation – Jugend Eine Welt supplies the population with firewood, but also electricity generators and power banks. There are also regular aid transports with food packages.
Please donate!
“In view of all these armed conflicts and the dramatic economic situation in our project countries, I ask you to refrain from buying New Year’s Eve rockets and instead donate the money intended for this purpose. In addition, setting off fireworks is dangerous. The environment is also unnecessarily polluted by the development of fine dust and animals suffer from the loud explosion noisesHeiserer asks that the New Year not be greeted with firecrackers, but with a sign of solidarity.
Further information at www.jugendeinewelt.at.
Youth One World donation account: AT66 3600 0000 0002 4000 | Online donations at www.jugendeinewelt.at/spenden | Donations are tax deductible!
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Thomas Zach, MA
Youth One World | Press and public relations
Tel. +43 664 886 325 74 | thomas.zach@jugendeinewelt.at