Unicef In Austria: Presence And Impact

UNICEF Austria has been active since at least 2013, when the Kinderfreundliche Gemeinden (Child-Friendly Communities) initiative was launched. The initiative, which is centered around seven thematic areas, aims to recognize municipalities that prioritize child-friendly decisions at the local level. As of 2024, 273 municipalities in Austria are participating in the initiative. UNICEF Austria also works to improve staff working conditions for better quality early childhood education and care in the country. Additionally, UNICEF has partnered with organizations such as ÖkoFEN to address water shortages and improve hygiene conditions in crisis areas worldwide.

UNICEF Austria's work in disaster relief

UNICEF Austria has been working to support children and families in emergencies since its foundation in 1989. The organisation is committed to improving conditions in crisis areas worldwide, with a focus on water and hygiene. Climate change has led to water shortages in many regions, impacting children's access to clean water. To address this, UNICEF Austria has partnered with companies such as ÖkoFEN, which donates a "Clean Water Package" for every All-in-One combi boiler sold in Europe. These packages contain water purification tablets that can make large quantities of water safe to drink at a low cost.

UNICEF Austria also works to improve staff working conditions for better quality early childhood education and care in the country. They support the European Pillar of Social Rights, which states that all children have the right to affordable and quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).

In addition to their work on water access and early childhood education, UNICEF Austria is also involved in disaster relief efforts. They are known for their quick response to emergencies, aiming to provide assistance within 72 hours of a crisis. UNICEF Austria has utilised solar-powered water pumps in Malawi to improve access to clean water for children and their families. They have also employed drones in southeast Africa, recognising their potential to save lives in remote areas frequently affected by natural disasters.

UNICEF Austria's disaster relief efforts extend beyond addressing water-related issues. They encourage individuals to create fundraising campaigns to support children worldwide. These campaigns can be tied to various occasions, such as charity runs, birthdays, corporate events, or memorable events. The funds raised through these campaigns directly benefit chosen UNICEF projects, allowing individuals to make a lasting impact on the lives of children in need.

Child-Friendly Communities initiative

UNICEF Austria has been working since 1992 to ensure that children in the country are aware of their rights and that these rights are upheld. UNICEF's Child-Friendly Communities initiative is a key part of this work.

The Child-Friendly Communities initiative recognises municipalities that are committed to implementing children's rights at the local level. To receive the "Child-Friendly Community" certificate, municipalities must participate in the "family-friendly municipality" audit, select three measures from seven child rights-related areas, and implement them within three years. The seven areas are: child-friendly administration/politics, participation, health, leisure, family and supplementary education, safety (including child and youth protection, traffic, playgrounds, etc.), and education.

UNICEF Austria has awarded the "Child-Friendly Community" and "Child-Friendly Region" certificates to over 350 municipalities, benefiting more than 322,000 children across the country. These municipalities are also part of the international Child Friendly Cities Initiative.

Examples of measures implemented by certified communities include:

• Youth sections in local newspapers
• Mayors' consultation hours for children and young people
• Youth websites with information from and for young people
• Legal advice and assistance with authorities (including voluntary lay interpreters)
• Youth parliaments or councils
• Surveys on topics or decisions affecting children and young people
• Healthy snacks for students
• First aid courses for children, young people, and parents
• Smoke-free playgrounds
• Affordable dance classes for young people
• Libraries and video libraries with child- and youth-appropriate media
• Public children's flea markets
• Family and supplementary education, such as after-school care
• Grandparent programmes
• Reading grandparents
• Expansion of childcare during school holidays
• Open house days at local clubs
• Safety measures, such as pedestrian crossings and 30 km/h zones near kindergartens and primary schools
• Reduced speed limits to reduce the risk of accidents in towns
• Youth taxi services in cooperation with local taxi companies
• Improved lighting on sidewalks
• Tutoring exchanges to support struggling students, with information published in official gazettes and on municipal websites
• Career information days in municipalities
• Apprenticeship and job exchanges, and information on training opportunities on municipal websites
• Peer mediation to prevent bullying in schools and to provide conflict resolution support
• Internships in municipalities
• Integration of local clubs into school operations, allowing clubs to present themselves to children and young people and shape school lessons

Fundraising campaigns

UNICEF Austria has been working since 1989 to improve the lives of children worldwide. The organisation is involved in various fundraising campaigns and initiatives to support children and families in emergencies and provide them with access to healthcare, nutrition, clean water, education, and more.

One of the ways UNICEF Austria raises funds is through individual and corporate donations. They encourage people to create their own fundraising campaigns around special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, corporate events, or charity runs. By sharing these campaigns on social media, individuals can reach out to their networks and collect donations for their chosen UNICEF project. This approach allows donors to make a lasting impact on the lives of children worldwide instead of giving gifts.

Companies can also get involved by dedicating staff events, summer parties, or company runs to raising funds for children in need. For example, ÖkoFEN, a company focused on environmental protection and climate change, entered into a long-term partnership with UNICEF Austria in 2019. For every All-in-One combi boiler sold in Europe, they donate a "Clean Water Package," which includes water purification tablets that can make large quantities of drinking water. This partnership addresses the issue of water shortages caused by climate change, ensuring that children worldwide have access to clean water.

UNICEF Austria also recognises "Child-Friendly Communities," an initiative that has been active since 2013. This initiative centres around seven thematic areas: child-friendly politics and administration, child participation, health, leisure, family and school care, safety, and education. Municipalities that wish to be recognised as child-friendly conduct a situation analysis and develop needs-based measures to improve children's rights. As of 2024, 273 municipalities in Austria are participating in this initiative, with Gabersdorf in Styria being the first to receive recognition.

Through these various fundraising campaigns and initiatives, UNICEF Austria works towards its mission of creating a better world for children, ensuring their rights, and providing them with the necessary support and resources to thrive.

Clean water packages

UNICEF Austria works to improve children's lives worldwide by providing healthcare, nutrition, clean water, education, and emergency aid. Climate change is causing water shortages in many regions, and children are often the worst affected.

To address this, UNICEF Austria has partnered with ÖkoFEN, a company committed to environmental protection and climate change mitigation. For every All-in-One combi boiler sold in Europe, ÖkoFEN donates a "Clean Water Package" to UNICEF Austria. These packages contain water purification tablets that can make large volumes of water safe to drink at a low cost. Each package can purify up to 20,000 litres of water, providing drinking water for those in need.

The partnership between UNICEF Austria and ÖkoFEN goes beyond the Clean Water Packages. To strengthen their collaboration, ÖkoFEN produced a special edition of its 100,000th pellet boiler, donating the proceeds to the United Nations Children's Fund. This donation is dedicated to projects focusing on water and climate protection.

UNICEF Austria's work in providing clean water extends beyond its partnerships. The organisation actively supports the Government of Mozambique in increasing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in rural areas. Collaborating with the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), UNICEF assists in funding the construction of solar-powered, multi-use water systems. These systems utilise existing boreholes with manual handpumps, enhancing their functionality by installing electric pumping mechanisms powered by solar energy. This approach not only ensures access to clean water but also promotes sustainability and carbon avoidance.

UNICEF's construction initiatives and partnerships are vital in addressing global water challenges and ensuring that children worldwide have access to safe and clean drinking water.

Early childhood education

In Austria, early childhood education institutions like kindergartens are the first education institutions in a child's life. Since 2009, kindergarten has been compulsory for 5-year-olds, with 20 hours per week of childcare provided free of charge. The Federal Government has also invested in the expansion of early childhood education, including a compulsory free kindergarten year before starting school and support for early language development.

ECE services in Austria include crèches for children under 3 years old and kindergartens for children aged 3 to 5 years, with some kindergartens catering to mixed-age groups from 1 to 5 years old. There is also a system of regulated home-based family daycare, where childminders look after young children before they start at a crèche or kindergarten, and sometimes after school.

The governance of the ECEC system in Austria is decentralised, with the nine federal provinces having exclusive authority over legislation and implementation in childcare outside the family before compulsory schooling begins. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research plays a key role in ECEC, overseeing areas such as language promotion, teaching values, and the transition from ECEC to school.

While public bodies operate the majority of daycare facilities, other providers include religious organisations and, to a lesser extent, companies. Fiscal measures related to family policy, such as family and childcare allowances, also fall within federal responsibility.

The demand for ECEC for children from 0 to 6 years old is rising in Austria, but a shortage of trained professionals has led to limited provision and decreased enrolment rates, especially for children aged 0 to 3. This shortage is attributed to factors such as differing staffing and employment conditions across provinces, low recognition and salary for ECEC staff, and high staff turnover.

To address these challenges, the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research has sought technical support through the European Union's Technical Support Instrument (TSI). The goal is to improve ECEC staff conditions, quality, and capacity, thereby enhancing the quality of education for young children in Austria. The long-term impact of this project is expected to strengthen the quality, availability, equity, and stability of the ECEC workforce in the country.

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