social
“Toast bread time” is what children in Vorarlberg call the days towards the end of the month when their families run out of money. According to calculations by Volkshilfe Austria, 18,000 children in Vorarlberg are at risk of poverty or exclusion. A basic child security must be created.
18,000 children and young people in Vorarlberg are at risk of poverty or exclusion. Volkshilfe Director Erich Fenninger, who also stopped in Vorarlberg as part of a tour of Austria, draws attention to this. For these young people, it’s not about giving up prestige or branded items, says Fenninger.
children and poverty
The “Volkshilfe Österreich” demands a basic child security of 200 euros for every child living in Austria.
Too little food, clothing, heating
“They don’t have enough to eat at the end of the month, they don’t have enough to wear in winter, the apartments are always cold,” says Fenninger: “They have far fewer friends and therefore far fewer opportunities to develop social skills. This has consequences for the school career.
Tomorrow’s unemployed and poor
“When they start school, we know that their development of skills is 40 percent worse,” says the Volkshilfe director: “It is therefore no coincidence that they have a short educational career. These are the unemployed and poverty-affected adults of tomorrow. “
Petition for basic child security
To counteract this, Fenninger proposes basic child security. That would be around 200 euros for all children living in Austria and additional support for the children of lower-income parents. Cost according to Fenninger: two billion euros.
“We could afford that all children – including those who just have poor parents or parents who now have low incomes – are supported with money so that they learn self-efficacy, are in the education system for a long time and then become independent people who be able to work.”
With a Petition Volkshilfe now wants to abolish child poverty or bring about basic security for children. This petition can also be signed online.