A nasty surprise for a single mother in Burgenland: the kindergarten did not allow her daughter a hot meal. Instead, the advice was to just bring an extra snack.
Tanja K. (name has been changed) has endured a lot. The woman from Burgenland was abandoned by her partner, had to take care of herself with the children, had two jobs and ended up in hospital for six months. This created a lack of money and, together with the debts that her ex-partner had left her, the single mother was left with a private bankruptcy.
The past became fatal
But then the woman found a job and started working again. However, when she sent her youngest daughter to kindergarten, there was a nasty surprise. She was told that her daughter could not be registered for lunch.
The reason: when the money was gone, there were arrears for her son’s afternoon care. Apparently the kindergarten administrator hadn’t forgotten that. However, in the event of a private bankruptcy, the kindergarten would not have filed any claims, says K. The kindergarten operator told her to simply pack more snacks for her daughter.
Single mother had to give up her job
For the same reason, no afternoon care was possible for the little one. The single mother had to quit her job to take care of her daughter. After a few weeks, she was told by the kindergarten that lunch was possible again. Condition: Proof that you work.
“You just feel shabby”
It was very dear to her, says K. “You just feel poor.” Her daughter even thought she shouldn’t eat anything in kindergarten. The woman from Burgenland now wants to show that when it comes to childcare, not everything is pure luck.
Single parents in the poverty trap
Anika Karall of the association “Single parent – but not alone” can only shake her head in this case. “In a country like Austria, it cannot be the case that children do not get lunch if their parents want to work. Such preconditions reduce the future prospects of children and families.”
The case also shows how difficult it is for many single parents to break out of the poverty trap. “Despite the country’s anti-inflation measures, most of the association’s clients no longer know how to pay their rent, groceries, utility bills, or even school events,” says Karall. It needs more support. Many would live on the poverty line.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
