The years of crises have also left their mark on civil society organisations. They are in demand as never before, but they themselves are struggling with inflation and the commitment of the volunteers, without whom the work would not be possible.
Two years of pandemic, war in Europe and a huge wave of inflation. More and more people in Vienna are confronted with challenges that they can no longer handle alone. Civil society organizations are in demand like never before. “It’s paradoxical! On the one hand, we are in a situation where aid organizations are needed more than ever. At the same time, the federal government is leaving us in the dark when it comes to financial support in these challenging times,” criticizes Reinhard Hundsmüller, federal director of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund. But it is not only the financial situation that proves to be difficult. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to find the volunteers without whom the homeless services, social markets, fire brigade or rescue services would not work.
Unpaid work that costs money
There are many reasons for this: it is becoming increasingly difficult to combine voluntary work with professional life. Volunteers often have to raise money themselves for their unpaid efforts. The insurance issue is also not always clear.
Attacks on volunteers
According to a Civil Defense Agenda survey, there were (verbal) attacks on every fourth person(!) during the pandemic. 40 percent are already thinking of ending or reducing their voluntary work. “We noticed that the crisis is a major challenge to retain and motivate the volunteers,” said Thomas Stockhammer of the aid organization. The constantly changing framework conditions can wear out even the most dedicated. And that can have major negative consequences.
Some go, some stay
During the pandemic, some volunteers stopped working in the Neunerhaus, for example for fear of contamination. At Caritas, about 4,000 people regularly help out at the various facilities in Vienna. If necessary, guidance is also provided to volunteers. One of the hardworking helpers is Peter, who has been with us since 2015. “I enjoy doing it. I like it because everyone involved is very involved,” says the 67-year-old. He is currently helping in the donation shop. Fortunately, he is not thinking about stopping.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
