Austria

Austria is landlocked in Europe, bordering the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, and Italy. The capital is Vienna. In 2004 its population was estimated at 8.2 million with a growth rate of 0.14 percent. German is the official national language, but Slovene, Croation, and Hungarian are also officially spoken in separate parts of the country.

Since joining the European Union in 1995, foreign investment has increased because of the proximity to other prosperous EU countries. However, the real economic growth rate slumped in 2001 and is just now beginning to pick up again, although in 2003 it was estimated at 0.7 percent. Austria currently contributes £250 million in aid to other countries. In 1999, 3.9 percent of Austria's people were living below the poverty line and there are programmes that deal with poverty and street children within Austria. However, most of organisations deal with street children overseas because of the relative prosperity of Austria.

Members

Action International Ministries

SOS Children's Villages

Publications

Life without Basic Service ''Street Children Say''
This study builds on the learning of Street Diary (Save the Children UK, 2001), giving theopportunity for a group of children to represent their own analysis of their situation. Itexamines the human and emotional dimension of life on the street. This is not astatistical or quantitative research but is representative of the feelings of children livingon the street about their lives and organisations working with them.

Networking for Policy Change: An Advocacy Training Manual

Organizational Diagnosis for Advocacy
When groups are considering advocacy, it is helpful for them to assess what advocacy actually can offer their organization, what some of the benefits and risks might be and what organizational barriers might influence their success.

Resources