Joining Hands to Help Children

UNWG Charity for Children

MISSION OF THE UNWG CHARITY PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN:

Each year the UNWG financially supports many children’s charities in Austria and through out the world. This project-based program is organized for the sole purpose of benefiting children in need. The UNWG charity program assists abused children, those having restricted access to education, children with serious health problems, children having no access to clean drinking water, victims of calamity or catastrophe, orphans, children with special needs or children suffering from extreme poverty or starvation. Over the last 50 years a total of more than €5 million has been raised and disbursed to these projects. You may find a few of the implemented projects here.

Due to the pandemic the UNWG severely restricted its activities during 2020-2021, cancelling the 2021 International Festival Bazaar, the major fundraising source for the charity program. Thus no grants were provided in 2021 and 2022. With the pandemic receding, the UNWG resumes the International Festival Bazaar on 3 December 2022. All proceeds from the Bazaar will go to the charity program

Already submitted applications of 2021 and 2022 remain valid (as do the forms for new applications), and they will be considered in 2022. The application forms in multiple languages may be downloaded from the list below on this page.

Application

Project selection criteria:

Projects must benefit children no older than 18 (21 if disabled), or mother/child care programs.
The services of the organization must be available to all children without discrimination, regardless of race, gender, ethnic origin or religion.
Projects must be sustainable and have continuation plans. Requests should address basic needs in health, education, water and shelter, focusing on long term assistance (e.g. clean water supply, sanitation facilities, school construction or repair, classroom furniture, educational or vocational materials/equipment, medical equipment, special needs support.)
Applicant organizations must be registered as charities with their government.
Application forms in 7 languages are available online (see links below).

Process

Selection Process

Once a year, a committee of UNWG members reviews over 100 applications and recommends a selected number for the UNWG general membership to approve. The funds are usually disbursed within the year. For example, in 2020, the UNWG members approved €127,030 for 19 projects in 19 countries, serving 35,529 children and 13,572 women. This amount was raised by members of the UNWG in 2019 through a variety of activities, including the International Festival Bazaar and other fundraisers such as the UNWG Kiosk, as well as donations received.

Project Approval

The conditions for funding are:

Maximum funding allowed for each project is €10,000 or equivalent in US dollars. Funding for a specific part of a project may be approved.
Funds may be used only for the project presented and approved. The Charity Review Committee must endorse any change in the utilization of funds in advance.
The Charity Review Committee monitors the projects to ensure that funds are used for the intended purpose. On completion of the project, a written report is submitted to the UNWG by the organization, including a financial accounting of fund utilization.