Austria's Youth-Led Campaign Raises €20M to Fight Global Poverty and Child Labour
Austria's annual Dreikönigsaktion has raised over €20 million to combat poverty and child labour worldwide. The campaign, led by children and young people, supports hundreds of projects in struggling regions. Organisers are now urging the government to take stronger action against child exploitation.
This year, 85,000 children and teenagers, backed by 30,000 adults, collected €20.2 million in donations across Austria. The funds will go towards improving living conditions and ensuring dignity for those in need. The Dreikönigsaktion currently supports around 500 development projects in impoverished areas globally.
The initiative also focuses on ending child labour, a problem affecting 138 million children worldwide, according to the International Labour Organization. Despite this, Austria has not yet joined *Alliance 8.7*, an international group working to eliminate child labour. While countries like Germany, France, and the Netherlands are members, Austria remains absent. Martina Erlacher, federal chairwoman of the Catholic Youth, thanked all participants for their efforts. Alongside other Austrian NGOs, the Dreikönigsaktion is now calling on the federal government to join the *Stop Child Labor* alliance and take concrete steps against exploitation.
The €20.2 million raised will fund education, healthcare, and livelihood projects in disadvantaged communities. The campaign's push for Austria to join Alliance 8.7 could strengthen global efforts to protect children. Organisers hope for government action to match the public's generosity.
