Image: oörk/hartl
It is the indescribably great gratitude of the patients that moves Hanna Mitterlehner the most at the Red Cross. “People entrust you with so many things and put everything on you, because you’re the first person to help them,” says the 20-year-old, who currently works at the Red Cross’s Linz-Stadt office. Because it wasn’t immediately clear to her which career path she wanted to take after graduating from HTL, the woman from Linz decided to do a voluntary social year with the Red Cross and has been in service since the beginning of September. “There are many moving stories and every day is different,” says Mitterlehner.
commitment to youth
The 20-year-old is one of 50 participants who started the voluntary social year at the Upper Austrian Red Cross last autumn. “Since 2016 it has been possible to do this social service at the Red Cross – both men and women. Every year we are happy that so many people want to get involved in this voluntary social year. Above all, the young adults benefit from the own life,” says Red Cross President Walter Aichinger.
From autumn, the Red Cross will also offer the opportunity to get involved with the Red Cross Youth in addition to the voluntary social year in the rescue service. “It’s about youth group lessons, visits to kindergartens to support the staff there, and also helping children to develop their reading skills,” says Erich Haneschläger, regional manager of the Upper Austrian Red Cross.
The voluntary social year can be completed from the age of 18. Participants receive pocket money of 320 euros and are on duty 34 hours a week. “The voluntary commitment in the country is outstanding. Almost every second Upper Austrian gets involved in their free time to help others. A total of 2.8 million hours are worked voluntarily every year,” says Red Cross President Aichinger.
Source: Nachrichten
