Austrian Red Cross expands volunteer reading program in Vienna

The Austrian Red Cross is expanding a pilot project in Vienna that utilizes volunteer reading mentors to support children in kindergartens. Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has engaged 100 volunteers and reached 4,600 children.

Volunteers visit facilities once or twice a week to read to individuals or small groups. The program aims to foster language skills, listening, concentration, and expression, providing particular benefits to children for whom German is not a first language. To ensure quality, mentors undergo training in pedagogy and literacy. Plans are underway to increase the number of volunteers, participating facilities, and educational offerings in the coming years.