Mitigating poverty and empowering young women and families in Austria

What’s the issue?

Poverty poses a significant challenge, disproportionality impacting women and children, limiting their access to education, healthcare and basic resources. In fact, 18% of the Austrian population (around 1.5 million people) are at risk of poverty or marginalisation and 4% are ‘significantly materially deprived’. Women (especially over 65 years) are more at risk of poverty than men, and a quarter of the population in poverty are children.[1] What’s more, according to the OECD, risk of poverty in Austria is four times higher for migrants than for the native population.

How are we addressing it?

Education serves as a transformative key, empowering individuals to break the chains of poverty by fostering knowledge, skills and opportunities for a brighter future. Seizing the power of education to help improve the livelihoods of women and children, Forvis Mazars in Austria and Wiener Samariterbund launched PowerLEO in 2023, an empowerment programme for young girls aged 6-14, and families from migrant backgrounds, who are at risk of poverty.

Through the programme, individuals are given the opportunity to participate in workshops developed to increase self-esteem, experience educational counselling beyond stereotyped ‘women's professions’ and go on excursions to educational institutions and companies, where they can get to know role models, including female leaders across Mazars and important figures in Austria, such as Alma Zadic, the Austrian Minister of Justice.

PowerLEO also offers creative workshops and a variety of sports, from soccer to self-defence and yoga.

What’s the lasting impact?

By bringing young girls and families together, PowerLEO creates a safe space where young girls can develop freely and dream big. It gives them the courage and support to create the future that they want for themselves.

And the success hasn't gone unnoticed — in December 2023, the project won the Austrian integration award, a significant prize from the federal ministry. 

Commenting on the programme, Sewan Mossessian-Takvorian, Head of Marketing and Communications at Forvis Mazars in Austria, said:

"We are passionate about helping young people on their path to education and finding their place in society. I'm really looking forward to telling the girls a little bit about me and my path, and I feel honoured to be able to act as a role model. The more women they meet who have broken stereotypes, the more it strengthens their conviction to follow their path."

[1]1.3.a-report-AT-1.pdf (sdgwatcheurope.org)