The Austrian Social Service (Österreichischer Sozialdienst) is part of the Austrian Service Abroad, founded by Andreas Maislinger in 1998. It offers the possibility to substitute the compolsary military service in Austria with a 12-months service abroad.
Mission and structure
The Social Service supports the social and economic development of a country. It can be done at various deployment locations that are operated by a multitude of partner organisations. Austrian Service Abroad currently offers 42 placements for social service. (as of February 2010). The partner organisations are spread over 4 continents and have a vast number of tasks and aims.
The placements are with projects for street children, educational projects and children's villages, projects to help the aged or handicapped, to provide medical care and to support homosexuals. Furthermore, there are environmental projects and projects supporting economic development in third-world countries.
Social service in England
The Royal London Society for the Blind is one of Austrian Service Abroad's oldest partner organizations. At the RLSB’s Dorton House School for blind and disabled children, Austrian social servants support the staff as assistant teachers, in and outside classes. Frequently, they also join the staff on the school’s several excursions, where additional help is always needed. With their work, Austrian Social Servants not only represent their home country in a unique way, but also contribute an important part to the success and welfare of the many students.
Argentina
Buenos Aires - Center for homeless children and adolescents Belgium
Brussels - European Disability Forum Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo - Phoenix Initiative Brasil
Alagoinhas - Associacao Lar Sao BeneditoLauro de Freitas - Community Centre Christ LiberatorRio de Janeiro - Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) China
Qiqihar - China SOS Children's Village Association Beijing, Qiqihar city, Helongjiang Province und Yantai City, Shandong Province Costa Rica
La Gamba - Tropical Field Station La GambaPuntarenas - Finca Sonador - Asociaicón de Cooperativas Europeas Longo MaiPuntarenas - Union de Amigos para la Protección del Ambiente (Unaproa)San Isidro - Asociación Vida Nueva Germany
Marburg - Terra Tech England
London - Royal London Society for the Blind Gabon
Lambaréné - Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital Guatemala
Quetzaltenango - Instituto de Formacion e Investigacion Municipal,Santa Rosita - Casa Hogar Estudiantil ASOL India
Auroville - Auroville Action Group (AVAG)Dharmshala - Nishtha, Nishtha - Rural Health, Education and Environment CentreDharmshala - Tibetan Children´s Village:*Dharmshala - Tibetan Welfare OfficeKerala - Mata Amritanandamayi Mission Israel
Jerusalem - St. Vinzenz-Ein Karem Kenya
Nairobi - Kenya Water for Health Organisation (KWAHO) Nicaragua
Granada - Fundación Casa de los tres mundosLeón - Campo Recreativo MILAVF Norway
Oslo - Jodisk Aldersbolig Pakistan
SOS children villages Pakistan http://www.sos.org.pk/ Karachi, Sialkot, Dodhial, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Lahore, Rawalpindi und Multan Peru
Huancayo - Unidad Territorial de Salud Daniel Alcides CarriónLima - The information and education centre for the prevention of drug abuse (CEDRO) Poland
Kraków - Polska Akcja Humanitarna Romania
Iaşi - The hope of Romanian children Russia
Moscow - Together For Peace (TFP)Moscow - Centre for social development and self-help "perspective" Czech Republic
Prague - Jüdische Gemeinde Uganda
Fort Portal - Mountains of the Moon University (MMU)Kabale - Diözese Kabale - Bishops House United States
New York - Gay Men's Health Crisis Belarus
Minsk - Belarusian Children's HospiceMinsk - 'Dietski dom no. 6' - Kinderheim no.6Minsk - Kindergarten for Children with Special Needs
