Generation “mayBE”

Lisa Koerbler, Austria

Who is searching will find it. Equal if in Austria, in the UK or in the Balkan region. Youth problems are spreading like pandemia. Unemployment, drug problems, unwanted pregnancies are only the best-known topics, with which youngsters have to struggle. “Gain and sustain” a non-governmental organization gives help.

“Gain and sustain” is an organization which was founded 2009 in Graz, Austria to look after the well-being of Austrian youngsters. To win sustainable is the main goal of the company. At present there are 25 people at the age of 18-30 who want to share knowledge and ability in various areas.

“The key to solve all these problems is a solid education. Some youngsters are in crisis and we want to help them with non-formal education to find a way for a better future.”, the words of Martina Maria Linzer, one of the founder of “gain and sustain”.

The foundation doesn’t offer only direct local help in form of educational seminars, workshops and so on, furthermore is the organization offering to attend diverse interesting projects to various topics in nearly every country in Europe. The most important thing for “gain and sustain” is to offer chances and activities to young boys and girls. To give a direction would not make any sense, but to show some ways and talents can change life’s. It is exactly this topic, to which the NGO highly cares.

The target group are especially boys and girls, who are interested in an intercultural-dialog, youngsters who have a view beyond the horizon and boys and girls who look for adventures. “Gain and sustain” is only one of many non-governmental organizations in Europe, who offers to attend projects in different countries.

These projects, which were lasting mostly 7 days take place to different themes. It does not matter whether you are a food-junkie or an entrepreneur in the foreground stands the intercultural exchange to share skills and knowledge between European youngsters.

Further not only young people are cordially invited to use these projects. Over Erasmus+ “elder youngsters” have the chance to travel round Europe in the name of “gain and sustain” too! The newest initiative “Give chances, live chances” is a prizewinning initiative to fight poverty and to build executives. It offers a new way to the management development and it creates new perspectives for young people who find themselves in difficult situations at the same time.

The special thing in this innovative leading power development-programme is that there will be created a win and win situation. The mentors are learning social competences with the true life stories of the youngsters and give concrete perspectives for a successful and professional boom plus individual mission.

This conjunction over social responsibility of the economy with concrete tasks of charitable facilities like NEUSTART, SOS Kinderdorf and the deaconry offers new forms of understanding for humans with different social backgrounds.

Not only international partners are playing a big role for “gain and sustain”, but also the catholic church is a big sponsor of the NGO. A common goal is it to convey religion and tolerance in Austria. “The perfect participant doesn’t exist” according to Martina Maria Linzer “Young active people, who love variety, who are interested in diverse adventures and who are enthusiastic about such things are invited to become part of “gain and sustain”, to make together this world a little bit better.