Culture buddies are volunteers who help overcome barriers and accompany individuals or small groups to arts and culture events. They act as gateways to cultural life, providing companionship, assistance, explanations, or simply being there.
Socially disadvantaged people rarely take advantage of cultural and leisure activities on their own, even when these are free of charge. The reasons for this are manifold: lack of information about existing opportunities, reduced mobility (for example, due to a lack of financial resources for public transportation), limited language skills, fear of venturing into the unknown, or physical and/or intellectual limitations.
Here come the culture buddies Their role involves supporting these individuals in their cultural participation, informing, motivating, and encouraging them to experience cultural and leisure activities together. Culture buddies are arranged through Caritas Vienna facilities, as well as through partner organizations of Hunger auf Kunst und Kultur (Hunger for Art and Culture) throughout Austria.
For people interested in culture who would like to support others, the project offers the opportunity for meaningful voluntary work.
Culture buddies facilitate and enable access to cultural offerings, motivating and encouraging people to take advantage of them. In doing so, they make a valuable contribution to cultural participation, learning about the values and norms of our society, language acquisition, and understanding historical contexts.
Conversely, encounters with people from homeless shelters and refugee centers, with disadvantaged families or individuals, and with people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities offer the opportunity to get to know and understand other ways of life. The result is enriching for both sides and strengthens cohesion in a diverse society.
Anyone interested in becoming a Culture buddy To engage, please simply send a short letter to kulturbuddy@caritas-wien.at report.
Further information here