In April, our co-founder and Deputy Chair, Dr. Christian Gruber, went on a project trip to India and Bangladesh. One of the main focuses of his trip was the further development of our medical projects, which were implemented or set in motion later in the year. New locations for our Mobile Clinic were rented in Kilgaun and Gandaria and equipped in a way that allowed the quality of our medical work to be elevated to a higher level.
At the beginning of 2026, we plan to purchase additional medical equipment, including a large ultrasound machine, an ECG, a clinical-biochemical analyzer, a hematology analyzer, and more, to further enhance the standard of our work. The goal is to conduct more examinations on-site and also to analyze blood samples and other tests independently. This will allow us to save costs in the long term.
In addition to our two male doctors, a local female physician was also employed in the second half of 2026. She now works every day in our clinic in Manda, providing excellent coverage in the area of women’s health.
On May 1st, Roland Düringer performed for us for the first time. At the nearly sold-out Odeion Salzburg, with almost 350 attendees, he gave his highly successful “Regeneration Evening 2.0.” This entertaining performance heavily incorporates audience input, so no two shows are alike.
As in previous years, we were once again a charity partner in May for the “One Mile for a Smile” integration run. With our enthusiastic running team, it was a great joy to participate in the event and to feel the positive energy of all the participants.
Also in May, our founder and long-time Chair, Dr. Werner Waldmann, stepped down from the active board at our general meeting. However, he remains involved with the association as an “Honorary Chair,” and we are grateful and happy to continue having him by our side.
In Dr. Waldmann’s place, teacher Mag.a Helga Längauer-Hohengaßner joined our board. With her many years of experience in the field of education, she is the perfect addition to help improve our educational projects and ensure their long-term sustainability.
We are pleased to now have a board composed of three women and three men, all of whom are deeply committed to our projects on a voluntary basis.
In August, we were represented for the first time with an information booth at the Salzachgalerien. There was great interest in our work, and through this, we were able to make many new contacts and draw attention to our upcoming events.
In September, a large travel group departed for Kenya, consisting of board members Dr. Pia Nigisch, Mag.a Helga Längauer-Hohengaßner, our Chair Dr. Christian Gross, and our Managing Director Mag.a Isabella Röhrich. They were accompanied by a film crew. The trip to Kenya was marked by moving encounters and positive developments in our projects.
At the MAA Eroret School, the ceremonial opening of the boarding school was a particular highlight. Fifty-four girls have already moved in and now have a safe place to live and learn. The structured daily schedule combines lessons, study periods, sports, and community activities. Evening study sessions are now also being used by many external students. The Eroret School continues to grow and is currently attended by 322 children.
The agricultural project and the well are functioning well, and on the school’s own fields, students not only learn about vegetable cultivation, but a large portion of the school meals is also grown there. With the dedicated social worker Christine and the Rainworkers, families are supported and important workshops are offered within the community. Home visits once again highlighted the severe poverty and the urgent need for education.
In Awasi, the new community center and well were inaugurated. The well allows agricultural projects to begin there as well and provides access to clean drinking water. A medical camp treated around 450 people, with Dr. Pia Nigisch serving as gynecologist and Dr. Christian Gross as general physician. Women’s groups strengthen their families through small income-generating projects. The nursery school is also developing very well.
In October, our Managing Director Severin Schwaiger M.A. traveled to Bangladesh and India for two weeks on a project trip. He brought with him the Austrian Doctors’ new child protection guidelines, which were discussed in all projects and will now be implemented in the annual “Child Protection Workshops.” Every staff member is required to sign to confirm that they understand the guidelines and will act accordingly.
The school projects in Bangladesh continue to run very well. At the Training Center, Schwaiger was able to observe the operations of the various courses. With the medical team, he visited the new locations of the “Mobile Clinic” and also spent a significant amount of time at the Medical Center in Manda. The new project site in Gazipur, where the groundbreaking for the “Elisabeth Bernecker Community and Health Center” will take place in 2026, was also inspected.
After a week, he continued on to India, where he was able to gain a comprehensive overview of the projects there. As in the past, it was a pleasure to see the motivated teachers at the St. Francis Assisi School again and to experience daily school life with almost 500 students. Classes are running smoothly, and the additional projects in Howrah, including the medical programs at “Golden Heaven,” continue to provide many people with access to basic healthcare that they would otherwise lack.
At our partner organization Kamina, he spent a day at the Ashram (a home for elderly people who would otherwise be homeless) and also visited a medical camp in one of the countless brick factories. Poverty remains widespread in both countries, and thus the need for our work continues to be great. Nevertheless, it was once again a tremendous joy to meet so many dedicated staff members who actively support us in implementing the projects on the ground.
In October, we held a donor meeting with a focus on Kenya. The board members, freshly returned from the recent project trip, shared their insights and experiences from the journey. The event generated great interest, making it a format we plan to continue in 2026.
In November, we held our first inheritance law information session. In a small, confidential setting, our inheritance law expert guided us through Austrian inheritance law, with ample opportunity to ask questions and receive detailed answers. The topics were illustrated with practical examples, making it a very engaging evening. We also saw that there is genuine interest in this subject, so at least one inheritance law information session will be held again in 2026.
On November 22, Austrian Doctors held its largest benefit concert to date. Seven hundred and fifty attendees came to the “Großer Saal der Stiftung Mozarteum” in Salzburg to attend the event “Tod eines Pudels.” This highly entertaining program, featuring Angelika Kirchschlager and Alfred Dorfer, focuses primarily on the humor in classical music—especially the unintentional kind. He wants to understand it all. And who better to introduce him to the world of classical music than them?
While the success of the benefit event was still resonating with us, we received a shocking message from Bangladesh: the Korail slum in Dhaka, where we also run a school and a medical project, was on fire. The next day, it became clear that the school building had survived, but the families of our students, like tens of thousands of other residents, had lost everything in the flames.
We immediately launched an emergency relief program, and the local team on site began cooking meals. The primary goal was to support the families of our students, with aid initially planned for around 1,250 people. However, due to the massive need, up to 2,000 people were provided with meals daily.
Since the families had lost everything, we also purchased blankets, tarpaulins, and dishes to help them survive. A report on our emergency relief was broadcast on ORF’s “Salzburg Heute,” and an emergency aid mailing helped cover most of the costs of the support.
As every year, our booth at the charitable Christmas market in Salzburg provided a fitting conclusion to our year. From December 12–18, we ran the booth, which is entirely staffed by a large team of volunteers. Due to this year’s cold temperatures, our offerings of homemade (children’s) punch and mulled wine were very popular. On some evenings, friendly musicians played live Christmas music, adding an extra special touch of magic to the experience.
From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank all our volunteers who have supported us so actively throughout the year. Our gratitude also goes to the approximately 150 staff members working in our projects in Bangladesh, India, Kenya, and Ethiopia, who provide outstanding support on the ground. And, of course, a huge thank you goes to our donors—without whom we could never carry out our projects.
