Departure for Dhaka – With the Austrian Doctors in Bangladesh
The decision to join the Austrian Doctors in Bangladesh after my retirement came surprisingly quickly – and it immediately felt right.
The decision to join the Austrian Doctors in Bangladesh after my retirement came surprisingly quickly – and it immediately felt right.
Our trip to Kenya this year was marked by many moving moments, personal encounters, and encouraging developments in the projects.
On August 23 and 24, 2025, we had the opportunity to host a booth at the Salzachgalerien for the first time.
With Fit-Flip and TerraTherm, we are delighted to have committed partners at our side who make a direct difference through their social commitment.
In Busa, Ethiopia, work to expand the water supply is making visible progress.
In spring, several important workshops and training sessions were held in Awasi, Kenya, dealing with key issues of health education, personal development and career prospects.
After the summer break, classes at St. Francis Assisi School started on June 12 – with a high level of participation.
In June, our medical centers in Bangladesh were once again able to provide numerous people with access to free treatment and medicines.
Once again this year, Scheffau elementary school organized its annual charity run at the end of June. An event that has become an integral part of the school year and has served a specific purpose for several years: to support the Eroret School in Kenya.
We are delighted to announce that our Annual Report 2024 has now been published on our website and is available to download free of charge.
After Austrian Doctors had been able to run an information stand as part of the “Sport Mall” of the running festival in the city of Mozart, as in previous years, the highlight was on Saturday, 17.5.2025 – the integration run “One Mile for a Smile”.
On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the time had come: the popular cabaret artist Roland Düringer performed for the Austrian Doctors for the first time.
Easter is a special time of year for many people.
Easter traditionally stands for hope, confidence and solidarity – values that also guide our work at Austrian Doctors every day.
This year, the giant Easter egg campaign is taking place in Großgmain – a joint project that not only shows art, but also heart.
A tree planting workshop for the local community took place in Awasi, Kenya. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness of environmentally friendly agriculture – and to convey concrete, applicable strategies. The participants worked, discussed and planted intensively together.
Eid-ul-Fitr is one of the most important religious festivals in Islam – also for the girls and boys in our scholarship program in Dhaka, Bangladesh. In personal messages, they told us about their preparations, customs and the special atmosphere surrounding the festival.
International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide on March 8 – a day that commemorates the fight for equal rights and draws attention to the fact that women still face major challenges in many parts of the world.
Giving the future with a garden calendar – school project for the Austrian Doctors.
After assignments in Africa, Dhaka was my first in an Asian country. After my long flight, I was warmly welcomed in the middle of the night by Babul, the coordinator of all Austrian Doctors projects in Bangladesh. This warmth accompanied us throughout the entire assignment.
On 04.02.2025 we were part of the marketplace of good business in Salzburg – organized by the Fundraising Association Austria, Wirtschaft hilft and respACT.
I felt accepted by incredibly friendly people wherever I went and learned a lot from them in this very different culture.
Three weeks in Dhaka – of shining children’s eyes and moving experiences
The year 2024 was very eventful – both in terms of work in Austria and project work on the ground.
Christmas letter from our co-founder and deputy chairman Dr. Christian Gruber.
Petra, Marina and Elena, three students from the HBLW Wels, collected donations for our Manda School as part of their diploma thesis “Fighting child poverty”.
For us, Christmas is a celebration of joy, charity and community.
However, Christmas is not celebrated in the same way everywhere and traditions and customs differ from country to country. We asked children and project managers from our four project countries Kenya, India, Ethiopia and Bangladesh what Christmas is like for them.
Iris and Leonie, two doctors from Austria, volunteered as doctors in our projects in Bangladesh in October 2024. Here is a short review from them:
Review of the charity exhibition at Galerie Ropac: Yesterday evening (25.11.2024), the renowned Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Salzburg opened its doors for a very special event: the opening of the charity exhibition for the benefit of Austrian Doctors, which runs until December 21, 2024.
Last Sunday, November 24, a special charity matinee was held in aid of the Austrian Doctors. The actor and cabaret artist Erwin Steinhauer read two novellas by Joseph Roth: “Der Vorzugsschüler” and “Die Büste des Kaisers”.
On 11.11.24 we were able to show our film “Endstation Dhaka” for the first time at Das Kino Salzburg.
During the project trip to Kenya, we had the opportunity to see many positive developments in our projects.
Music brings people together: This was also clearly evident at our charity concert.
On Friday evening, we were able to experience a special charity concert with the band Querschläger, which was a complete success in every respect.
Once again this year, we had the honor of being a charity partner at the Salzburg Everyman Run – a great event that focuses not only on top sporting performance, but also on team spirit and support for a good cause.
Our water project in Busa, Ethiopia, is an important step towards clean water for all.
Water is life: Here in Austria it is a matter of course, but in many places in the world it is an absolute exception: clean drinking water, the wet gold.
The early summer of 2024 was characterized by violent protests in Bangladesh. We are in constant contact with our local project partner to get the latest news from Bangladesh.
Many thanks to the theater group of Golling Middle School for the great charity theater at Golling Castle for the benefit of Austrian Doctors.
In April 2024, our long-standing Awasi project partner passed away after a short, serious illness. There was a big farewell for Rose Omina with the whole community.
Our “Sound of Family” charity concert with star violinist Benjamin Schmid and his family took place on June 9. It was unique!
This year was our 6th time as a charity partner for the integration run of the running festival in the city of Mozart. Here is a short review of the “One Mile for a Smile” run 2024.
Together with Dr. Christian Gross and Dr. Christian Gruber from the Executive Board, we went on a project trip to Bangladesh and India.
We are delighted to be able to present our latest project, the “Elisabeth Bernecker Community and Health Center Jamalpur”, to you today!
Our Mobile Clinic started operations in February 2024. The background to this is that many people in Dhaka are so poor that they cannot afford transportation to our medical project.
The big vacation is over – all our schools in India, Bangladesh and Kenya reopened their doors in January 2024.
A lot has happened in 2023! A big thank you to all of you – because it’s your support that makes our work possible! Find out more here in our review of 2023.
The El Nino weather phenomenon caused devastation in Kenya in November and December 2023 – and claimed over 120 lives.
In February 2023, the time had come again – a project trip to Bangladesh and India!
Heroes are not born, but become heroes thanks to their deeds in life.
Help in difficult situations. The drought in Kenya is currently affecting many people.