Team Austria: Stefan Pleger, Gabi Ziller with team
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Team Austria

TEAM AUSTRIA

A Chance for Children is a private organisation founded by enthusiastic and active Tyrolians.

Stefan Pleger has worked for aid organisations for over a decade and is a long-term member of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In 2008 he became associated with an orphan project in Zigoti, Uganda, which still receives support from Austria. On 5th April 2008 A Chance for Children was officially founded, with the aim of helping disadvantaged children in Uganda.

At the 2014 general assembly the executive board was confirmed for a further two years.

  • Founding director - Stefan Pleger


    Before setting up A Chance for Children, I was involved in different aid programmes in developing countries, spending time in Africa with MSF and on other operations worldwide. Amongst others, I worked in Darfur, Eritrea and Liberia, guided an operation in Somalia and helped in Indonesia after the tsunami.

    I studied civil engineering, followed by economics. For the past twenty years I have worked freelance in project management.

    Through A Chance for Children I know we can create change and I am grateful to all our supporters.

    In 2010 I was awarded "Austrian of the Year" in the category "Social and Humanitarian Aid"; I see this as recognition for our whole team.

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  • Schriftführer Stv. - David Croome

    A board member since 2010, I am responsible for communication with sponsors and the allocation of godchildren. 
    Working on two projects in Uganda convinced me of the importance of access to education. As a direct consequence, I became a teacher.

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  • Finance officer - Gabi Ziller

    With co-founder Stefan and our son, I spend two three month stays in Uganda every year. Since 2008 I have visited the country sixteen times and Zigoti has become my second home.

    As finance officer, I work closely with our social workers, manageress and secretary to improve our administration in Uganda. In addition, I ensure our volunteers settle in well. I love to develop and improve links with the local community. In Austria I am responsible for correspondence, emails and sponsorship administration; with Theresia I run the godchildren programme. 

    I studied English and Politics and worked in PR for over 15 years. Since our son's birth in 2011, family life has revolved around A Chance for Children.

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  • Deputy director - Thomas Knapp

    I am responsible for the organisation's work with disabled people and am the contact for schools. I also organise events in Austria  (thomas@kinderneinechance.at).

    In the course of four volunteering visits to Uganda, I have spent ten months there in total. I feel the organisation has already made a huge contribution to the country and can do still more in the future and I enjoy my involvement, whether in Austria or Uganda.


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  • Deputy secretary - Walter Voitl

    A CEO of a medical organisation, I have been on the board since 2012; my main responsibility is to select future volunteers.

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  • Deputy financial officer - Esther Wilhelm

    I am proud to have been a founding member of A Chance for Children and have visited Uganda several times to support projects.

    I am responsible for donations and for address and data management.

     

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  • Vorstandsmitglied - Alexandra Stix

    Die Arbeit von KINDERN EINE CHANCE habe ich 2013 kennengelernt, als ich für ein knappes halbes Jahr freiwillig vor Ort mitgearbeitet habe.

    Ich finde es im Allgemeinen wichtig, genau hinzuschauen, wie anvertraute Spendengelder eingesetzt werden - so auch im Bereich der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit. Die Art und Weise wie KINDERN EINE CHANCE arbeitet, hat mich schnell von deren Sinnhaftigkeit überzeugt.

    Es geht klar darum, möglichst vielen Kindern und Jugendlichen eine solide Schul- und praktische Berufsausbildung zu ermöglichen. Hierbei wird viel Wert auf die Qualität der Ausbildung sowie auf die Förderung von sozialen und persönlichen Kompetenzen gelegt.

    Herausragend ist für mich das breite Unterstützungsangebot für Kinder mit Behinderung, das ihre Selbstständigkeit stärkt und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe fördert.

    Was KINDERN EINE CHANCE weiters auszeichnet: Der Ressourceneinsatz wird bedacht geplant, gemeinsam mit den lokalen Mitarbeiter:innen abgestimmt und streng kontrolliert.

    Seit 2016 bin ich für die Patenschaftsverwaltung bei KINDERN EINE CHANCE zuständig. Ich bin ausgebildete Ergotherapeutin, habe langjährige Erfahrung im Sozial- und Gesundheitsbereich und studiere aktuell mathematisch-technische Softwareentwicklung. Ich bin Mutter von zwei Kindern.

     

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Besides our executive board, we have a huge number of volunteers working to support our organisation. We would like to acknowledge a few of them:

  • DDr. Barbara Rizzoli-Ellenhuber und Mag. Rene Gsaxner for auditing.
  • Barbara Leopold who is responsible for school programmes. 
  • Sofie Kraus  and Christine Stadler  who support us with sales of handicrafts from Uganda.
  • Katharina Marschall, a founding member, who supports the organisation in all design aspects.
  • Valentina Weiskopf who is responsible for the notebook programme 1+1
  • Martin Zangerl , who designed this website. (Web: www.zmart.at)
  • Alexandra Stix who takes responsibility for sponsorship administration

 

  • Organisation's headquaters: Blasius-Hölzl-Weg 16, 6176 Völs ZVR: 515006650
  • Link to the register of association at the Austrian Ministry of the Interior

 

Copyright: The copyright (c) for all pictures is held by Stefan Pleger, except where otherwise marked.