175 years of Vinzenzgemeinschaft Tyrol: Help and Hope for everyone

175 years of Vinzenzgemeinschaft Tyrol: Help and Hope for everyone

In 1849 the first Vinzenzgemeinschaft St. Jakob in Innsbruck was founded, which marked the beginning of a remarkable trip. This year, the Vinzenz communities in Tyrol celebrate their 175th anniversary. The communities are committed to the support of people in need and are an indispensable part of the region's social structure.

Currently there are 83 Vinzenz communities in Tirol, which consist of around 650 members and over 2100 employees. These groups provide help regardless of origin or the confession of religion. Their work benefits from a broad population. With over 400,000 people who can take advantage of support, this represents around 60 percent of the Tyrolean population. Annually, impressive 650,000 euros are distributed to those in need of help. It is noteworthy that all work is done on a voluntary basis, which means that every donation benefits directly to the needy.

The way to modern aid organization

The transformation of the Vinzenz communities in Tyrol to a modern aid organization began in 2000 when Christoph Wötzer took over the presidency. His father Oskar Wötzer encouraged him to lead the communities into the new millennium with modern communication means. In the past, the Vinzenz communities worked in many social areas, but have now specialized in specific core areas in order to be able to help more specifically. Christoph Wötzer emphasizes the important role of digital media and public relations in this development and explains that these measures have increased the awareness of the organization, which is particularly beneficial for people in need.

increasing awareness through public relations

A latest imad study shows that the Vinzenz communities in Tyrol have achieved a high level of awareness. According to the study, 67 percent of over 16-year-olds know the organizations. In the regions Imst and Landeck, a record of 82 percent was even recorded, while in Innsbruck 76 percent of the population know the work of the communities. It is noteworthy that even in Lienz, where there is no community, almost half of the population has at least one reason for the level of awareness of the Vinzenz communities.

KAROLINE KNITEL, President of the Vinzenzgemeinships Tyrol, emphasizes how important the continuous public relations work is for this positive trend. She explains: "The broad appearance of our website and the activities on social media help not only to increase our level of awareness, but also to strengthen trust in our work." It acknowledges that the Vinzenz communities makes a decisive contribution to social integration and the mediation of values in Tyrol. The high level of awareness among older people, who are often the main beneficiaries of support, is particularly gratifying. For over 70 years of age, this value is even remarkable 76 percent, which shows that many people remain mentally active and informed until old age.

The history and development of the Vinzenz communities is not only a narrative about a long period of time, but also a lively example of the influence of aid organizations on society. These developments illustrate the importance of communities that work for social issues and cover absolute necessities in times of crisis. More information on this topic can be found at www.top.tirol .