Topnews, Südafrika in Österreich

17. Juli 2015

NELSON MANDELA INTERNATIONAL DAY 2015

TAKE ACTION.

INSPIRE CHANGE.

MAKE EVERY DAY A MANDELA DAY.

To mark Nelson Mandela International Day 2015 the South African Embassy and Permanent Mission in Vienna organised a collection drive for the NGO VinziPort, a shelter for homeless men in Vienna. The Embassy staff, fellow South Africans in Austria as well as contacts of the Embassy were encouraged to donate items such as toiletries and food stuffs as part of the Nelson Mandela Day outreach. A hotel, where a fellow South African works, was able to arrange a big contribution for the Embassy’s collection drive consisting of blankets and pillows and flip-flops.

The donations were officially handed over to the Manager of VinziPort, Mr Günter Sigl by Mrs Lydia Greyling, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy in Vienna on 17 July 2015 at 9.00 hrs at the VinziPort House, Rennweg 89A, 1030 Vienna.

VinziPort is part of the Vincent Communities, the biggest association of laymen in the world. The Vincent Communities form groups that are self-dependent and work on a voluntary basis. It is their endeavour to help the poor and reintegrate them into society again. At present there are 50.000 groups in 148 countries and 146 of them are in Austria.

VinziPort is a night shelter for homeless men in Vienna. It has 27.000 overnight stays and provides 27.000 cooked meals per year and has facilities for 55 men.

Mr Sigl thanked the Embassy and all South Africans for the very generous donations.

The Embassy would like to thank all friends for their support in helping change the lives of people for the better as part of Nelson Mandela International Day 2015.

Photo: Mr Günter Sigl (Manager of VinziPort) and Mrs Lydia Greyling (Chargé d’Affaires a.i.)

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