Everyone can contribute to a world where all people can live in dignity and liberty: Buying fair-trade products, getting to know and respecting foreign cultures, engaging in development cooperation and environmental protection in your own community, working in an organisation, donating or writing letters to the editor are just a few ways of doing something for sustainable development. Working for development has an effect.

Fair prices

Commitment to development in everyday life also means paying ‘fair' prices. Products with the FAIRTRADE quality label are foods of the highest quality and guarantee producers in developing countries an adequate and fair wage for their work.

Travelling and learning

The way we travel can also contribute to sustainable development, respect for foreign cultures and soft tourism being two notions here. Many institutions in Austria are engaged with foreign cultures and provide a place of encounter, since development policy is also concerned with how we treat foreigners and fostering a cosmopolitan attitude here in Austria. The foundations for this are already laid in childhood. Pedagogic projects and initiatives in education, but also in leisure activities for children and youth, make a valuable contribution.

Personal commitment

Money also helps of course. Private donations support specific projects by non-governmental organisations (NGOs). These also offer short trial periods, weekend seminars or longer assignments for volunteers. Together with experienced experts, those interested in helping can do something practical, in Austria and abroad.

Bringing communities together

Town twinnings are an excellent example of cooperation across borders and often over thousands of miles. Personal contact to the partners at the ‘other end of the world' brings different cultures closer together, quite often providing practical support in the process.