At youngCaritas Salzburg, young people take on a practical task. They find sponsors for completed running laps, collect needed supplies or deposit bottles and cans, and turn reading into donations for people in need. At youngCaritas, a workshop is a guided activity for a school class.

youngCaritas organises social actions and educational activities. Participation is arranged in advance for the chosen format. It is not an open youth hangout that you can drop into without registering. If you want to act as part of a group, explore a social issue or organise a fundraising action, there are several ways to get involved.

Friedensstraße 7 is the contact address. The location of a workshop or activity depends on the format.

Four social actions where young people take the lead

On 11 August 2026, the Salzburg actions overview lists all four as ongoing formats.

LaufWunder

  • How it works: Participants find sponsors who donate an agreed amount for every completed lap. The money raised supports Caritas projects for children and young people in Austria and abroad.
  • Getting started: Schools and classes work with youngCaritas to plan the run and information session, find sponsors and collect or transfer the donations.

Aktion Kilo

  • How it works: A class or group collects the food, school supplies or craft materials that a selected Caritas facility actually needs. The in-kind donations are then delivered to the facility or picked up by arrangement.
  • Getting started: The class or group chooses a Caritas facility and plans the collection, receives a needs list and confirmation from youngCaritas, and arranges any supermarket collection in advance.

Pfandraising

  • How it works: Each returned deposit bottle or can raises EUR 0.25. The refunded deposit is donated to a selected Caritas project.
  • Getting started: You can join alone, with a class or as a whole school. Collection bins and the process need organising first.

LeseWunder

  • How it works: Participants choose a reading period, and sponsors pledge an amount of their choice for each completed book.
  • Getting started: School classes, after-school care groups, youth groups and individuals can register.

youngCaritas Salzburg confirmed directly to SalzburgTeen that older teens can join all four actions. Registration, supervision, group size and donation handling depend on the chosen action and are agreed before it begins.

Workshops explore a social issue over two class periods

The group explores a social issue through interactive exercises.

The workshop overview currently lists four topics:

All four published workshop pages give the same framework: for ages 12 and over, two class periods, one school class and a voluntary donation. That age applies to the workshops. Other youngCaritas actions and projects follow their own rules.

The overview also mentions schools, confirmation groups and young people making their own enquiry, while the individual workshop pages specify one school class. Youth groups and individuals should therefore ask which format is available to them.

Workshops can be paired with a visit to a Caritas facility and a practical activity. For the climate workshop, youngCaritas recommends the logistics centre, where students can see how donated clothing and other supplies are sorted and distributed.

Soli:Walk and facility visits let you see social services up close

Soli:Walk through Salzburg's station district

The Soli:Walk is for school classes, youth groups, confirmation groups and young adults. During a walk through Salzburg's station district, participants meet staff and learn how local social services work at the following stops:

  • Haus Elisabeth: housing assistance for people experiencing homelessness, a day centre and advice.
  • carlavelorep: bike repair, sustainability and social integration.
  • Apropos: conversations with street newspaper vendors.
  • Va an Va: work with Roma and Sinti.
  • MoSES Streetwork: streetwork for adults.

Cooking and helping at Haus Franziskus and Exit Nova

Visits to Haus Franziskus and Exit Nova combine an age-appropriate introduction to poverty in Austria, a first-hand look at the facility or a tour, a conversation with staff and a group cooking session in support of the facility's work.

At Haus Franziskus, the visit includes a tour of the emergency night shelter and may include helping to serve food, depending on the arrangements. At Exit Nova, the focus is youth poverty, homelessness, crisis situations and the work of a youth emergency night shelter.

Exit Nova supports young people aged 12 to 18 with protection, advice and a place to sleep. This is not a published visitor age limit. If you need urgent support or a safe place to sleep yourself, use Help in Salzburg for the relevant contacts.

The Social Certificate is for companies and their apprentice groups

Companies can arrange the Social Certificate for their apprentices, trainees and vocational learners. youngCaritas combines social issues with practical experience: each module includes an interactive workshop and a practical social action at a Caritas Salzburg facility.

The company and youngCaritas tailor the topics, structure and scope together. They also clarify the cost and whether funding is available.

youngCares is a longer-term option from age 16

youngCares is for people aged 16 to 30 who want to spend time with and support older people. The programme includes introductory training, visits to care facilities, shared activities, reflection and one-to-one support. The official page specifies 20 hours of volunteering in a facility for older people and regular participation.

youngCares is one longer-term option for older teens. The four social actions are separate options and remain open to older teens as well.

Each format has its own age rules

  • All four social actions are open to older teens. youngCaritas agrees the exact arrangements for each one.
  • The four workshop pages specify ages 12 and over, two class periods, one school class and a voluntary donation.
  • Soli:Walk and facility visits are offered to school classes, youth groups, confirmation groups and young adults. Age requirements and supervision are agreed during the enquiry.
  • youngCares requires a longer commitment: it is for ages 16 to 30 and involves 20 hours of volunteering.
  • For the Social Certificate, the company and youngCaritas plan the programme around its group of apprentices or trainees.

Parents and group leaders should confirm six points first

  1. Which exact action or learning format is being requested?
  2. Does the participant's age match the published rule for that format?
  3. Is registration individual, through a class or group, or through a company?
  4. Where does it take place, who will accompany the group and how is the journey home organised?
  5. How much time is needed before, during and after the action?
  6. Which costs, voluntary donations and materials are involved, and what personal data must be provided?

Sources and official links

Conclusion and next step

You can reach youngCaritas Salzburg at youngcaritas@caritas-salzburg.at or Friedensstraße 7, 5020 Salzburg. In your first message, include the format, the group's age and size, your preferred timeframe and the question that still needs answering before registration.