Proud sum

Vorarlberg’s carol singers break the million mark

Camels were yesterday: In Andelsbuch, the carol singers rely on modern means of transportation.(Bild: Andrea Sohm)

Around 4000 carol singers collected exactly 1,015,393.40 euros at the beginning of the year. They were supported by 1,500 volunteers and helpers in the parishes. Compared to the previous year (1.03 million euros), however, the donation result was slightly down. A trend that could also be seen in Tyrol and Upper Austria. 

Nationwide, Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar and their helpers collected 19.53 million euros. A pleasing result for the Katholische Jungschar, through which the campaign was carried out for the 70th time. The donations from the anniversary year will now be used for 500 aid projects in poor regions of the world.

Carol singers in Feldkirch Altenstadt.(Bild: Veronika Jäger)

The Three Wise Men in Bludenz.(Bild: Mirjam Rauch)

In Eichenberg, Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar looked out over Lake Constance.(Bild: ZVG)

The Andelsbuch carol singers were also out and about in Bregenz.(Bild: Tanja Kopp)

However, the Catholic Boys' Choir's commitment to children is far from over: in view of 160 million working children, it is calling for an end to the lack of solidarity and anti-child lip service paid by politicians. Effective measures against child labor, such as a European supply chain law, have recently failed due to resistance from Austrian politicians, according to a press release.

"Scribbling power against child labor"
Together with the "Stop Child Labor!" alliance, the Epiphany Campaign of the Catholic Boys' Choir will present numerous politicians at European and national level with selected works of art from the "Kritzelkraft gegen Kinderarbeit" campaign and call on them to take effective measures against child labor. Girls and boys from Austria, India, Kenya, South Africa and the Philippines have put their ideas of a child labor-free world on paper as part of the "Kritzelkraft gegen Kinderarbeit" campaign. 

An expert jury will select three works of art from the almost 400 submissions for a poster series that will draw attention to the injustice of child labor in many public places until June 12, 2024, the "International Day against Child Labor".