The Situation
Bad but true
- There are far too many families with disabled or terminally ill children.
- There are far too many families who have been harmed by war and environmental disasters.
- There are far too many families living below the poverty line.
- There are far too many families who are refugees.
- There are far too many families whose children have been victims of sexual abuse.
- And there are far too many mothers, but also fathers who live as single parents at the subsistence level.
THE IDEA
HOLIDAY IS A HUMAN RIGHT!
Also for underprivileged children and families! We enable people from difficult, sometimes hopeless situations, to spend carefree days in hotels – with accompanying therapists if necessary. Holidays mean a reduction in suffering for these children and families.
Examples:
The H. family is in a very precarious situation. The family has lived very modestly financially since the company went bankrupt. Last year the father passed away from cancer, the mother is now ill too (she has COPD and is on the waiting list for a lung transplant). Especially for the 12-year-old son, a family holiday would be a great experience, which is probably the only opportunity for the family under these circumstances…
Mrs. O. is a single parent, the child’s father died of cancer before the son was born. In addition to the income as a salesperson, she receives minimum social benefits. She was in the hospital in January, and is very exhausted. Her son is in the 4th grade and she has no financial resources to afford a vacation.
Ms. T., single parent, (was in a women’s shelter because the husband was expelled due to domestic violence) 2 children (total €560), no family allowance, rent (1-room apartment) €260, electricity €30, no contributions for travel expenses, no work permit.
Mrs. S. (single mother with 3 children: 5,6,10) is an underage mother working as a cleaning lady. Children’s father always causes big problems because he puts massive pressure on the family and terrorizes them. The mother has no family support herself.
Ms. N. (2 children aged 9 and 16) is a mother who works full-time but there is still no money for a holiday. If possible, she would take the older son (12 years) of a single mother who is friends with her, but who cannot arrange a holiday because of her illness (cancer).
Mrs. K. (2 children 10,14 and single mother) has been on sick leave for a long time for health reasons. The financial situation can already be described as extremely precarious – the entire family suffers from it.
THE FOUNDER
There is one name associated with Global Family Charity Resort:
Karl Gerhard Polaska-Auer
Born in 1959 as the youngest of three sons as a working-class child in Rottenmann, Styria Austria, he grew up in poor circumstances. His father, who had been in need of medical care for years, died when Auer was still a child. Despite the difficult starting position, the father of five educated himself and became a journalist, newspaper publisher, public relations specialist and published a book on mental health.
For years he has been involved in social projects, founded “Die Gute Zeitung” (“The Good Newspaper”) and while working for Caritas during the Yugoslav war, he generated over 80,000 Euros in donations for war victims. The “Die Gute Zeitung” concept now proceeds as a gift for Willi Resetarits’ integration house.
As a result, Auer won over the well-known comedian Otto Waalkes and organized the first of many major charity events with him. The cornerstone for Global Family was laid on July 7th, 2007, when with Adi Werner from the Arlberg Hospice, he invited the first affected families to Austria. Above all, however, Global Family is supported by the many hotelier families who take the affected families into their hotels.