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Teamfoto von Stepic Charity CEE

About the CEE Charity

The CEE Charity was founded by Herbert Stepic and is committed to the vision of the social reformer Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, who was convinced that only self-help can solve people's problems. The charity thus empowers people in their living environment and enables them to lead a secure and self-determined life.

About the CEE Charity

Mädchen mit Teddybär vor Holztür

Our focus

The association promotes and supports in particular children, adolescents, and women in Central and Eastern Europe who are in social, economic, or health distress. Especially in crisis regions like large parts of Ukraine, external assistance is urgently needed, but many rural areas, for example in Southeast Europe, are still characterized by severe poverty.

Bastelstunde bei Stepic Charity CEE mit Personen, die sich um einen Tisch versammelt haben und gemeinsam kreativ sind

Letter from the Founder.

The CEE Charity was founded in 2006 by Herbert Stepic, the former CEO of Raiffeisen Bank International. Through the charity, he gives back to the region that has significantly shaped his professional life.

Brief des Gründer

Individuals gather around a table, enjoying a crafting session facilitated by Stepic Charity CEE.

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
liebe Freunde und Förderer,

als erfolgreicher Bankmanager, der seine Kindheit in einfachen Verhältnissen im Nachkriegsösterreich verbracht hat, weiß ich, dass Glück nicht nur von Geld und Vermögenswerten abhängt. Ich weiß aber auch, dass die Linderung materieller Not wesentlich zur Steigerung der Lebensqualität, Lebensfreude und Lebenserwartung beiträgt. Mit der Gründung des gemeinnützigen Vereins H. Stepic CEE Charity möchte ich aktiv einen Beitrag zur Linderung der Not in Zentral- und Osteuropa leisten.

Zentral- und Osteuropa hat sich in den letzten Jahren massiv verändert. Die österreichische Wirtschaft hat die Möglichkeiten dieser Veränderungen frühzeitig erkannt. Die Raiffeisen Bank International AG hat sich den Ruf eines Osteuropapioniers erworben und eine ausgezeichnete Marktstellung in der Region erarbeitet. Und mir selbst war es vergönnt, diese Entwicklung maßgeblich mitzugestalten und zu begleiten.

Natürlich brachte die erfolgreiche Entwicklung der Region nicht nur Gewinner hervor. Der Wechsel von einer zentral gesteuerten Planwirtschaft zur Marktwirtschaft hat vielen Menschen einen zu hohen Grad an Flexibilität abverlangt. Zu den Verlierern zählen wie so oft Frauen, Kinder und Jugendliche.

Ich habe Zentral- und Osteuropa nicht nur meine berufliche Karriere und viele Erfolgsmomente zu verdanken, sondern halte mich auch sehr gerne dort auf. Ich bin beeindruckt von der kulturellen Vielfalt und mag es, mich mit den Menschen, ihrem Enthusiasmus und Tatendrang, aber auch mit ihren Problemen auseinanderzusetzen. Dieser Teil der Erde hat mein Leben unheimlich bereichert. Daher habe ich es mir anlässlich meines 60. Geburtstages zum Ziel gesetzt, der Region und ihren benachteiligten Bewohnern zu helfen und die Stepic CEE Charity ins Leben gerufen. Durch die großzügige Unterstützung vieler Spender, Förderer und Mitglieder ist es meinem Verein möglich, zahlreiche Projekte umzusetzen. Wir benötigen aber auch Ihre Hilfe, um diese Initiative weiter zu entwickeln und auszubauen. Jeder Beitrag zählt!

Bitte unterstützen Sie mein Team und mich dabei, Menschen, die es aus eigener Kraft nicht schaffen können, eine neue Perspektive und Hoffnung zu geben!

Ich danke Ihnen im Voraus für Ihr Vertrauen und Ihre Unterstützung!

Ihr Herbert Stepic

Letter of the Founder

Individuals gather around a table, enjoying a crafting session facilitated by Stepic Charity CEE.

Dear friends and supporters,

As a successful manager of a bank, who spent his childhood in simple circumstances in post-war Austria, I know that happiness does not only depend on money and possessions. I also know, however, that the alleviation of material suffering contributes substantially to increasing quality of life, zest for life and life expectancy. By founding a non-profit association, I wish to make a contribution towards eliminating these hurdles.

Central and Eastern Europe is a region that has undergone massive changes in recent years. The Austrian economy was quick to recognize the opportunities that these changes offered. Raiffeisen Bank International has gained a reputation as a pioneer in Eastern Europe and has built up an excellent market position in the region. I have had the privilege of being able to significantly shape and oversee this development process.

Naturally, the evolution and convergence of the region did not only produce winners. The transition from centrally controlled economies to market economies demanded an excessive degree of flexibility from many people. Among the losers have been those that are socially disadvantaged – as is so often the case women, children and adolescents.

My professional career has largely been built as a result of the emergence of CEE, and from this I have enjoyed many positive experiences. I have been impressed by the region´s cultural diversity and have enjoyed being  closely involved with the people of the region as well as with many of the challenges that they have address. This corner of the world has greatly enriched my life. Therefore, on the occasion of my 60th birthday, I made it my goal to help disadvantaged persons in the region and founded the Stepic CEE Charity. With the generous support of many donors and members, my association has been able to establish numerous projects in the region. However, further outreach requires continuous funding and thus, fundraising.

Please help us help those who cannot speak for themselves and who have been left alone on the edge. Your support is much appreciated and provides those affected with a greater chance in life.

With many thanks in advance for your ongoing trust and support.

Yours gratefully,
Herbert Stepic
Konzentrierter junger Student

This is how we help.

Among other things, we provide children and adolescents with a sheltered home in a family-like environment, carry out educational projects for street children, and promote the self-sustainability of young people through access to school and vocational training.

Bildungssitzung mit Whiteboard

How we work.

All projects are carried out in collaboration with local or international partner organizations. They are supervised on a voluntary basis by dedicated employees of RBI in Vienna and at many central and eastern European locations. This minimizes administrative costs, ensuring that all financial contributions go directly into the projects.

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Teamfoto von Stepic Charity CEE

Our team

Our team of dedicated employees from the RBI Group in Vienna and at many central and eastern European locations supervises all projects on a voluntary basis.

The team

Our achievements so far

over 100 projects

12 countries

over 6.8 million Euro donations

for 18 years

Your donation helps us to help others

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