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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 8, No. 12. September 19, 1945

A Message From Austrian Youth

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A Message From Austrian Youth

Dear Friends.- Austria, our homeland, has been liberated together with all the European countries, and with her liberation our dreams of returning are nearing realisation. Until that time, however, we must make every effort to help the youth at home to return to a democratic way of life, to help them build up their youth movements and organisations in the interest of the country.

For this purpose the Austrian World Youth Movement, now affiliated to the "Free Austrian Youth" at home, has initiated the Austrian Youth Liberation Fund. The needs of the youth in Austria, like in any other liberated country, are great. Most important is the supply of educational material, books, sports gear, club equipment, clothing, food-stuffs, etc., etc. The Austrian Youth Liberation Fund is therefore a central fund, which will accumulate the monies, and with these funds books, sports gear and any other materials which are required in schools will be purchased and sent to Austria. The money will also provide special support for the young people whose parents lost their lives in the struggle for Austria's independence, and for those young Austrians who fought against the Germans and many of whom have been liberated by the Allies from the terrible concentration camps.

We should like to approach the members of your organisation to help us in our endeavours. In this, connection we would be extremely grateful if you could let us know in what way you would be prepared to facilitate such help, i.e., either by sending a donation from your central office for the whole organisation or by individual contributions from your members. In the latter case we shall send you our official collection sheets, which are registered under the War Charities Act. Whatever you decide, however, we should like to emphasise the urgency of this matter, as possibilities for sending material aid to Austria are at hand.

It would also help us if you could make the existence and aims of this fund known to a wider public, by reproducing it in any publication you may produce. It is possible that in this way we might reach some friends of Austria, who would not have heard from us otherwise.

Perhaps you could also discuss the possibilities, at a later date, of adopting an Austrian town, school, university, club, a system which has proved very successful in the past. In this way international friendship and co-operation will be greatly strengthened for the future.

We would like to thank you all in anticipation of your help, and can assure you that any help you give will be of great value in the re-building of a free and democratic Austria and will be deeply appreciated by the Austrian youth at home.

With our very best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Emmi Walter, Vice-Chairman.

Herbert Steiner, Secretary.