Martin Schenk was born in Vienna in 1970, studied psychology at the University of Vienna, and completed the Psychotherapeutic Propaedeuticum. Since 1989, he has been working with young people, especially those who are socially disadvantaged. He spent two years working with people with disabilities, later with the homeless, and eventually in refugee support. Schenk was a co-founder of several social initiatives, such as the Poverty Conference and the “Hunger for Art and Culture” campaign (providing access for people without money). He was also involved in the establishment of the “Sea of Lights,” the early stages of the Hemayat association, and was a co-initiator of the “Becoming Visible” project for those affected by poverty. Most recently, he founded the Social Rights Network (“with law against poverty”), which aims to strengthen and enforce social human rights. In the “Mitgehn” project, he works with silent companions to support people with low incomes at offices, authorities, or health facilities.
Schenk currently works as a social expert and deputy director of Diakonie Austria, focusing on social security, health, children & youth welfare, and education. He is a lecturer in the social work program at FH Campus Wien and Joanneum Graz. Since 2000, he has been a member of the Human Rights Advisory Board, an advisory body to the Austrian Ombudsman Board. He has been involved in developing Austria’s health goals from the outset and has since co-led the “Health Equity” working group. He brought the idea of “Social Prescribing,” prescribing a social prescription from a medical perspective, to Austria with colleagues from England. He regularly writes for Augustin, Die Furche, Die Presse, and Der Standard. He is the moderator of the program “eingschenkt” on Okto Community TV Vienna, featuring a guest from the fields of economics, politics, or social sciences.
Sustainability:
- Intensive engagement with climate-related issues in the Poverty Conference (see book publication, especially heat, cold, housing, and health).
- Introduction of “Early Help” in Austria, investment in early childhood development, child health.
- Co-developer of the “Social/Chance Index” for disadvantaged school locations, investment in education for every child.
Current publications:
- Martin Schenk & Hedwig Wölfl (2022): Was Kindern jetzt gut tut. Gesundheit fördern in einer Welt im Umbruch. Ampuls Verlag.
- Die Armutskonferenz, Martin Schenk et al (2023): Es brennt. Armut bekämpfen, Klima retten. BoD.
- Martin Schenk (2024): Brot und Rosen. Über Armut, oder: Den Unterschied zwischen Hungern und Fasten macht die Freiheit, Kanten Edition Konturen.