Martin Schenk, MA (Austria)

Martin Schenk is a social psychologist with many years of experience at Diakonie (a social welfare organization) and previously worked in youth services and with people with disabilities, the homeless, and those suffering from severe trauma. As a social expert, he has been committed to the common good, justice, and positive social cohesion for decades. In the mid-1990s, he co-founded the Poverty Conference, where he continues to serve on the coordination team. He is a networker and initiator of projects including "Hunger for Art and Culture," "Hemayat," the "Journalism Prize for the Below," the "Social Rights Network," and the "Going Along" project. Using scientific evidence and the experiences of those affected, he combats myths and stigma, raising public awareness and advocating for solutions. He writes regularly for the street newspaper Augustin and teaches at the University of Applied Sciences for Social Work in Vienna. His book "Bread and Roses" emphasizes the material and immaterial foundations of life. He has also co-initiated relevant studies and has been a member of the Human Rights Advisory Board since 2000.