Our story, our vision and mission, our values: Every step of our work aims to open up opportunities for children and teenagers and to nurture their talents.
In the summer of 2018, the idea of offering free extracurricular courses for children and teenagers first emerged.
In March 2019, the first pilot phase began in Vienna’s 10th district, reaching around 100 children. Over the course of the year, the first fixed course structure was developed.
In June 2020, Vienna Hobby Lobby became a registered organisation.
Systematic expansion to multiple sites began. New Vienna locations opened in the 20th, 3rd, and 16th districts. The Youth Leaders programme entered its pilot phase.
Hobby Lobby expanded across Austria, opening new locations in Mödling and Innsbruck. It received the SozialMarie Award (European Prize for Social Innovation). The “Wirksam Wachsen” funding programme from the Ministry of Social Affairs also commenced, supporting further professionalization and expansion.
A new location opened in Graz in cooperation with LebensGroß. In Vienna, Hobby Lobby expanded to the 21st district, and by the winter semester, Salzburg gained its own branch.
In April, the first international location opened in Rostock, Germany; in October, Romania followed. Linz also joined the network. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) study by the Vienna University of Economics and Business showed: every euro invested in Hobby Lobby generates €21.27 in social value.
By early 2025, more than 10,000 course places had been made available for children and teenagers from socioeconomically disadvantaged families. The course offering expanded to include primary schools. Hobby Lobby received the Verified Social Enterprise (VSE) Label, and new locations opened in Dornbirn and Graz surroundings.
Hobby Lobby's commitment to equal opportunities and educational equality is not only reflected in its daily work, but is also regularly recognised with prestigious awards and accolades. These awards encourage us to continue on our path and open up sustainable prospects for children and teenagers.
