Experience first
Learning begins with doing: movement, discussion, experimentation, creativity and reflection.
About / RISE Austria
People before
programmes.
RISE is a Vienna-based non-profit association creating practical, inclusive spaces for young people to move, learn, take part and connect across Europe.
WHO WE ARE
A grassroots organisation with the capacity to work across borders.
RISE Austria works around youth participation, social inclusion, grassroots sport, physical and mental well-being, non-formal education, sustainability, digital youth work, intercultural dialogue and European cooperation.
The association was formally established in Austria in 2025. The people behind RISE bring earlier experience from grassroots youth and community activities, and today contribute that experience to international partnerships and European projects.
OUR STORY
From local action
to European exchange.
RISE grew from a simple belief: good youth work is practical. It happens when people meet, try something together, reflect and bring what they learned back to their communities.
Formal establishment in Vienna created a base for deeper cooperation with youth, sport, education and community organisations across Europe. RISE remains deliberately human in scale while building strong project-management capacity.
OUR APPROACH
Participation by design
Young people are participants, contributors and co-creators—not passive audiences.
International, grounded locally
European cooperation matters when ideas become useful in real communities.
Open and reflective
We listen, test, learn and adapt with partners and participants.
OUR VALUES
Inclusion
Make participation possible across different backgrounds and circumstances.
Participation
Create genuine space for agency, initiative and voice.
Movement
Use physical activity to connect well-being, confidence and community.
Curiosity
Approach people, cultures and new tools with care and an open mind.
Responsibility
Work honestly, learn from results and avoid claims we cannot support.
MEET THE TEAM
Alaaddine Alrifai
Vice Chair & Project Manageraladdin@riseaustria.atWorks across European project management, Erasmus+, youth work and international cooperation.
Additional team profiles and photographs will be added when approved information is supplied.