ZUKI – fundraising chocolate for the street children of Calcutta

During the intermission of the interview "Breakfast at my place" Josef Zotter and Claudia Stöckl came up with the idea of a fundraising chocolate.

The ZUKI–chocolate is dedicated to the street children of Calcutta. 30 cent per sold chocolate bar are donated for the project for which Claudia Stöckl agreed to become patron.

The ZUKI project is currently raising funds for the acquisition of another children’s home in Calcutta. In 2002 the project took care of 29 children. Nowadays it is in charge of already 220 children. The room capacities of the existing houses have already been exhausted. In spite of that approximately 300,000 children continue to live on the streets of Calcutta’s red light districts.

Zuki takes care of exactly those children that have been abandoned by prostitutes or sold or abused at an early age. These children have been exposed to a high degree of misery. Due to the initiative of Brother Xavier Raj who has worked together with Mother Therese for many years these children are now given the chance of an education and a new home.

The Zuki chocolate is supposed to draw attention to injustices and at the same time to offer an opportunity to take action. On the one hand the Zuki project receives direct financial support and on the other hand the customers get to know the organisation and may think about a potential patronage.

¼ pair shoes, no ½ tankful, 1 visit to the hairdressers or one childhood? Sponsor a child with 30 € per month.

Josef Zotter and his 6 Indian children

"My family and I have decided to take up a sponsorship for one child per person. The idea of giving a child which would otherwise be daily forced to struggle for survival on the street the chance of accommodation, education, safety, emotional warmth and a prospective future has not only appealed to us but also deeply moved us.

We are aware of the fact that the situation in which we live is definitely not a matter of course. It is a privilege. We have a wonderful family; our two elder children have each visited school for one year abroad – China and Panama – and have experienced social injustices firsthand.

The gap between rich and poor, between the First and the Third World is enormous. Every one of us is well advised to think outside of the box and to share something with others. The success which I may achieve does only make sense if others benefit from it as well.

Josef Zotter
Chocolate maker