During the pandemic, Maria Stern began interviewing single-parent organizations on every continent for the first time in 2021. The goal was to get to know each other and learn from one another. THANKS Day now has contacts with over 30 organizations in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia.

The organization of the first two THANKS Summits went smoothly. The third summit almost fell through... many cancellations and organizations that had firmly committed and then never got back to us.

The global uncertainty and the overwhelming challenges faced by individual actors are palpable here as well. All the greater, then, is the pleasure of presenting those who made the impossible possible. The search for interview partners continues, and the contributions will be added accordingly.

THANKS Summit 2026



Stanisha Stankovikj, Representative of "Youth of Diverse Families"

North Macedonia

Cynthia Casarrubias

Founder & CEO "Single Parent Families Queretaro"

Mexico

Angela Garcia Romero

Project Director at "Make Mothers Matter"

Belgium/International

THANKS Summit 2024

Available on YouTube with and without subtitles

Ljuba Wangen - LSB

Ukraine

"What's most important? To take the pressure off women. Also because they are responsible for the children who are growing up."

"Was ist das Wichtigste? Den Druck von den Frauen zu nehmen. Auch weil sie die Verantwortung für ihre heranwachsenden Kinder tragen."

Ronny Kokert - Martial Arts World Champion, Shinergy, Author

Austria

"Being able to fight means not having to fight anymore."

Edit Schlaffer - Founder & Chair “Women without Borders”

Austria/International

"I think it's time for society to wake up. And to feel this power. To feel that the social capital that [single] mothers invest in their work – which is taken for granted – is essentially a survival mechanism. It's not just a survival mechanism for women in their everyday lives – it's about the survival of society."

Kat Curtin - Executive Director "Single Mother by Choice"

New York City

"I want to thank single mothers for having the courage and fortitude for going down this path because the more people that do it, the more it opens up the choice for other people."



Eliška Kodyšová - CEO "Aperio"

Czech Republic

"Chtěla bych poděkovat svobodným matkám a jejich dětem za to, že jsou tak odolné. Myslím, že se často dostávají do situace, kdy musí překračovat své comfortní zóny a hledat nová řešení v obtížných situacích."

"I would like to thank single mothers and their children for being so resilient. I think they are often in a situation where they have to step outside their comfort zone and find new solutions in difficult situations."

Andrea Czak - Founder & Chairwoman of "Fem.a"

Austria

"First, we need to introduce a child support guarantee; this is absolutely crucial to lifting children out of poverty. Another important demand of ours is that violence perpetrated by the ex-partner must be taken into account. There should be no joint custody if violence is involved."

Ida Lanbacher - Vice President of the "South Tyrolean Platform for Single Parents"

Italy

"I think it's very important that single parents and their children become increasingly aware of their own history. So that they understand why the burden they suddenly carry is so heavy. Also, to better understand the present and have the strength to fight together for better conditions."

Report from Hungary

Hungary

"I would rather not say publicly how single parents and their children are doing in Hungary. The consequences could be too great."

Hungarian person

"Ich möchte lieber nicht öffentlich sagen, wie es Alleinerziehenden und ihren Kindern in Ungarn geht. Die Konsektionen können zu hoch sein."

A person from Hungary

Roman Braun - Coach, bestselling author, founder of “Trinergy International”

Austria

"What makes people resilient? Three things: doing good, gratitude & meditation."

THANKS Summit 2021

Klaudia Frieben, Chairwoman

"Austrian Women's Ring"

Austria

"Single mothers bear their family responsibilities alone! That's why they need special support from politicians and society!"

Eva Yoo Ri Brussard, Director of "Single SuperMom"

The Netherlands

"At times like these many single mothers feel completely lost. To this I would say, let's join forces and move forward! “

Ingrid Levavasseur, Founder of "Positive Roots"

France

"It is solidarity that unites us."

“Es ist die Solidarität, die uns eint..”

Jenny Davidson, CEO of the "Council of Single Mothers and their Children"

Australia

"Financial hardship is one of the key issues facing single parent families in Australia."

Erich Fenninger, Director of "Volkshilfe"

Austria

"Who are the true high achievers in our country? Those with high incomes and wealth? No, they are those who are there for others. Like single parents, who deserve every recognition, but also every support. Maria Stern is doing outstanding work for this group, and Volkshilfe is a close partner on many levels."

Paul Lwanga, Executive Director SPAU

Uganda

 "I founded my organization because I grew up in a single-parent family where my mother had to fight for her livelihood."

Marie Lwanga, SPAU Volunteer

Uganda

"The situation was really difficult. So one of the things that we did as Single Parents Association was that food aid was provided to families, things like soap, sugar..."

Maria Rösslhumer, Managing Director AÖF

Austria

"The better single mothers are protected, the more women will have the courage to separate from abusers."

Iva Jovovic, Executive Director of "Udruga Let"

Croatia

"Family is family!!!"

Anna Parr, Secretary General "Caritas"

Austria/International

Single parents are managers and true organizational talents. They make countless decisions every day and carry a great deal of responsibility. They are strong, partly because they have to be. They need our support. We can ensure that they don't feel alone. We must do so.

Gisella Bassanini, President of "Small Families"

Italy

“Qualunque sia la sua composizione, ogni nucleo familiare ha dignità di Famiglia.”

"However they are composed, every family unit has the dignity of a family."

Sarah Zeller, Chairwoman JUNO

Austria

"Single parents and their children are families who should be treated equally to two-parent families."

Birgit Uhlworm, Managing Director SHIA Brandenburg

Germany

"Single parents are competent, reliable, committed, broad
Well-positioned, flexible and resilient – an economic treasure.
which society will permanently lose without appropriate support.
Therefore, single parents need a lobby and must be considered by politicians and administrators."

Julia Stadlbauer, Board Member "ÖPA"

Austria

"Since the Corona crisis, single parents have been under even greater strain than before, and their reserves are now depleted. The ongoing struggle of single parents against poverty, social isolation, illness and burnout can only be ended at a societal level. A good life is built on just social conditions."