Leisure that educates. Education that makes an impact.
Free education during leisure time
Meaningful leisure activities should not be a privilege!
Hobby Lobby offers free leisure courses for children and young people at 16 locations in 3 countries, thereby providing access to non-formal education and contributing significantly to greater equal opportunities. In our courses in sports and movement, creativity and art, technology and knowledge, young people can discover their talents, develop their potential, and strengthen their social skills. Our programs create a space where participants’ mental and physical health is demonstrably improved.
Join a course
Would you like to register yourself or your child for a free leisure course? Here you can find all current courses and our locations.
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Become a course instructor
Would you like to volunteer and share your hobby with children and young people? Then show what you can do and share what you love.
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Support and donate
Every donation makes a real difference in society and helps us make meaningful leisure activities possible.
Our programs
Whether it’s football, street art, theater, dance, or coding — children and young people can choose from over 100 areas of interest and hobbies, allowing them to discover their talents, develop their strengths, and unfold their potential. The courses are led by volunteer instructors who share their passion for their hobbies.
Hobby Lobby also offers meaningful leisure activities during the summer holidays through our summer programs.
For former Hobby Lobby participants, we offer the Youth Leaders Program. Here, they have the opportunity to pass on what they have learned to younger participants as co-instructors. In doing so, the young people take on responsibility and further develop their personal and social skills for their future careers.
Through our leisure and educational programs, we enable children and young people to experience social inclusion, community, and new perspectives.
Hobby Lobby in numbers
Social Return on Investment Study
What impact does one euro invested in Hobby Lobby have? This question was examined by the Competence Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Social Entrepreneurship at the Vienna University of Economics and Business as part of a Social Return on Investment (SROI) study. The study analyzes, quantifies, and monetizes the social and financial effects of Hobby Lobby.
The results are impressive: every euro invested generates a social added value of €21.27. This means that the investments pay off more than 21 times in terms of positive societal effects. According to the study, a key factor behind this high level of impact is the preventive nature of Hobby Lobby’s programs. By supporting children and young people early on, long-term effects are created in the areas of education, personal development, health, and social inclusion.
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Support our work
Our success story so far
In 2019, Hobby Lobby began its pilot phase with the first 100 children and young people in Vienna’s Favoriten district. Shortly afterwards, the founding team — made up of former teachers around Rosa Bergmann — received their first recognition with the Social Impact Award. From then on, not only did the demand from children and young people for free leisure courses grow, but more and more people wanted to get involved. They began leading courses voluntarily, joined the team as full-time members, or founded new locations in their own regions.
Key milestones included the creation of the Youth Leaders Program, expansion into Austrian provinces starting in 2022, and internationalization to Germany and Romania in 2024.
The innovative concept also attracted the attention of funding institutions and award juries: for example, in 2022 Hobby Lobby received the Sozialmarie award, and in 2023 it won 1st place in the “Social Innovation” category of the European Social Economy Award.
From the media
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