About Us

Telugu Sangam Austria (Telugu Kultur Verein) was founded by a group of Telugu-speaking people in Vienna who have been organizing cultural events for more than 15 years. What began as small gatherings of a few families in the party halls of apartment buildings gradually grew into larger get-togethers held in church halls as more families joined.

From the very beginning, our gatherings have been guided by a few core principles:

1. Collective decisions where every member has a voice in decision-making
2. Full financial transparency where all income and expenses are shared openly with members
3. Voluntary service where everyone works together without expecting anything in return
4. Respect for all, with special regard for women

In recent years, the number of Telugu-speaking people moving to Austria has increased significantly. To organize cultural events and celebrate our festivals together in a structured and democratic way, there was a growing need for a formal organization that truly practices these values in both letter and spirit.

As our community grows, so do the ideas and opinions within it. In an ideal democracy, if every member participates and shares their views, the organization flourishes. However, in reality, only a portion of members take part in day-to-day activities. This can lead to challenges such as, groupism, and internal conflicts, which are common issues in many organizations.

When members do not actively participate or keep themselves informed about internal financial or organizational matters, and this is combined with a lack of transparency in financial status, executive members can gradually accumulate overwhelming power in all areas, including financial dealings, making it the norm in the organization. To avoid this from the very beginning, Telugu Sangam Austria makes it a rule that at least 35% of the members should be part of the Governing Body, and that all Governing Body members must actively follow organizational developments and participate in all policy decisions. This, along with full financial transparency by sharing the complete income versus expenses report with all members, ensures fairness, accountability, and prevents the concentration of power and opaqueness seen in other associations.

With these lessons in mind, and building on years of experience, Telugu Sangam Austria was established on the foundation of direct democracy. The organization is structured with four key bodies: the General Body, Governing Body, Executive Body, and Arbitration Committee. Together, they ensure that members’ rights are protected, their dignity is upheld, and the organization remains stable and fair.

You can learn more about these bodies and their roles on our Organizational Structure page.

We look forward to serving the Telugu community in Austria by organizing many meaningful events and celebrations while always staying true to our core principles.