Mother Teresa of Calcutta
On May 31st, 2011 Switzerland joins the Neighbors' Day celebration. It is a very simple initiative that aims to promote a culture of solidarity within the neighbourhood to fight the typical isolation of today's contemporary lifestyle.
Celebrated on Tuesday May 31st, 2011 by several million people in Europe, Neighbours' Day has enjoyed cross-continental success. This year, Neighbours Day is supported by more than 1 200 partners (city councils, housing organizations and local associations) in more than 30 countries! The participants have reached 10 million!
Lugano joined this initiative in 2004 for the first time and over the years, citizens' actions have increased exponentially. To date, several hundred people participate with enthusiasm at this annual event. Founded 1999 in Paris by Mr.Atanase Périfan, the Neighbours' Day encountered an immediate success and has been growing ever since.
So why not organize an informal party and invite your neighbours! A simple gesture that can help strengthen the network of solidarity to overcome the distrust and the impoverishment of social relations.
The principle is straight forward: people of the same building or within the same neighbourhood gather on the evening of May 31st, to eat something together, have a drink, exchange a few words and get to know eachother better. An easy way to create solidarity or simply find opportunities to be together.
Three good reasons to join the party:
1. Get to know and appreciate your neighbour!
2. Unity is strength ... and makes life easier
3. A name, a face, a story...
Check your mailbox for the pre-printed invitation pack or e-mail: vicini@lugano.ch or phone: Tel. 058 866 74 57.
You can also check out my Swiss neighbourhood rules before you embark on your adventure! Most importantly: don't forget to have fun! Remember the Swiss can be fun, just give them a chance. ;)
2 comments:
This is such a great idea and thing to do! There are 4 other families in my apartment building and I have never even seen one of them!!
I'm sure if you tell them it is a European tradition they might feel inspired to join the fun?!?
All it takes is a little note in their mailbox ;)
Post a Comment