Swiss stories

The House of Switzerland is a Swiss hospitality centre, meeting point, and social hub. It is part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, which aims is to promote Swiss interests.

Switzerland’s image is closely related to the people and things that create it, such as Swiss brands, athletes and products. It is with such icons - and sometimes clichés - that House of Switzerland work. Their role is to showcase them in the best possible light and explain what makes them specifically Swiss and how that impacts Switzerland’s image. 

Check out their Swiss stories... there are over 260 stories to discover up to date... Happy reading!

Swiss citizens living abroad

Figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show that more than 770,000 Swiss citizens lived abroad on 31 December 2019, that is more than 1 in 10 Swiss nationals.

About 182,000 Swiss citizens living abroad are registered on an electoral roll. This corresponds to the number of eligible voters in the canton of Neuchâtel. 

Almost two thirds lived in Europe, notably in France (25,9%). Their number continued to increase, both among the young and old. Overall, the share of women remained greater than that of men, according to the results of the statistics on the Swiss abroad from the FSO.

But did you know that three quarters of Swiss abroad have one or more additional citizenships. This proportion varies according to the country of residence.

This year's Swiss president 2021

After a difficult year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, Switzerland’s new president, Guy Parmelin, has called for national unity to help overcome the many uncertainties ahead. The French-speaking economics minister assumed the rotating Swiss presidency for the first time on January 1st.

In his online address, Parmelin recalled the important work being carried out by health workers in nursing homes and hospitals. He also expressed support for people currently on short-time work and others who have lost their jobs due to the virus. “The pandemic has changed our lives by putting people out of work, destroying traditional businesses and putting our education and health systems to the test,” he said.

Realism prevented him from making “overly enthusiastic wishes” for 2021, the former farmer from canton Vaud declared. He ended his speech with a call for national unity.

The Federal Council photo for 2021 shows the seven cabinet members and the Federal Chancellor as a unit. The parliament building in Bern can be seen in the background.

Striving for a better, fairer world...

What motivates students to pursue a career in humanitarian aid, development cooperation or peacebuilding? And why do they sometimes turn away from it? cinfo - the competence centre for international cooperation (IC) - in collaboration with the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) has conducted a survey of over 500 Swiss students.

The results show that young people are attracted to the profession because of their desire for a meaningful job and the opportunity to tackle global challenges (environmental, social, etc.). 

The prospect of a personal challenge and experience abroad are also attractive, albeit to a slightly lesser extent. However, some are deterred from starting their professional career in this field by the difficulty of reconciling private and professional life and balancing the career of a potential partner - at a time when work-life balance is considered a key factor in a job’s appeal. 

As many jobs are temporary, financial and occupational insecurity are also likely to make young people hesitate.

Sixteen Swiss IC employers, interviewed in a second survey, indicated that the number of jobs for young professionals has generally increased in recent years. 

The number of applications per NGO job is increasing, while the recruitment of junior professionals for multilateral organisations (such as the UN) is proving to be more complicated.

For more detailed information: www.cinfo.ch/youth-interest.

Human Rights Day

Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR sets out a certain set of rights that are the basic and minimum set of human rights for all citizens.

The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.

Setting aside a day to commemorate, educate and reflect on the principles that form the UDHR means celebrating the rights we exercise everyday, and acknowledging that enjoying those rights carries with it the responsibility of promoting these rights for all people.

Things that many of us take for granted – such as the right to an education, the right to receive medical care, and the freedom to practice our chosen religion – are not equally available to all.

Human rights gain new meaning when they become a reality in the daily life of every single person in the world. 

A Swiss escape experience

Searching for some inspiration? Ready for a break in your routine? Need something to look forward to? How about taking a trip through Switzerland's cultural heritage with magnificasa? Don't get discouraged by the website's language barrier... this is so worth exploring!

The foundation "Ferien im Baudenkmal" was founded in 2005 with the aim to take over endangered monuments by renovating and turning them into holiday homes.

In Switzerland, the most varied architectural monuments can be found in the smallest of spaces: from traditional farmhouses to town houses. Many buildings are witnesses of industrialization or a record of the beginnings of tourism, renovated they are outstanding examples of modern Swiss architecture.

These monuments - witnesses of a moving past and important components of our townscapes and landscapes - are often demolished because they no longer meet today's usage requirements. The foundation "Ferien im Baudenkmal" commits itself to the preservation of valuable historic buildings throughout Switzerland.

The best part is that the carefully restored objects are made available to the public by renting the houses for vacations at reasonable prices. Many of the monuments are in remote regions. In addition to the idea of ​​saving cultural heritage, holidays in these historic monuments create a basis for sustainable tourism and, in the long term, add value to these regions, which are often at risk of emigration.

Clicking through the history of their portfolio is like undertaking a voyage through Switzerland's diverse cultural history: https://ferienimbaudenkmal.ch. My personal favourite is this little jewel in Bondo deep in the Grison valley: https://magnificasa.holidaybooking.ch.

Go ahead, give it a try.

Need a break? Holiday architecture is the answer.

Need a break of daily routine? Looking to experience the extraordinary – or you want to share something extraordinary with the world - Holiday architecture is the answer. These architecturally innovative holiday homes are a world unto themselves.

URLAUBSARCHITEKTUR – is Europe’s leading online portal for architecturally outstanding holiday homes. In other words, they bring architecture-lovers and proud holiday home owners together. And while they consciously don’t offer a booking service, they offer a point of contact between hosts and their prospective guests. Their website acts as a gallery where they post beautiful, exciting and exemplary accommodations in a showcase for you.

You can narrow down the number of listed houses by specifying the number of people, the region and many other criteria.

Here is the latest addition: The village of Guarda appears as if taken right from the pages of a storybook. Situated on a sunny south-facing terrace high above the River Inn in the Canton of Grisons (the home of the Swiss children’s book classic Schellen-Ursli) it is famous for its historical village centre. The winding alleys are lined with well-preserved 17th century Engadine farmhouses. One of these houses on the outskirts of the village is Chasa Padrun, in a very scenic location with a beautiful view of the valley and mountains from the garden.

MUN - Model United Nations comes to Lugano

Model United Nations conferences are student activities, generally organized over 2-3 days or at regular intervals during a school semester. During the meeting and session the students simulate the work of the United Nations.

Each MUN participant assumes the role of delegate of a member country of the UN or of a non-governmental organization, and is called to represent its positions in a committee or a body of the United Nations. During the meetings, particularly in formal moments, rules of procedures are in place that follow the actual procedures adopted by the international organization. The ultimate goal is to create a multilateral agreement through one or more resolutions on the topics discussed, which will then be adopted by the committee in its final meeting.

Thanks to this modus operandi, participants approach an in-depth analysis of the issues that most strongly mark the present, but also a better understanding of the dynamics that lead nations to adopt particular choices and develops an awareness of the difficulties that international diplomacy must face. 

The TI-MUN project aims to offer young people in the upper middle and professional schools of the Canton Ticino the opportunity to learn about the UN and participate in the Model United Nations project.

This weekend the second TI-MUN will be held at the Liceo Cantonale 2 in Savosa. Over the next few years, the association expects to regularly host a TI-MUN Conference in the fall semester and becoming an active pole in promoting the project in the Ticino institutes (high schools, professional schools, USI and SUPSI) by maintaining contacts between the delegates of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2020
09:00 - 09:15 Opening Ceremony
09:15 - 12:00 Committee Meeting
13:30 - 16:30 Committee Meeting
16:30 - 17:30 Guest of Honor Conference

17:30 - 18:00 Web-apéro

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020
09:00 - 12:00 Dibattiti nei Comitati
13:30 - 15:00 Dibattiti nei Comitati
15:00 - 15:30 Closing Ceremony

World Diabetes Day

November 14 was chosen as World Diabetes Day because it is the birthdate of Dr. Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin, who is generally hailed as a diabetes hero.

Following the 2006 UN resolution recognizing WDD, the Blue Circle came to be the international symbol for diabetes. The colour choice was in part because blue is the official colour of the UN flags and logos, and partly because it’s the colour of the sky that vaults all national borders... a way of saying diabetes affects us all.

Last year, there were 1,400 events in 120 countries to mark WDD, many of them convening crowds. This year, one of the main events will be a TV news-style program commissioned by the IDF (International Diabetes Federation) called Diabetes Matters, which will air throughout Europe and beyond starting on November 14, 2020.

This year’s theme is "Nurses Make the Difference" and will focus on the vital need for education and funding for these frontline healthcare professionals.

To mark World Diabetes Day 2020, a new online course in the IDF School of Diabetes on the role of the diabetes educator is available free for a limited period: https://www.idfdiabeteschool.org

Swiss startups on the map

Co-published by WIPO, Cornell University and INSEAD, the Global Innovation Index 2020 provides detailed metrics about the innovation performance of 131 countries and economies around the world. Its 80 indicators explore a broad vision of innovation, including political environment, education, infrastructure and business sophistication. 

The 2020 edition sheds light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of financing mechanisms for entrepreneurs and other innovators, and by pointing to progress and remaining challenges – including in the context of the economic slowdown induced by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

For the tenth consecutive year, Switzerland finished first in the Global Innovation Index thanks in particular to the many developing startups. In 2019, nearly CHF 2.3 billion were invested in 266 of them, making Switzerland the 5th largest European country investing in startups. They represent the diversity and richness of the Swiss innovation ecosystem.

Like the biotech company Cutiss AG that won first place in this edition of the TOP 100 of the most promising Swiss startups. Founded in 2016, Cutiss cultivates skin made from human cells in the laboratory to treat skin defects, including severe burns. She was followed on the podium by Wingtra, a startup that produces drones specialized in mapping. Finally, the startup Piavita finished third thanks to its sensors allowing horse owners, clinics and veterinarians to remotely monitor, via an application, sick or convalescent animals.

Taking teens to the screens

According to Swiss owners and distributors, teenagers have abandoned the cinema. Certainly, the children’s cinema club, “la Lanterne magique”, which has 20,000 members in Switzerland, helps those aged between 6 and 12 years to discover the seventh art, but does this mean that they will grow into fans of the cinema itself? The answer is no. “Cultural autonomy develops between 15 and 20 years old. It is therefore necessary to offer something to this age group,” explains Ilan Vallotton, director of “la Lanterne magique”. 

The association and other industry players have therefore developed the #ciné concept, to entice 14-18 year olds to reinvest in film and become regular cinema-goers. Currently present in eight towns throughout the country, the project entrusts the organisation of cinematic events destined for teens to groups of adolescents of the same age. Once a month, they take over a cinema in their town to present a preview of a film of their choosing. “The idea is to position the cinema as a place where adolescents can take control,” explains Ilan Vallotton.

Venue: La Lanterna Magica 

Where: CineStar 3, Via G. e F. Ciani 100, 6900 Lugano

When: Wednesday's at 14:30

For more info contact: Tel: 091 745 30 07 or write to: lugano@lanterna-magica.org

Website: https://www.lanterne-magique.org/it/clubs/lugano/

Homo Faber Guide

Ever heard about the Homo Faber guide? As I found out this week, it is an online platform dedicated to craftsmanship that allows you to discover artisans and their masterpieces; explore museums, visit galleries and shops selling unique objects; enjoy experiences in cities across Europe. 

Homo Faber Guide is a signature project developed by the Michelangelo Foundation for Creativity and Craftsmanship, an international non-profit organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, which was set up in 2016 thanks to the intuition of Franco Cologni and Johann Rupert. 

The Michelangelo Foundation’s mission is to celebrate and preserve master craftsmanship, and for this reason it has created a European map of the most significant representatives in this field, with the aim of connecting all its protagonists: artisans, designers, gallery owners, art curators, collectors and enthusiasts of high-quality handmade pieces.

The artisans featured in the Homo Faber Guide have been selected in a meticulous assessment process based on the eleven criteria for excellence. 

Ticino's only participating artisan is a jewelry maker based in Balerna. Curious to meet him? Check out his site here:  https://www.homofaberguide.com/en/discover/artisans-pesciallo-vanni

August 1st Mission

Switzerland’s image is closely related to the people and things that create it, such as Swiss brands, athletes and products. It is with such icons – and sometimes clichés – that House of Switzerland works. Their role is to showcase them in the best possible light and explain what makes them specifically Swiss and how that impacts Switzerland’s image.

Join the House of Switzerland on their 1st of August Mission and celebrate #SwissNationalDay virtually with fellow Swiss around the world yodeling, flag throwing and cervelat grilling. While it is difficult this year in some places to gather in person for August 1st brunches and other festivities, House of Switzerland will provide a little slice of Switzerland to ensure that you have a festive but safe National Day.

Be sure to return to this page closer to August 1st for the full programme and visit the experience brought to you straight from Switzerland and from Swiss embassies and consulates around the world.

The Minions and Gru are supporting WHO

If you have kids you've heard of the Minons, the bright yellow creatures from the Despicable Me films. You either hate them or you love them! In any case storytelling is a powerful tool to accelerate positive social change in the world.

With that in mind, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Foundation and Illumination have partnered to release a public service announcement featuring the famous Minions characters and Gru, voiced by actor Steve Carrell, to show how people can stay safe from Covid-19. 

The Minions and Gru are supporting WHO in making sure people of all ages stay safe and healthy during this pandemic by physically distancing, keeping active and connected, and being kind and compassionate.

The video has been produced in support of the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO. For more informationclick here: https://covid19responsefund.org/en/

Swiss Review readership survey

The publisher of "Swiss Review", the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) is conducting a comprehensive readership survey in which it hopes many people will participate. The OSA represents Swiss expatriates' interests in Switzerland. It informs Swiss living abroad about what is happening in Switzerland and provides them with a wide selection of services.

This month the Research Institute for the Public Sphere and Society (FÖG) – the University of Zurich’s independent body specialised in media research – has been entrusted with coordinating the survey.

What content does "Swiss Review" need to offer to ensure that it is as relevant to readers in Switzerland’s neighbouring countries as it is to those Swiss who live thousands of miles away? What topics interest the extremely diverse "Fifth Switzerland"? What should tomorrow’s "Swiss Review" look like?

The readers are the best people to answer these questions. Express your thoughts about the magazine in its current form, provide OSA with information about your own reading habits, tell them what you would like to see in future, and feel free to submit any general feedback that you may have. You can access the survey directly via the following link: survey2020.foeg.ch

Key findings of the survey will be published in the 1/2021 edition of “Swiss Review”.

Online volunteering to make a difference

Have you ever thought of becoming a volunteer? Maybe you have volunteered in the past in your neighbourhood or city? But, have you ever thought of volunteering online?

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Online volunteering allows organizations and volunteers to team up to address sustainable development challenges – anywhere in the world, from any device.

You can dedicate 1 hour or 20 hours per week in writing, translating, programming, designing or researching from wherever you are with whatever you have... computer, phone, tablet.

On this global platform for organizations and online volunteers to connect, find an opportunity to make a difference... and change the world for the better.

Start now. Start here: https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en/opportunities

Europe Day in Switzerland

Europe Day held on May 9th every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic "Schuman declaration". At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe's nations unthinkable.

This year May 9th marks the 70th Anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which set European integration in motion. The specific challenges that the European Union faces today – humanitarian, economic and sovereign – find an echo in the words of the Schuman Declaration: "World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it."

This year is not a year for celebration and we must mark it in a different way by paying tribute to the many Europeans who, in a spirit of solidarity, are helping our Union get through the coronavirus crisis.

Although Switzerland is not a member state of the European Union, it is associated with the Union through a series of bilateral treaties in which Switzerland has adopted various provisions of European Union law in order to participate in the Union's single market, without joining as a member state.

In 1992, Switzerland held a referendum on membership to the European Economic Area, which allows European Free Trade Association members to participate in the EU’s internal market. Swiss citizens voted against joining the EEA, choosing instead to continue taking the strictly bilateral approach to their relationship with the EU.

In 2001, Swiss citizens voted on a popular initiative to open membership negotiations, but nearly 77 percent of voters decided that Switzerland should remain separate from the European Union.

In 2010 an agreement was signed on Swiss participation in EU education, professional training and youth programmes.

Overall, more than 100 bilateral agreements currently exist between the EU and Switzerland.
The on-going implementation of these agreements obliges Switzerland to take over relevant EU legislation in the covered sectors.These bilateral agreements between the EU and Switzerland are currently managed through approximately 20 joint committees.

As a consequence of its partial integration in the EU's single market, Switzerland pays a financial contribution to economic and social cohesion in the new EU Member States.

We are all in this together...

The Federal Council is easing the measures in place. From May 11th, classroom teaching may again take place in primary and lower secondary schools. Shops, markets, museums, libraries and restaurants may also reopen under strict compliance with precautionary measures.

All businesses and institutions must however present and put in place a set of precautionary measures. Everyone involved – that is to say all employees, customers, teachers, students, apprentices, athletes and trainers – must be able to observe the rules on hygiene and social distancing.

Beware, however, that the Federal Council can authorise the cantons to limit or suspend the activity of certain branches of the economy for a limited time and for specific regions if the epidemiological situation indicates a particular risk to the health of the population.

As of May 11th, the public transport network in Switzerland will be operating far more frequent services. The Swiss Federal Council would still ask you not to undertake leisure trips, however, for Swiss and EU citizens, family reunification in Switzerland will once again be possible from May 11th.

50 years of Earth Day

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
Native American Proverb

Earth Day was born as a unified response to an environment in crisis - oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.

As we mark 50 years, we are celebrating an Earth Day unlike any other! The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. The enormous challenge - but also the vast opportunities - of action on climate change have distinguished the issue as the most pressing topic for the 50th anniversary.

On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans (10% of the U.S. population at the time) took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet. Today, people in over 180 countries celebrate Earth Day.

While the coronavirus may force us to keep our distance, it will not force us to keep our voices down. The only thing that will change the world is a bold and unified demand for a new way forward.

We may be apart, but through the power of digital media, we’re also more connected than ever.

Over the 24 hours of Earth Day, the 50th anniversary of Earth Day will fill the digital landscape with global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more.

While Earth Day may be going digital, our goal remains the same: to mobilize the world to take the most meaningful actions to make a difference.

No matter where you are, you can make a difference. And you’re not alone, because together, we can save the Earth.

Visit earthday.org as we build an Earth Day unlike any other and join the 24 hours of actions that you can take, right now and from wherever you are.

Click here to enter: https://www.earthday.org/24-hours-of-action/

Switzerland's history of stockpiling

Over the past weeks, customers across Europe have cleaned supermarket shelves with pasta, canned food and toilet rolls as the coronavirus pandemic plunged countries into lockdown, seized chains and triggered panic buying crises.

But did you know that Switzerland has one of the largest strategic stocks in the world with three to six months of food and essential goods stored within the country’s borders? The history and geography of Switzerland have anchored strategic thinking on the country’s supply chains over the decades.

Last year, Switzerland, which has 8.5 million inhabitants, kept 63,000 tonnes of sugar, 160,000 tonnes of white flour for bread, 33,700 tonnes of cooking oil (a fifth of which for dressing and mayonnaise) and just under 400,000 tonnes of specialized food for its dairy industry in reserve. They also have 15,000 tonnes of coffee beans in stock to watch them get through these tough times.

The government has regularly run public information campaigns for decades to advise citizens on how to supply their households.

The last widely distributed leaflet on the maintenance of household pantries was released just a few weeks ago: the last in a series called Kluger Rat – Notvorrat (wise advice – emergency stores) which have existed for 50 years. The Swiss are advised to have nine liters of bottled water per person, enough food to feed someone for a week, a gas stove, candles and money.

So, what have you stockpiled these past weeks?

Campaigns from 1968 and 1980