Swiss partners
Partners:
Enfants du monde (EdM)
Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation
Helvetas
OSEO
Enfants du Monde is a Swiss non-governmental organisation, founded in 1968, with its headquarters in Geneva. Its objective is to help and protect children from disadvantaged countries through development projects. EdM adheres to the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, enacted in 1989, which it promotes through its programmes. It focuses its efforts on education and health in a small number of countries, while striving to act more broadly in favour of a more just and united world that has greater respect for diversity.
In education, EdM works towards improving the quality of educational processes, with the aim of encouraging the development of an array of aptitudes, psychological abilities, and values essential to being an active member of society. Particular attention is paid to the question of bilingual and intercultural education, which is considered crucial for improving the quality of education in the various regions. A theme that cuts across all of EdM's activities is capacity building. This refers to the ability of individuals, families, communities and organisations to grow, assume responsibility, adapt, analyse and resolve problems.
EdM continues to evolve on an organisational level. In 2006, for example, it took in the Institute for the Development and the Education of Adults (IDEA), an internationally renowned institution that extends EdM's specialisation and in-house skills in the area of education. This expanded scope allowed EdM to significantly improve a number of specific skills, particularly in terms of providing technical support to partners and expanding its scope of work, as well as, more broadly, in terms of conceptual thinking, research and publications.
Contact person: Constanze Bunzemeier
Documents and further information:
Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation
The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation is a Swiss children’s charity that promotes peaceful cohabitation throughout the world by comprehensively strengthening the skills and rights of underprivileged children and adolescents. The Children’s Village in Trogen, Switzerland, provides intercultural living, exchanges and education, and is the heart of the Foundation. It focuses on strengthening intercultural skills in partner countries and increasing the effectiveness of development work. The Children’s Village brings adolescents from projects in South Eastern Europe along with Swiss schoolchildren together with the children and young people who live in the Village.
In the 12 Eastern and Southern countries in which it operates, the Foundation works to ensure that the rights of the child are respected so that boys and girls can receive a decent education and improve their prospects for the future. In these countries, the Foundation works with established independent partner organisations that manage the projects. They also help the Foundation with project development. The Foundation provides the partner organisations with assistance in project management and in issues relating to education and intercultural cohabitation. In the International Training Programmes held in the Children’s Village, intercultural exchange is purposefully created and its educational benefits are fully explored. After a two-week or nine-month training course, the children, adolescents and young adults go back to their own countries where partner organisations and local staff members help them pass on their knowledge to other children and young people. They are encouraged to actively participate in all activities.
Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation
Contact person: Béatrice Schulter
Documents and further information:
A summary of the evaluation of the International Programme, August 2008
The full version can be obtained upon request
Film, “Head, Heart and Hands”
Directed and produced by Decatron Media SA (23 minutes)
Illustrates the projects and work of the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation
Helvetas was founded in 1955 and was the first private organisation for development co-operation in Switzerland. Helvetas is a denominationally and politically independent association supported by approximately 80,000 members and sponsors and 15 regional volunteer groups. Around 600 local and 40 international (mainly Swiss) employees work in 18 partner countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. Around 60 people work at the Helvetas headquarters in Zurich. Together with the Lausanne and Balerna branches, they fulfil the following key tasks: coordinating development work in Southern and Eastern countries and informing the Swiss of the concerns and problems of people in developing countries.
“Education and culture” is one of the association’s four areas of work. Within the field of education, Helvetas is involved mainly in basic education and the development of vocational skills. In 2008, Helvetas worked on 27 educational and cultural projects, investing 12% of its budget in this area. The SDC provides financial support through mandates and by contributing to the credit programme. The general objectives of its projects are empowerment, income-generating activities and sustainable economic and social development. More specifically, the projects aim to: 1) encourage the development of skills in various fields including agriculture, rural entrepreneurship, forestry, mechanics, electricity, sewing and hairdressing; 2) improve training through modules and curricula that are developed collaboratively, training for trainers, capacity building for school administrative staff, new and interactive teaching and learning methods, and teaching material that focuses on the learner; and 3) improve education systems wherever possible. Helvetas has been asked by the governments of several countries, including Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam, to provide support for education reform.
Work in Swiss schools: Upon request, Helvetas runs in-school activities, supports school projects, offers guided tours of Helvetas exhibitions (on topics such as water and cotton) and provides information on the countries in which it is active together with documents for the teaching staff.
Contact person: Bettina Jenny
Documents and further information:
The OSEO (Oeuvre suisse d’entraide ouvrière) is a political association for workers, founded in 1936 by the Swiss Socialist party and Federation of Trade Unions. It is committed to building a more socially, economically and politically just society. It works side by side with those who wish to lead a life of dignity and security and supports both individuals and organisations in their efforts to assert their rights. The OSEO is active in Switzerland and in ten countries in the southern hemisphere and south-eastern Europe. Together with its partner organisations, the OSEO runs around 65 projects that aim to improve the overall quality of life of local groups and ensure that resources are distributed equally.
In Burkina Faso, the OSEO works in four main education-related areas: 1) literacy and rural development, 2) bilingual education in schools, 3) pedagogical innovation and vocational training, 4) advocacy for young people and women. Its investment in a bilingual education project is promising, and this pedagogical innovation has started to be used across the country, with the support of the education ministry.
Contact person in Switzerland: Martina Bavier Ruffner
Contact person in Burkina Faso: Paul Taryam Ilboudo
Documents and further information:
