Our work against poverty

Annual Report 2018 Our work against poverty

2018

Editorial

The world is in flux, and new uncertainties are spreading. Populism und nationalism remain in vogue. Switzerland recorded an excellent economic performance in 2018, yet the number of people affected by poverty rose. The number of asylum seekers has decreased by half in two years.

We were able to continue our aid programmes for Syria in the past year, thanks to the generosity of our donors. On the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, we actively supported the people who had lost all their worldly goods after a tsunami, by providing emergency relief. In the development projects, the climate issue continued to gain in importance, because an increasing number of people are losing their livelihood as a result of droughts, severe weather events and storms. We were able to conclude a framework agreement with the World Meteorological Organization and thus further strengthen our climate expertise.

In Switzerland, the focus continued to be on the integration of people affected by poverty and refugees. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has made cuts to its already modest poverty programme. Our political work has become even more important. In the field of asylum, we successfully bid in a tender by the State Secretariat for Migration and were awarded a significant mandate for the provision of legal advice. Our professional expertise won through.

Institutionally, 2018 was an important year. We further strengthened our cooperation with the Regional Caritas Organisations through specific projects. A new strategy process was initiated in German-speaking Switzerland.

All our successes depend on committed people who are ready to work in committees, as donors, as employees, as volunteers or as political leaders to promote solidarity and social equality. They all deserve our recognition and gratitude.

Mariangela WallimannBornatico President

Hugo Fasel Director

Content 4

International Cooperation

Climate change poses an existential threat to people.

That is why climate protection and fighting poverty belong together.

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Activities in Switzerland

Caritas Switzerland supports young refugees with education and training. This enables them to stand on their own feet more quickly.

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Humanitarian Aid

Protracted crises such as the war in Syria demand longterm, sustainable measures.

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Caritas in figures

Caritas Switzerland shows the source and use of its income. 90.6 per cent is devoted to project work.

16

Political Influence

Caritas Switzerland exerts selective influence on political processes – in favour of the weaker in society.

At the mercy of climate change The poorest need our support The consequences of climate change pose an existential threat to ever more people worldwide. That is why climate protection and fighting poverty belong together.

In the autumn of 2018, a new report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) attracted a lot of attention. Experts stress that the measures taken so far to mitigate climate change are not sufficient. The target formulated three years ago in Paris of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees cannot be

“ Global warming makes entire

regions uninhabitable, robs people of their livelihood and forces them to migrate. ” achieved if we continue our current practices. It has also now become clear that stronger global warming will have serious consequences. Already today, the continuing rise in sea levels, the increasing frequency of extraordinary weather events such as heavy rain or tornadoes with disastrous consequences, as well as heat and drought, cause huge losses. They threaten habitats and make them increasingly uninhabitable.

This drives people into poverty and forces them into migration.

Mali: A lake disappears One example is in the village of Wegnia, 150 km north of Bamako, in Mali. Here, the older village residents well remember the times when many visitors came to the region to admire its diverse birdlife, the rich vegetation, and the productive agriculture. In those days, the fisherman Modeste Traoré (54) landed big catches, which enabled him to feed his family. But that is long in the past. Lake Wegnia, on which people and nature depend, threatens to dry up – similar to Lake Chad a few hundred kilometres further east in the Sahel. This development deprives the inhabitants of their livelihood. Modeste Traoré fears that his children will no longer be able to fish in the future. Already, he has to find altern­ ative sources of income, for example in agriculture. Caritas supports him with resistant seeds and the use of climate-adapted cultivation methods. And along the shore zones, 100,000 trees are being planted as protection against erosion.

East Africa: Mass extinction of livestock In East Africa, millions suffer from a drought that has lasted for years. It has turned the life of people like Abdullahi Hashi in Somaliland into a fight for survival. Before the drought, the farmer was the proud owner of 450 sheep and goats, ten camels and two cows. Almost all these animals have perished as a result of the creeping disaster. Abdullahi Hashi is left with nothing, and depends on emergency aid for the survival of his family.

In 2018, Caritas Switzerland enabled around

people to cope better with environmental and disaster risks.

5 International Cooperation

118,000

4

In 2018, Caritas Switzerland supported around

24,000 people in adapting to climate change to secure their livelihood.

Image left: Before the protracted drought, Abdullahi Hashi in Somaliland owned 450 sheep and goats, ten camels and two cows. Now he depends on emergency relief.

Image right: The rains also failed in the north-east of Brazil.

A Caritas project enables the recycling of used water.

uted to it the least. Because it is first and foremost the industrialised countries of the North which cause global warming. Climate change is also a question of social justice.

Climate as a Caritas field of activity Hence, one of Caritas Switzerland’s priorities in its development cooperation has for many years been the fight against the consequences of climate change. The objective of its climate change and disaster prevention strategies is to strengthen people’s resilience, so that they anticipate the impacts of climate change and disasters and are able to adapt.

Caritas Switzerland has defined three areas for action which are closely interlinked: Climate protection: In this area, the aim is to provide the affected population with access to sustainable energy and to increase energy efficiency. This is done, for example, by promoting more efficient stoves that need considerably less fuel wood or coal. A better use of natural resources and reforestation also helps to reduce CO2 emissions.

6 7 International Cooperation

Brazil: Surviving despite water shortage The climate disaster is not limited to Africa, as an example from South America illustrates: In the semi-arid region of Sertão do Araripe in the north-east of Brazil, which is already affected by drought, the rain has now failed almost completely. Farmer Maria Diva remembers a time when there was rainfall which, while scant, was nevertheless reliable. Today, life without targeted water management would no longer be possible for her and her family. As part of a Caritas project, measures were put in place to secure people’s livelihoods. A greywater installation en­ables the recycling of used water, for example for irrigating the vegetable gardens and watering livestock. It means that Maria Diva’s children can now look forward to a better future and are not forced to migrate to the favelas of the large Brazilian cities.

The example of Maria Diva and her family clearly demonstrates that the fight against the climate crisis and its consequences is essentially also a fight against poverty. It is particularly unacceptable that climate change has the most serious impact on the people who have contrib-

Adaptation: The poorest people have to adapt to climate change so they are not completely deprived of their livelihood. Adaptation measures include support for climate-resilient agricultural practices, for example by promoting suit­ able plant varieties. The use of natural resources such as water and soils must be optimised so that it is geared to future climate conditions and anticipates them.

Disaster prevention: The impacts of floods, droughts, storms or earthquakes are less severe if the people and structures affected by them are better prepared for such events and their consequences. This applies both to the disaster situ­ ation itself as well as to the time after the disaster.

Modeste Traoré and his family lived from fishing in Lake Wegnia, today he looks for an income in agriculture.

Caritas supports him with resistant seeds and climate-adapted cultivation methods.

An effective climate policy is needed Caritas Switzerland believes that politicians also have to do their share. In the run-up to the UN climate summit last December in Poland, a new Caritas position paper appeared with the title

“Adaptation measures must support the poorest”. In it, Caritas stresses the urgency of making far-reaching and ambitious commitments to a rapid reduction in CO2 emissions. In addition, the Position Paper points out that the most affected countries urgently need support to adapt to the consequences of the climate crisis, which threaten the livelihoods of millions of people.

From Caritas’ perspective, Switzerland, too, must act decisively with regard to climate policy, namely on the following points: • Since the ongoing climate change is creating new poverty traps, more resources are needed to enable people in developing countries to adapt to the changed conditions. Switzerland can and must decide to do more, and contribute considerably more money to the international climate fund.

• This also requires that Switzerland secures new sources of funding that derive from compensation for activities that are harmful to the

climate. For example, charges on the use of non-renewable energy or the production of CO2 emissions are needed.

• Under no circumstances must Switzerland take the additional funds for climate protection and climate adaptation from the budgets for development cooperation. It would then merely give those countries in the South, which are already most severely hit by the consequences of climate change, with one hand what it has taken away with the other hand.

• Not least, Switzerland must commit itself to support the rights and dignity of the ever increasing number of climate refugees (see column right).

More on the topic and the stories of Modeste Traoré, Abdullahi Hashi and Maria Diva at: caritas.ch/climate

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International Cooperation

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Many rural climate refugees end up in slums in big cities, where they live in degrading conditions. This happened to Nargis Begum and her family in Bangladesh.

Climate-induced flight Bangladesh is among the countries that are worst affected by climate change. The rising sea level makes the coastal regions increasingly uninhabitable, and the annual floods are becoming increasingly destructive. Four times, floods swept away the home of Nargis Begum and her family in her village. Repeatedly, they rebuilt their hut in a new location. Then a time came when the farming family had no other choice – they moved to Dhaka, where they faced even greater misery in a tin hut.

Number one reason for fleeing The consequences of climate change drive ever increasing numbers of people worldwide, such as Nargis Begum, to flee their homes. Natural disasters and environmental damage have for some years been the primary cause of migration, well ahead of armed conflicts. The International Panel on Climate Change estimates that by 2050, the number of people forced to migrate due to extreme weather events will increase to a total of 150 million. Very few will come to rich countries like Switzerland. It is mainly the developing countries that shelter refugees who have lost their livelihood due to sudden natural disasters or creeping environmental changes. Many of them end up in the slums of the nearest big city or in often equally poor neighbouring countries.

Caritas takes the view that migration must now be considered as an adaptation strategy by people who have lost their livelihood. Caritas calls on Switzerland to take steps to ensure that climate refugees are recognised as such in international framework agreements, but also in Swiss asylum law.

Clean drinking water changed Daner’s life Before In 2015, we got to know 4-year-old Daner Mamani Flores in the municipality of Sapahaqui in Bolivia. He was too small and too thin for his age. He constantly suffered from diarrhoea because his family only had limited access to clean water. This stunted little Daner’s development.

At that time, Caritas Switzerland was constructing drinking water systems with Caritas Corocoro in Bolivia. The families of twelve communities in Sapahaqui were provided with a household connection for drinking water. Daner’s family was one of the lucky ones.

After When we visited Daner again in 2017, we hardly recognised him.

The boy was just getting ready to go to school when we arrived.

He beamed from ear to ear and ran to meet us. The skinny boy had become a strong and lively young lad. He was full of energy – the painful years didn’t seem to have left any traces. Moreover, the village residents and school children had learned new hygiene practices which reduced infections and diarrhoea.

Making global migrations humane The 2019 Development Policy Almanac highlights the contradictions in today’s migration policy, analyses connections and identifies possible new solutions.

Europe’s closed-doors policy stands in stark contrast to the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which the UN calls for safe, orderly and regular migration. The present lack of legal means of immigration constantly puts the lives of migrants and refugees at risk and makes them vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. At the same time, the potential of migration as a source for social, human and economic development in the destination countries is ignored. The increasingly complex and extensive migration flows demand new, globally coordinated solutions. Here, great hopes are placed in development cooperation which must not, however, be manipulated to prevent “undesired migration”. What are the conditions for a humane and development-promoting migration? This is one of the key questions which the fourth edition of the Development Policy Almanac addresses.

The book examines the specific situation of Greece, amongst others, the protracted Syria

crisis and the refugees and street children in Uganda. The Bangladesh case study shows the link between climate change and migration. The example of the Indian state of Bihar shows how development measures can reduce migration pressure.

To date, a global, long-term and solution-oriented migration policy is lacking. This volume offers numerous suggestions and uncovers new connections. It discusses current events and offers exciting perspectives and experiences from well-known authors and experts. The book is available in German and French only.

shop.caritas.ch

The Prix Caritas goes to Cambodia In 2018, the Prix Caritas was awarded to the Cambodian doctor Sovannarith Sam. He has been actively engaged in promoting child protection and children’s rights in Cambodia for decades.

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International Cooperation

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Sovannarith Sam is the executive director of the child protection organisation “Damnok Toek” in Cambodia. It takes care of around 3,500 marginalised children each year, who live on the street and have to earn a living for themselves and their families. They carry heavy loads, collect waste, beg or even work as prostitutes. “Damnok Toek”operates various drop-in centres, in which up to 750 children find refuge. Here, they can relax, eat a hot meal, and have a shower. In addition, Sovannarith Sam also offers these children a basic education and prepares them for admission to a mainstream school. He then enables them to gain a vocational qualification and a job. He thus reintegrates the children into society and gives them prospects for the future.

Kenya: Urban planning in the slum to combat poverty Geneva

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In Mukuru, 120,000 people are crammed into one square kilometre. That corresponds to twelve times the population density of Geneva.

The large cities in the global South are growing at a rapid pace. That demands forward-looking action. In Nairobi, Caritas Switzerland is involved in the urban planning of the densely populated slum of Mukuru.

Street life in Mukuru is vibrant. To ensure that the slum dwellers can make use of the prospects on offer here and escape from the poverty trap, they need sustained access to education and income-generating opportunities. Furthermore, the degrading housing conditions must

be improved with a hygienic water and waste water provision. At present, 250 families have to share one water tap, and 550 households have access to one toilet.

The Nairobi city authority has declared Mukuru a Special Planning Area and is currently preparing an Integrated Development Plan, jointly with the residents. It involves a broad alliance of non-governmental organisations and universities. Caritas Switzerland is also actively participating in this development and heads the planning consortium for Water, Sanitation and Energy. The declared aim is to improve the living conditions of the mostly poor population. The city development plan for Mukuru is due to be completed by the end of 2019 and will set the direction for town planning and urbanisation policy beyond Nairobi.

At the same time, Caritas Switzerland is already engaged in Mukuru with specific projects to meet urgent basic needs. At present, the focus is on reducing disaster risks in the event of fires and flooding.

When misery is never-ending Sustained crises The majority of international humanitarian aid now goes to help in sustained crises. These are crises that last for several years and are further aggravated as a result of recurrent events such as armed conflicts. This means that an end to the crisis is continuously delayed. Caritas is actively engaged in such a protracted crisis in the context of the Syria crisis, which has now gone on for seven years and demands long-term, sustained humanitarian aid.

More than half of Caritas’ humanitarian aid goes to protracted crises.

34 % Sudden-onset disaster

59 % Protracted crisis

7 % Slow-onset disaster

At the start of the Syria crisis, aid was exclusively concentrated on direct survival assistance for refugees and members of host communities in need of protection. This aid took the form of cash payments, food parcels and the provision of shelters. The sustained crisis additionally requires a longer-term approach in order to sustainably strengthen the resilience of the people affected.

Caritas supports school education Concrete examples of long-term assistance include help with homework and remedial lessons for disadvantaged Lebanese and Syrian schoolchildren in Lebanon. This is to help these children to fill in gaps in their education and strengthen their learning capability so they can complete their schooling. To this end, Caritas trains teaching staff in providing remedial lessons and psychosocial support.

Since 2012, Caritas Switzerland’s humanitarian aid has reached

500,000 people in Syria and the neighbouring countries.

Humanitarian Aid

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On the spot where help is needed In the world’s flashpoints

Venezuela / Brazil According to estimates, around four million Venezuelans have fled to the neighbouring countries, above all to Brazil. Caritas Switzerland, working with its local partner Caritas Brazil, is helping to provide humanitarian assistance to 3,500 refugees in the federal state of Roraima on the border with Venezuela. To reduce tension along the border, Caritas supports the government with the transfer of refugees to other federal states. It combats discrimination and hostility to foreigners with awareness-raising campaigns. In addition, Caritas provides administrative, legal and psychological help in everyday life and support with professional and school integration.

West Africa, Mali Approximately 12,000 people depend for their food on Lake Wegnia north of Bamako. But climate change is causing the lake to become increasingly smaller. Caritas assists people to adapt to the changed conditions, to regenerate the lake as a habitat and develop it. It is devising rehabilitation plans, imparts knowledge about sustainable action and strengthens participative structures.

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Aleppo, Syria After eight years of war in Syria, 13.1 million people – two thirds of the population – depend on humanitarian aid. Added to this are 5.5 million people who have fled to the neighbouring countries. These people need support and prospects for the future, not only in Syria but also in the neighbouring countries of Jordan and Lebanon. Caritas helps the displaced people and vulnerable host communities in all three countries with short, medium and long-term systemic aid. In addition to basic supplies and services – food, accommodation and medical care – Caritas supports the education of children and creates income-generating opportunities.

Bangladesh Caritas Switzerland has started two projects in Camp Kutupalong in Bangladesh, where 630,000 Rohingyas live. With the help of local craftsmen, it repairs the groundwater wells, la­ trines and wash houses and trains the camp residents in their maintenance. In addition, 405 huts with a lifespan of three years are being built. The entire site is being stabilised to prevent flooding during the monsoon.

Humanitarian Aid

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Those who are weaker need a voice in Bern Interview with Hugo Fasel

“ Our donors greatly

appreciate the work of Caritas at the federal level.”

Hugo Fasel, Director Caritas Switzerland

The fact that an aid organisation intervenes in politics meets with criticism in some places. What is your response if you are asked about this?

In its daily work, Caritas Switzerland is confronted with questions and problems that give us a deep insight into the social realities of our society. This includes, for example, poverty and hunger, marginalisation and flight. It is our task to bring our experiences to the Federal Parliament so that politicians can work with them.

Our knowledge from all the projects in the countries of the global South, and the interaction with people experiencing poverty in Switzerland, demands of us that we also exercise political responsibility.

You were a member of the National Council for many years before you became director of Caritas Switzerland. How can an organisation like Caritas make its voice heard with the federal authorities in Bern?

If you want to be heard, you must be competent in your field. Caritas’ great wealth of experience is the foundation for being able to take a reliable and confident stance. Our contribution is much valued both in the National Council and the Council of States, but also in the Federal Council.

Do you also seek personal discussions with politicians?

With Martin Flügel as the delegate of the Executive Board, we have an experienced personality who is well-known in the Federal Parliament, and who is in regular dialogue with the parliamentarians. Meetings take place during the session of the Federal Chambers in which I parti­ cipate in order to strengthen our network and to highlight our concerns. Our President also participates in important talks with Federal Councillors.

Where has Caritas been able to achieve success in its political work?

Thanks to our advocacy efforts, the Federal Council has implemented the National Poverty Programme. In the Syria crisis, we were able to ensure a greater financial commitment from the Federal Government, and we have also contributed to preventing the expansion of weapons exports. At the end of last year, we were able to put the deterioration in the premium reduction of health insurance on the political agenda.

Whether in relation to poverty policy or development cooperation, Caritas Switzerland pointedly criticises the work of the Federal Council. How do the donors react to this?

Our donors greatly appreciate the work of Caritas at the federal level. We receive many positive and supportive comments from them.

They know that help through projects is important, but they also expect us to combat the root causes, which means political work.

What are, in Caritas’ view, the great political challenges of the future?

Fighting poverty worldwide is at the very top of the agenda. In the countries of the global South, this is exacerbated due to climate change and is the cause of migration and flight. In Switzerland, it will be digitalisation that creates new poverty if we don’t greatly expand further education and training for all in a timely manner.

16 17 Political influence

Alongside the practical help for poor people in Switzerland and abroad, one of the key areas of activity of Caritas Switzerland is to help shape the social framework. In this endeavour, Caritas aims to specifically influence political processes – in favour of the weaker in society. Director Hugo Fasel explains how and why it does this.

International Relations Switzerland’s responsibility in a global context Development cooperation In the coming months, the administration, the Federal Council and Parliament will debate the future direction and the financial framework of Swiss development cooperation. Switzerland must show a stronger commitment – out of responsibility and solidarity with the poorest and the disadvantaged, but also in its own interest. Caritas has formulated an eight-point programme for an effective and sustainable development agenda.

Export of war materiel The Steering Committee of Caritas Switzerland has taken note with dismay of the decision of the Federal Council to ease arms exports to countries embroiled in civil wars. With this decision, the Federal Council has crossed a red line.

Caritas addressed a letter to Federal President Alain Berset.

Agenda 2030 Caritas criticised Switzerland’s country report on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as being without substance and superficial. Concrete commitments

by Switzerland to sustainable and globally compatible development were not discernible.

Swiss Law First initiative International law is today more important than ever before. As an internationally active organisation committed to promoting human rights, Caritas campaigned against the “Swiss law first” initiative, which was decisively rejected at the ballot box.

The quote on Federal policy

a peace and human rights policy, as well as development cooperation, is being recklessly and unnecessarily put at risk with the supply of weapons and munition. ”

Letter dated 22 June 2018 from Caritas to Federal President Alain Berset about the export of war materiel

18 19 Political influence

“ What Switzerland achieves with good services,

Switzerland’s social policy An effective anti-poverty policy is needed

Health insurance premiums The constantly rising health insurance premiums are increasingly unaffordable for lower earners.

They drive low-income households into pov-

erty. This situation is untenable in terms of social policy. Caritas demands of the Federal government and cantons that the annual burden of health insurance premiums must not exceed one monthly salary. The Federal government and cantons must make corresponding adjustments to the premium reductions.

Small loans Year after year, more than 100,000 Swiss people take out a small loan. Quite often, this leads them into over-indebtedness. Research by Caritas Switzerland has given a strong indication that certain banks systematically embellish the checking of creditworthiness and flout the rules. For this reason, Caritas has filed a complaint with the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (Finma).

20 21 Political influence

Anti-poverty policy In 2014, the Federal Council started a National Programme to Prevent and Combat Poverty.

The final report of the programme, which finished at the end of 2018, showed that there is a need for urgent action when it comes to fighting poverty. Despite this, the Federal Council is not taking an active role in the fight against poverty.

At the national poverty conference in August 2018, Caritas demanded an effective anti-poverty policy, including educational and family policy measures. The Federal government must finally assume its responsibility in these areas.

Education and Integration Giving young refugees better opportunities They are between 16 and 25 years old. Because their country was at war, they had to leave the country and the school or abandon their studies.

Given these circumstances, how are they to find a job in Switzerland?

For Caritas, it is clear: The young refugees must have the opportunity to achieve a higher level of education. And it offers them practical help.

We believe that the structures of integration in Switzerland are still inadequate, and that our country must do a lot more in this field.

With the growing migration flows since 2015, the number of young, recognised refugees and temporarily admitted persons between the ages of 16 and 30 has significantly increased. In 2018, there were 30,000 minors or young adults in this group. Added to this are 12,000 asylum seekers in this age group. At least half of them will be granted refugee status or the right to temporary admission and be able to remain in Switzerland.

However, from age 16, these young people can no longer be admitted to our school system and have only insufficient access to integrating structures. Without a basic education in Switzerland, their chances of an independent life are virtually non-existent.

An exemplary career path Most of the young refugees come from countries where a civil war is raging, a dictatorship is in power, and violence is an everyday occurrence.

The main countries are Eritrea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq and Syria. One of these refugees is 21-year-old Lava Khalil from Syrian Kurdistan.

She was in her second high-school year when the war reached her village and her family had to flee from one day to the next. In 2014, she came to Switzerland, where the whole family was granted refugee status. Lava and her family

live in the canton of Fribourg and are supported

by Caritas.

Lava’s career path is the ideal case. First, she studied French, mathematics, geography and history for two years at the Commercial and Industrial Vocational School Fribourg (GIBS). She then completed a motivation semester that en­ abled her to get various job experience opportunities. Since she liked the pharmaceuticals sector, she looked for an apprenticeship in this sector. After a three-day work placement in a pharmacy in Matran, Lava was offered the apprenticeship and was able to start her training as a pharmacy assistant in August 2018. Her work and the contact with the customers help her to further improve her French language skills. She gets a lot of support from her colleagues and quickly settled into her new job with its specific requirements such as speed, precision and diligence. After work, she spends hours with her books in order to learn the material of the various subjects that are taught alongside her practical training. She knows that she would also get tutoring if she needed it.

Flexible but well-structured support The example of Lava Khalil shows that flexible but well-structured support helps these young people to become independent. This is for Caritas the most important goal. In 2018, Caritas Switzerland looked after 1,842 recognised refugees on behalf of the canton of Fribourg; 372 are between the ages of 16 and 25. A package of measures was adopted to promote the integration of the young people in this age group. First, the refugees must attain a specified standard in

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Activities in Switzerland

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In 2018, Caritas Switzerland supported

2,540 refugees and asylum seekers in the cantons of Fribourg and Schwyz.

The first months are decisive for young refugees. If their potential is recognised and they are offered the necessary training, their chances of professional integration increase massively.

French and mathematics to enable them to join the GIBS. Intensive courses are offered at the House for Education and Integration in Matran, which Caritas opened in March 2018. Under-age refugees and young adults are accommodated here. After completing this first stage, the refugees can attend courses at the GIBS. They then have the option of taking part in a motivation semester and to do a practical work placement in various companies. This phase of preparatory training is followed by dual vocational training leading to the federal vocational certificate (EBA) – or pre-vocational training – and the advanced federal certificate (EFZ). Caritas Switzerland supports the young people throughout this process.

The first months are crucial The phase of basic education is crucial for the future path of the young refugees. In its position paper “Integration: Better chances for young refugees”, Caritas emphasises that it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that all young refugees can attain a sufficiently high level of education to enable them to receive solid voca-

tional training. All young refugees aged between 16 and 30 should reach this level. The corresponding modules must be adapted to teaching adults, and must in particular also be accessible to young women with children. The basic education must be geared to potential employment.

Caritas also points out that there should be greater focus on the potential of the refugees and their individual situation. The first months in Switzerland are decisive. If the young refugees are supported from the start and the necessary training is offered, then their chances of a happy professional future can be massively increased.

Thanks to constant support from a mentor or an inter-cultural interpreter, the potential of the individual person can be understood better, and the necessary education and vocational training can be planned. Furthermore, it is urgently necessary for the status of temporarily admitted persons to be replaced by a new status that confers more rights. Temporary admission prevents any integration.

sufficiently high level of education to enable them to pursue vocational training. �

The integration agenda must be quickly implemented Caritas is pleased that the Federal government and the cantons have recognised the problem of the professional integration of refugees aged between 16 and 30. Hence, the authorities have jointly devised the Integration Agenda Switzerland. The aim of this agenda is to give young refugees the opportunity to learn a national language more quickly and be able to prepare to enter the workforce. The Agenda was adopted in spring 2018 by the Conference of Cantonal Governments as well as by the Federal government. Caritas Switzerland welcomes the efforts of the Federal government and the cantons but stresses the urgency of a rapid, comprehensive and coherent implementation of the Agenda.

Lava Khalil (21) from Syrian Kurdistan quickly acquired the necessary knowledge in the basic subjects and learned French. Since August 2018, she has been serving an apprenticeship as a pharmacy assistant and is happy.

24 25 Activities in Switzerland

“  The young refugees must attain a

Social Almanac 2019 “Digitalisation – where does it leave the human being?”

The 2019 Social Almanac deals with digitalisation and its social consequences. Digital transformation creates great insecurity in the professional world.

Which jobs are being lost as a result of digitalisation, which new ones are created? But digitalisation also has social and political consequences.

The Social Almanac shows how society is transformed and what new social risks threaten. The dangers of increasing possibilities of surveillance are also examined.

The conclusion: Digitalisation must be actively managed, otherwise people become the victims of efficiency drives and performance optimisation. In a time of hyper-individualisation, solidarity with the weaker members of society must be strengthened. The book is available in German and French only. shop.caritas.ch

Georg Fischer sends trainees to Bolivia

In July 2018, 16 trainees travelled to Bolivia to find out about the Caritas projects supported by their employer Georg Fischer. For six years, Georg Fischer has helped Caritas to provide people with access to clean drinking water. The trainees visited the Caritas water projects in the Bolivian highlands and two social therapy centres in a suburb of La Paz. There, Caritas looks after girls who live on the street. The trainees interacted with people who live in quite different circumstances and found out what development cooperation means.

Caritas Care: hourly support

Caritas Market: everything fresher With the pilot project “Hourly support”, Caritas Care is pioneering a new way of looking after older people. In Suhr and Zurich, a bright red Caritas vehicle stands in the village. In this caravan, a team of carers coordinates its visits to support older people: help in the household, support with shopping, or driving away loneliness. To this end, Caritas works closely with the communities and property companies. People experiencing poverty get special rates, because everyone should be able to use the service, even if they are on a tight budget.

In 2018, the Caritas Market sold 1.3 million kilos of fresh vegetables as well as 1.2 million litres of milk throughout Switzerland. 980,000 customers did their shopping in 21 shops at greatly reduced prices. This enables people to get a healthy and balanced diet despite a tight budget. 14 shops now also sell fresh bread, thanks to fresh bakery stations. Not only has the offer become fresher, the shop premises are also becoming friendlier. The Caritas Market in Winterthur has already been renovated and is now much brighter and friendlier than before.

Caritas Switzerland in the Canton of Fribourg

The integration of refugees, as well as the promotion of mutual understanding, is the mission of the Department Fribourg of Caritas Switzerland. In 2018, it supported 1,800 refugees.

Last March, the Department Fribourg of Caritas Switzerland formally opened the House of Education and Integration in Matran. On behalf of the Canton of Fribourg, Caritas provides accommodation for refugees who have been ac-

Active with youngCaritas Growing waste mountains, hostility to foreigners, and poverty in Switzerland – these are just some of the challenges that youngCaritas and many young people are simply no longer prepared to put up with.

In 2018, countless volunteers once again joined in with youngCaritas to promote a just and sustainable society. One of the greatest highlights was the intercultural summer camp which took place in Flühli (LU). A total of 43 young people from nine different countries took part – for once, one’s background didn’t matter. Friendships were made, perspectives changed.

Another important occasion was the annual presentation of the youngCaritas Award in Lucerne: more than 200 dedicated people received awards for their projects. In November, the first European conference of youngCaritas took place in Vienna. 70 delegates from 31 countries committed themselves to even greater efforts for a more just world.

Working together for what is important, exchanging ideas, having fun and acquiring new skills: That’s what youngCaritas stands for – in 2018 and also in the years to come.

26 27 Activities in Switzerland

cepted here and supports them with integration.

Young people aged between 16 and 25 were the first tenants in Matran. The new institution also looks after 25 Syrian refugees – four families and one girl – who are particularly vulner­ able and are participating in a special integration programme.

The Department Fribourg has a number of different professional and social offers to help the refugees gain autonomy. Creative workshops were started for traumatised individuals: theatre, photography, music and tailoring. The “McPhee” programme enables female refugees to have their children looked after by other refugee women while they work or undergo training.

The scheme “speak to each other” is designed to encourage better mutual understanding: Volunteers help the refugees with various everyday activities. Intercultural interpreters of the “understand each other” programme accompany the new arrivals to hospital or school visits and help with the asylum formalities. “Respect each other” is devoted to the prevention of racism and offers appropriate advice.

Supporting socially vulnerable people Cooperation with the Regional Caritas Organisations

A meeting place in Delémont LARC is the name of a place for encounters and empowerment in Delémont.

Here, Caritas Jura offers an inexpensive meal and activities.

The visitors participate actively in its organisation, and thus enhance their ability to act and socialise. Between 40 and 60 people come to the LARC each day.

Basel Aargau

Zurich

Jura

Solothurn Lucerne Neuchâtel

Bern

Fribourg

Vaud

Geneva

In solidarity The “Espace des Solidarités” – space of solidarity – is a meeting place in the heart of Neuchâtel that is open to everyone. Visitors get a balanced lunch for CHF 5.00. In 2018, 7,000 meals were served.

Various activities are on offer in the afternoon for people to join in. This enables people on a small budget to meet people and make friends.

Valais

A network of solidarity for families The new offer from Caritas Jura enables families to take time out from the daily round. Families who could not afford it can enjoy a week’s holiday – at no cost. In 2018, 46 families benefitted from the offer. In addition, activities and excursions are organised on three weekends during the year, with a special programme for the children. Once a year, a multicultural event promotes interaction between the different population groups.

Thurgau

Sewing and mending workshops In the eight sewing and mending studios of Caritas Zurich, migrants get the chance to improve their sewing and mending skills and earn a bit of money from outside orders. At the same time, they can improve their German language skills and make new contacts.

They also find out about the local customs and way of life. 60 people participated in 2018.

St. GallenAppenzell

Grisons

Ticino Co-pilot – easier start at school In the Co-Pilot project of Caritas Zurich, volunteers support disadvantaged children aged between 3 and 8, as well as their parents, with school enrolment. They explain our education system and facilitate cooperation between the school and the parents. This improves the children’s educational opportunities and their entry into professional life. In 2018, there were 66 active support actions.

The 16 autonomous Regional Caritas Organisations and Caritas Switzerland work together as the Caritas network to reduce and combat poverty in Switzerland. Through their cooperation, they ensure both strong local roots and a national impact. Caritas informs, advises, accompanies and supports socially disadvantaged people with a variety of offers.

A wide range of activities The Caritas Organisations offer a wide range of services in the areas of integration, advice, direct help, education and public relations activities in the political sphere. This includes meeting places for lonely people or advice for people affected by poverty on financial, social, legal or administrative issues. People who have migrated to Switzerland also receive information about life in an unfamiliar society. Job seekers are supported in education and training and in looking for work. People with few financial means can buy everyday necessities at reduced prices in the Caritas Markets. People affected by poverty gain access to culture, sport and education thanks to the Culture Pass. The Caritas Organisations also express political views on questions relating to poverty with press releases or consultations.

Involvement 1,114 employees and 4,571 volunteers were involved in 2018 in the Regional Caritas Organisations and Caritas Switzerland. This included 275,403 hours of voluntary work, and training for 180 young people.

28 29 Activities in Switzerland

The Caritas network combats poverty

Caritas in figures Sources of Caritas income

Private donations / income and ­p ublic-sector contributions 11.0 % Own revenue

28.4 % Direct donations

7.0 %

Swiss Solidarity

58.5 %

9.5 %

Private donations / income

Other organisations

1.7 % Federal gvt. other contributions

0.9 %

International Caritas network

12.9 %

41.5 % Public-sector contributions

SDC

1.7 % Migration and Passport Office Liechtenstein

26.9 % Cantons and communes

Thanks to financing alliances with Swiss Solidarity, the Federal Government as well as other partner organisations at home and abroad, Caritas is able to triple the effect of each donated franc.

Allocation of earnings

Figures in conformity with ZEWO guidelines

43.0 %

90.6 %

International ­Cooperation

Projects

41.2 % Projects Switzerland

3.9 %

Administrative expenses

5.5 % Fundraising and marketing expenses

3.8 % Direct administrative project support

0.5 %

Research and other project contributions

5.5 % Fundraising and marketing

2.1 %

3.9 %

Information and communication

Administrative expenses

These figures were collected in accordance with the rules of Swiss GAAP FER 21 and the guidelines of the ZEWO Foundation for determining administrative expenses of non-profit organisations.

The detailed financial report is available on our Website at www.caritas.ch/annual-report

Balance sheet as at 31 December 2018

2018

2017

Assets

CHF

CHF

Cash

27,005,271

29 611 828

Short-term assets with stock market price

32,109,714

35 093 380

4,604,519

6 051 966

246,797

240 933

30

2,045,663

505 465

31

Fixed assets

22,578,913

22 863 159

Total assets

88,590,877

94 366 731

CHF

CHF

Caritas in figures

Short-term liabilities

4,682,885

3,543,170

Long-term liabilities

5,387,452

5,047,045

Fund capital (restricted funds)

62,518,138

66,186,100

Organisation capital

16,002,402

19,590,416

Total liabilities and equity

88,590,877

94,366,731

Statement of operations 2018

2018

2017

Operating income and operating performance

CHF

CHF

Donations

30,568,204

34,279,724

Contributions from third parties

20,621,197

20,231,457

Total income from donations and private contributions

51,189,401

54,511,181

Contributions from public authorities

44,737,543

42,906,696

Net sales from goods and services

11,863,978

10,990,847

Total operating income

107,790,922

108,408,724

International cooperation

48,523,115

48,131,565

Projects Switzerland

46,504,647

40,265,935

521,130

2,129,951

Information and communication (publishing and education)

2,422,723

2,411,809

Direct administrative project support (evaluation, IT, rents etc.)

4,345,697

3,692,323

102,317,312

96,631,583

Fundraising and marketing expenses

6,176,062

5,894,592

Administrative expenses

4,374,395

4,199,487

10,550,457

10,094,079

112,867,769

106,725,662

– 5,076,847

1,683,062

– 2,141,407

4,005,176

– 37,722

– 954,549

– 7,255,976

4,733,689

3,667,962

– 2,940,850

– 3,588,014

1,792,839

Receivables Inventories Prepayments and accrued income

Liabilities

Research and policy and other project contributions

Total project expenses

Total fundraising, marketing and administrative expenses Total operating expenses Operating result (corresponds to EBIT) Financial and extraordinary result Financial income (before change in value fluctuation fund) Extraordinary or one-off income or income for other accounting periods Annual result before fund and capital movements Change in fund capital (– = increase / + = decrease) Annual result before capital movements

Boards Organs

Mariangela Wallimann-Bornatico

Mario Slongo

Robert Moser

Max Elmiger

Teres Graf

Steering Committee Steering Board President: Mariangela Wallimann-Bornatico, lic. iur., former General Secretary of the Federal Assembly, Wabern BE Vice President: Robert Moser, Deacon, Steg VS Max Elmiger, lic. theol., Director Caritas Zurich, Zurich Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Director EESP Lausanne, Les Breuleux JU Mario Slongo, Dr. Dr. hc. Chemist/Meteorologist, Tafers FR Teres Graf, Manager COMUNDO, Lucerne Gisèle Girgis-Musy, lic. oec., Leutwil AG Erwin Tanner, Dr. iur. / lic. theol., General Secretary, Swiss Conference of Catholic Bishops (SBK), Fribourg

Elisabeth Baume-Schneider

Gisèle Girgis-Musy

Erwin Tanner

Additional Steering Committee members Claudia Babst, Director Caritas Bern, Bern // Urs BrunnerMedici, lic. theol., Responsible for Pastoral Care, Diocese Basel, Solothurn (until 31 May 2018 // Monika Elmiger, Manager Jungwacht/Blauring Schweiz, Lucerne // Marco Fantoni, Director Caritas Ticino, Pregassona (Lugano) // Kurt Grüter, former Director Swiss Federal Audit Office, Bern // Jean-Claude Huot, lic. ès. lettres, Cossonay // P. Alois Kurmann, lic. theol., former Vice-rector Monastery Einsiedeln, Einsiedeln SZ // Lucia Lindegger, lic. iur., Adligenswil LU // Dr. Claudius Luterbacher, Dr. theol., chancellor and economist of the diocese of St. Gallen, St. Gallen // Jean-Noël Maillard, Director Caritas Jura, Delémont // Monika Otter, MAS Ethics FHNW, Widen AG // Hubert Péquignot, Director Caritas Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel // Dr. Benno Schnüriger, President Synodical Council Roman Cath. body canton of ZH, Zurich // Joseph Thali-Kernen, member of the Roman Cath. State Ecumenical Council BL and emerit. church leader, Allschwil B // Iris Utz-Huwiler, President and Manager of Accordeos Foundation, Meggen LU // Bruno Gut-Fuchs, Deacon, church leader, parish of St. Nikolaus, Hombrechtikon ZH (from 1 June 2018)

32

Boards

33

Hugo Fasel

Anja Ebnöther

Elisabeth Karagiannis

Marianne Hochuli

Chantal Cornaz

Head Office Caritas Switzerland Executive Board Director: Hugo Fasel, lic. rer. pol.

International Cooperation: Anja Ebnöther, lic. iur. (until 30 November 2018) Research and Policy: Marianne Hochuli, lic. phil.

Projects Switzerland: Bruno Bertschy, Association Manager VMI Communication and Marketing: Dr. Odilo Noti (retired as of 30 November 2018) Elisabeth Karagiannis, lic. phil. (from 1 December 2018) Human Resources: Alice Mäder-Wittmer, lic. rer. pol. (retired as of 31 October 2018) Chantal Cornaz, lic. phil. (from 1 November 2018) Finance and Administration: Hans Krummenacher-Wüest, Business Economist, cert. Public Accountant

About Caritas Switzerland Caritas Switzerland is an independent association with its Head Office in Lucerne. The organisation helps people in need in Switzerland and worldwide in around 30 countries. Together with the Regional Caritas Organisations, Caritas Switzerland provides practical help where people in wealthy Switzerland are affected by poverty. Globally, Caritas provides emergency relief in disasters, helps with reconstruction, and is involved in development cooperation.

Caritas Switzerland is a member of the international Caritas network. This comprises 165 countries throughout the world.

Bruno Bertschy

Hans Krummenacher-Wüst

Martin Flügel

Delegate of the Executive Board Dr. Martin Flügel, Head of Policy and Public Affairs Business Audit Committee President: Alois Bissig, Attorney-at-law, Ennetbürgen NW Ursula Muther-Guntern, President Caritas Bern, Orpund BE Markus Köferli, dipl. theol., Head of special spiritual welfare, Synodical Council Zurich, Zurich Statutory Auditors BDO AG, Lucerne

At the end of 2018, Caritas Switzerland had 400 employees.

This corresponds to 313 full-time equivalent posts. 247 persons or 62 per cent of employees are women, 67 per cent of all employees work part-time. Around 200 staff are on hourly pay, for example as interpreters, carers or in the Relief Organisation Representation Service. In addition, 247 locally employed staff work for Caritas Switzerland in project countries.

Strong partnerships From business, politics and society

Companies Akinoa Sàrl // Aldi Suisse AG // AXA Winterthur // Bank CIC (Schweiz) AG // BDO AG // Bote der Urschweiz AG // Canon (Schweiz) AG // Clinica Luganese Monucco // Dossen AG // Elektro Cadruvi AG // Energie des Sion-Région SA // Georg Fischer AG // Hesta Services AG // Metacision SA // Migros Genossenschaftsbund // Optic Swiss Services AG // Ribi & Blum AG // Takeda Pharmaceuticals Int. // Ticketcorner AG // Walkerproject AG

Foundations

Almastrust Stiftung

// Beisheim Stiftung // Christian Bachschuster Stiftung // Ernst Göhner Stiftung // Fondation Ernest Matthey // fribourg foundation for children // Glückskette // Heinrich und Julie Sandmeier-Streiff Stiftung // Hilti Foundation // Kahane Foundation // Lions Club Freiamt // MIHI Foundation // Paul und Ida Rohner-Schweizer Stiftung // Société de la Loterie de la Suisse Romande // St. Anna Stiftung der St. Anna Schwestern // Stiftung Accentus // Stiftung ­Mercator ­Schweiz // Stiftung Theresianum Ingenbohl // SV Stiftung // U. W. Linsi Stiftung // Ursula Zindel-Hilti Foundation

Institutions

Ecclesiastical

Association Fraternelle Romande // Kath. Kirchgemeinde Luzern // Kath. Kirchge-

meinde Sursee // Kath. Pfarramt St. Anna, Frauenfeld // Kath. Pfarramt St. Martin Baar // Katholischer Konfessionsteil des Kantons St. Gallen // Kloster Baldegg // Röm. kath. Landeskirche des Kantons Luzern // Röm.-kath. Gesamtkirchgemeinde Bern

Federal Government Bundesamt für Gesund-

heit // Bundesamt für Kultur // Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit Deza // Staatssekretariat für Migration

Universities Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz, ­Institute for Ecopreneuership

// Institut für internationale Zusammenarbeit in Bildungsfragen, Pädagogische Hochschule Zug // Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut Cantons, Towns, Municipalities Canton de Fribourg // Canton de Genève // Commune di Muzzano // Gemeinde B ­ eringen // Gemeinde La Punt-Chamues-ch // Kanton Basel-Stadt // Kanton Graubünden // ­Kanton Luzern // Kanton Schwyz // Kanton St. Gallen // Kanton Uri // Kanton Zürich // Ortsbürgergemeinde Rorschach // Stadt Adliswil // Stadt Bern // Stadt Luzern // Stadt Solothurn // Stadt Zug // Stadt Zürich // Ville de Carouge // Ville de Vevey

International

Caritas Liechtenstein // Europäische Union // Weltorganisation für

Meteorologie

They are all partners who make our work on behalf of disadvantaged people possible. Thank you!

“ Mudplay, a campfire, wood-

“ Social engagement is

important to us. Quality and a clear concept are paramount for us. That is why we support the Caritas Culture Pass. The unique offer enables people affected by poverty to participate in cultural and social life.”

Martina Blättler Jungwacht Blauring Switzerland

Beatrice Conrad Frey President Foundation Council of the SV Foundation

Iris Hümbeli Sponsor

“ The education of chil-

dren in poor countries, or those affected by war or natural disasters, is particularly close to my heart. With its projects, Caritas Switzerland gives these children prospects for the future.”

“ The SV Foundation

wants to make healthy food affordable for all.

It is important for us to have a strong partner with professional expertise in the field of combating poverty. That is why we are committed to have a wide range of vegetables and fruit available in the Caritas Market.”

Imprint Cover photo:

Fabian Biasio, Somaliland

Pictures: Alexandra Wey, Angelika Annen, Christoph Kaminski, Corinne Sägesser, Fabian Berg, Fabian Biasio, Felipe Larozza, Flurin Bertschinger, Franca Pedrazetti, Getty Images/iStockphoto, Jaques Macabrey, Jules Tusseau, Luca Zanetti, Miriam Künzli, Nicolas Honore, Pablo Wünsch Blanco, Pia Zanetti, Roger Hofstetter Editors: Lisa Fry, Stefan Gribi, Vérène Morisod Simonazzi, Fabrice Boulé, Elisabeth Karagiannis Translation:

Barbara König

Graphic Design: Urban Fischer

Caritas Switzerland Communication und Marketing Adligenswilerstrasse 15 P. O. Box CH-6002 Lucerne Telephone: +41 41 419 22 22 Fax: +41 41 419 24 24 E-Mail: info@caritas.ch Post Office account: 60-7000-4 You can find detailed information about current projects on Caritas Switzerland’s Website: www.caritas.ch

34 35 Strong partnerships

Sandra Marugg Head Business Development & Marketing, Bank CIC

land crafts – all bring back memories. Imagine that creative outdoor activities are no longer possible: a (natural)disaster!

That’s why Jungwacht Blauring and youngCaritas teach children in the project ‘Fair Camping’ how to care for nature.”

Doing the right thing

Caritas Switzerland Adligenswilerstrasse 15 P. O. Box CH-6002 Lucerne

Telephone: +41 41 419 22 22 Fax: +41 41 419 24 24 E-mail: info@caritas.ch

Website: www.caritas.ch Post Office account: 60-7000-4 IBAN: CH69 0900 0000 6000 7000 4

Quality management system ISO 9001, Reg. no.14075 NPO-Label, Reg. no. 22116