«Answers 2017»: Report of Activities 2017 of Caritas Switzerland

Answers 2017 Caritas Switzerland Annual Report of Activities

2017

was a turbulent year worldwide. International cooperation was once again dominated by

humanitarian interventions. With the formation of new fronts and alliances, the course of the war in Syria was marked by growing complexity and increasing madness. At the same time, there was no end in sight to the hardship and misery suffered by the defenceless civilian population.

In East Africa, climate change is a major cause of the devastating hunger crisis. It demonstrates with alarming clarity that the consequences of climate change hit the poorest in the global South hardest. Similarly, hurricane ‘Irma’ left a trail of destruction in the Caribbean. Conclusion: Humanitarian aid increasingly has to jump into the breach and deal with the consequences of climate damage.

In Switzerland, the political focus was – as in previous years – on the refugee question. The populist narrative put forward by nationalist actors portrays the refugees as a menace for our country and our identity. However, the real dangers that threaten the cohesion of our society are poverty, marginalisation and growing inequality. Instead of actively tackling these problems, politicians in various cantons have cut taxes. The resulting deficits were plugged by dismantling social protection.

And despite the humanitarian crises, the federal government also reduced the funds for development cooperation. For people in need, 2017 was not a good year.

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What have been the main areas of Caritas’ work? We have been active in providing humanitarian aid in the world’s flashpoints.

We have given a home to families forced to flee war, dire poverty or violence, we have spoken out for child refugees. Finally, we have given a voice to people experiencing poverty in our country.

This work was only possible thanks to the generous support of our partners and donors. To all of you, we express our sincere thanks.

Mariangela Wallimann- Bornatico, President

Hugo Fasel, Director

Being accountable Caritas Switzerland Annual Report: With this annual report, we highlight the main areas of our aid work. We show who benefits from our help and what this help consists of. The detailed financial report is published on our Website at: www.caritas.ch/annual-report 3

Contents Editorial 2 International Our commitment to climate justice 4 Our commitment to the Syrian war victims 8 Our commitment to children in need of education 12 Caritas projects worldwide 14 Switzerland Our action against child poverty 16 Our support for child refugees 20 Our support for more social participation 22 Caritas in figures Finances 2017 24 In brief 26 Strong partnerships 28 Organs 30

Surviving climate change?

500 million smallholder farmers produce 80 per cent of the food needed in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Optimised production technologies would not only make their work easier, but would also provide a growing population with healthy and adequate nutrition, and at the same time combat poverty in the rural areas.

In light of the effects of climate change, which put severe pressure on the production cycles of harvests in many 4

regions of the world, it is becoming ever more difficult to supply the population with food. Caritas supports small farming families to enable them to improve their crop yields. It also supports them in the cultivation and sale of vegetables. The top priority is the survival of people in their village communities. This can only succeed if the natural resources are sustainably protected.

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Our commitment to climate justice Ensuring an adequate water supply, procuring plots of land for women to grow vegetables, providing drought-resistant seeds, inspiring farmers to use innovative and sustainable cultivation methods and training them in environmentally-friendly and economically viable technologies, encouraging the involvement of village communities in the protection and sustainable use of their shared natural resources – with these measures, Caritas improves the food situation and the income of thousands of families worldwide. Adaptation to climate change is urgent and challenging.

In the mountain regions of Petit-Goâve and Gros Morne in Haiti, a total of 811,983 tree seedlings were distributed and planted. The planting prevents soil erosion.

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3,000 households in the Bengali port town of Mongla benefitted from 11,000,000 litres of clean drinking water thanks to chlorination.

In Tajikistan, village residents planted 47,000 trees. As a result, 27,000 people have better protection against climate-induced natural disasters.

The example of Mali The graph shows how many people benefitted from projects in 2017, which directly or indirectly combat the consequences of climate change. Weather forecasts and disaster risk management strengthen the population’s resilience to extreme weather events.

The availability of water improves food security.

109,478

Access to weather forecasts Disaster risk management improved Access to water for cultivation

138,739

70,370

254,863

Access to drinking water

96,215

Production increased

Fragile: This term best reflects the state of natural resources throughout Mali. The food security situation and the economic situation of millions of people living in rural areas are also fragile. Here, the severe impact of climate change is clear to see. In the last 15 years, the rainy seasons have become steadily shorter, with less rainfall. Even just a slight worsening of the situation would lead directly to famine in many regions.

In order to tackle this problem, Caritas elaborated various solutions in 2017: Access to water is the priority.

Because the volume of precipitation is decreasing, wells have to be drilled deeper and equipped with solar pumps.

The women need more cultivable land for the production

In Ethiopia, as part of the emergency relief effort, 18,305 people affected by the drought crisis were given access to water.

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Number of persons

of fast-growing vegetable varieties. This is their only means of feeding their families and generating a small income, by selling the surplus in the market, for instance. Caritas provides the population with drought-resistant seeds.

This must go hand in hand with training in new, climateadapted cultivation technologies. The introduction of new strains, especially in fruit growing, is also a possibility.

In order to achieve these objectives, Caritas promoted an exchange of experiences between the country’s different regions last year. Local actions in which the local people join forces and act in a coordinated way can improve the situation of whole regions, protect the shared natural resources and help to create a new equilibrium.

In Mali, Caritas has launched a project to protect Lake Wegnia from siltation.

The lake wetland area provides around 12,000 people with a source of income and food.

Thanks to the introduction of new vegetable cultivation methods, 11,250 people in Chad were able to increase their income.

A future for Syrian war victims?

The Syrian war is entering its eighth year. Since Islamic State (IS) has lost control over large areas of Syria, the international community’s interest is waning. The expectation that Syria would move towards normality and that the civilian population would be able to look forward to a better future was disappointed. The fighting continues with undiminished brutality. Twice as many people are still fleeing within Syria as are returning to 8

their homes. 13 million people continue to depend on humanitarian aid. Despite the huge destruction inflicted by the war, systematic reconstruction is not currently possible. The 6.5 million refugees in Syria’s neighbouring countries and in Europe are prevented from returning any time soon. It is clear: The people in Syria continue to need our help.

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Our commitment to the Syrian war victims In the past year, Caritas Switzerland increased its aid inside Syria itself. The emphasis is on ensuring the survival and a life in dignity for the war-stricken population – humanitarian support is of prime importance. Caritas is also providing humanitarian assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Here, the focus is increasingly on income generation, which includes not only the refugees but also impoverished members of the local population. In Lebanon, which has the highest proportion of refugees worldwide, Caritas is working to improve the education system, which also needs to be accessible to refu­gee children.

2,350 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians were paid cash for work in the waste disposal sector.

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In Homs, Caritas regularly distributed vouchers for food and hygiene products to 1,600 families in need.

In Jordan, Caritas provided monthly support to 361 families to cover their basic needs, such as housing costs.

Caritas’ assistance in the Syria crisis in numbers The graph shows the proportion of participants in the employment pro­ gramme (cash for work) of Caritas Switzerland in Jordan, which reduced reliance on negative coping strategies. The study was conducted last year by the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammen­ arbeit (GIZ) (German Society for International Cooperation).

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51 % 44 %

Sale of items for general use and valuables (jewellery, mobile phone etc.)

Reduction of necessary expenses for health or education Spending of savings Change of accommodation to reduce rent

Caritas provides emergency aid in Syria. Last year, it sup­ported 34,500 people in Aleppo and Homs with food and daily necessities, but it also provided help with rent, basic medical care and schooling. In Aleppo, 1,800 displaced and returning families received winter aid.

650,000 Syrian refugees are registered in Jordan. They are becoming increasingly impoverished and vulnerable.

Caritas Switzerland supported 1,850 people in four provinces to cover their basic needs. In cases of hardship, it also provided emergency aid. To cope with the cold winter conditions, 950 families were able to acquire heaters, gas bottles and blankets. The longer the situation continues, the more important it becomes for the refugees and the local population to find sustainable income opportunities.

In 2017, around 1,900,000 meals were provided in the soup kitchens of Aleppo.

60 %

Purchase of food with borrowed cash or credit

26 % 30 % 15 % 29 % 10 % 23 % 21 %

December 2016 March 2017 Percentage of participants

Caritas provides 2,350 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians with jobs in the waste disposal sector.

The number of school children in Lebanon has doubled due to the refugee crisis. This overburdening of the school system is affecting a whole generation. With its involvement in the education sector, Caritas is creating a safe and stimulating learning environment for 3,600 Syrian refugee children and disadvantaged Lebanese children.

Since the start of the Syrian conflict, Caritas Switzerland has spent 37 million Swiss francs on projects in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. In 2017, it reached 90,000 people in need, with a project volume of more than 8 million Swiss francs.

In Lebanon, 950 Syrian refugee children and disadvantaged local children received remedial lessons tailored to their needs.

In Jordan, Caritas used a specially developed survey system on tablets to ask 9,700 households about their concerns and needs.

Learning despite war and crises?

Crises and disasters prevent education: Half of the children who don’t go to school worldwide live in countries affected by armed conflict. It means they are excluded from the opportunities that open up with education. Not all children who attend a school can fulfil their potential.

Traumatic experiences impede learning. Schools have to find a way to respond to this.

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Our commitment to children in need of education In its projects, Caritas Switzerland advocates and promotes safe, age-appropriate and needs-based education for children and young people in crisis and emergency situations. The first task is to enable children to attend school at all. But this alone does not guarantee that children are able to reach their full potential. Frequently, they are prevented from achieving this because of their experience of violence, marginalisation and displacement. Consequently, Caritas has since 2002 developed its own approach to education for children in emergency situations, in crisis regions ranging from Kosovo via Chechnya to Moldova.

Today, Caritas is implementing such projects in Romania, Bangladesh, Gaza and the West Bank as well as in Lebanon, which benefitted a total of more than 6,000 children in 2017. The approach combines pedagogical and psychosocial care. Traumatised children experience learning difficulties. They also find it difficult to sit still. Frequently, they can no longer access knowledge they have already acquired. They have thus little chance of following lessons that rely on teacher-centred learning in cramped classrooms and on repetitive cramming. Caritas’ goal is to ensure that children are able to overcome learning barriers, to follow the lessons and to develop their own learning strategies.

It starts with early childhood education in day centres.

Caritas also supports nursery schools with locally produced teaching materials for small children. Their teachers are given practical training that enables them to deliver high-quality early childhood education. Further teacher training at the primary school level is also very important.

Teachers acquire pedagogical and didactic skills that enable them to teach children appropriately. In Lebanon, Caritas also supports the school management and works closely with the pedagogical universities.

In Gaza, 1,080 children learned to cope with the difficult conditions of the conflict and to overcome their learning barriers.

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Romania 570 children

Lebanon

Kosovo

950 children

2,098 children

Palestine

Haiti

6,084 children

2,481 children

Nepal

2,960 children

The number of traumatised and socially disadvantaged children who gained access to good-quality education last year, and were able to improve their psychological well-being.

After natural disasters, such as the earthquake in Nepal, Caritas makes sure that school lessons can quickly resume in a safe and child-friendly environment. In 2017, Caritas Switzerland was able to open five schools designed to be earthquake-proof, in which more than 800 children are taught. 26 additional schools for 4,700 children are planned or under construction, and will be gradually completed by the end of 2018. In Haiti, Caritas Switzerland rebuilt five school centres after the 2010 earthquake. These are still getting support from Caritas Switzerland through its child sponsorship programme. They serve as shelters for the population during thunderstorms.

After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, Caritas Switzerland is rebuilding 31 earthquake-proof schools for 5,500 children.

In Kosovo, 150 nursery schools were equipped with educational toys and furnishings, benefitting 9,000 children.

Caritas projects worldwide 1

Thanks to Caritas, 34,440 people in Bangladesh have access to clean drinking water, and 8,057 people have sanitary facilities.

2

With a project in the canton of ZenicaDoboj in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1,000 households have reduced their energy consumption. Three schools were largely converted to renewable energy.

This led to a saving of 500 tons of CO2.

16 8 20

3

In the north-west of Cambodia, in Bantey Meanchey Province, 22,800 people in 35 villages learned how to be better prepared for floods and droughts.

5 28

4

14

4

In Colombia, 13,523 internally displaced persons could be integrated into their new communities. They were given support to enable them to assert their rights. They also participated in vocational training programmes and received psychosocial care.

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5

1,652 farmers in Haiti were trained in managing natural resources and in sustainable agriculture. This knowledge helps them to improve their food security.

6

In Kenya, 24,488 people received access to water. This is used as drinking water as well as for cooking and for personal hygiene.

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7

In Lebanon, Caritas promotes the quality of school lessons, including for Syrian refugee children, with the aim of strengthening the education system in the long term. 60 teachers were trained in dealing with large classes and different learning needs.

8

An early weather warning system enables 6,250 farmers in Mali to select the best-possible seeds and thus adapt better to the consequences of climate change.

11 With its commitment in Syria, Caritas reached a total of 75,000 people in the past year. They received food and a roof over their head. They were also given emergency aid and survival assistance to help them through the cold winter months.

2

37

32 26 24 19

12 More than 8,000 women and men in the Tajikistan region of Muminabad participated in training sessions on disaster prevention. They were also made aware of issues such as climate change, its impacts as well as adaptation measures.

7

11

30

12

23 25

9 29 21

27 1

15

31 18

10

34

35

3

38

36 6 17

33

22

13 Bolivia 14 Brazil 15 Chad 16 Cuba 17 Democratic

Republic of Congo 18 Ethiopia 19 Greece 20 Guatemala 21 India 22 Indonesia 23 Iraq 24 Italy 25 Jordan

26 Kosovo 27 Myanmar 28 Nicaragua 29 Pakistan 30 Palestine/ Israel 31 Philippines 32 Romania 33 Rwanda 34 Somaliland 35 Sri Lanka 36 Uganda 37 Ukraine 38 Vietnam

â–

Development cooperation Humanitarian aid Development cooperation

and humanitarian aid

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In Nepal, 3,110 people were made more aware of hygiene and health issues and trained in the use of clean drinking water. They also learned how to prevent the transmission of diseases.

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10 Thanks to the construction of new water catchment basins, 14,000 women and 23,838 men in South Sudan have improved and longer-term access to drinking water, as well as additional water resources for growing food crops and for their livestock.

In conformal world maps, the countries of the north are shown as much larger than they actually are. The Peters world map reproduced here shows the correct proportions. In return, it accepts a distortion in the equatorial region.

Poor children in wealthy Switzerland?

Switzerland is among the ten richest countries in the world. Despite this, 76,000 children live in poverty here, and a further 188,000 in precarious circumstances.

Children growing up in a single-parent household, and children whose parents do not have sufficient income to secure their livelihood, are particularly at risk of poverty.

The consequences for the children are devastating: They are more likely to have health problems because 16

there is not enough money for a balanced diet. Because of the parents’ financial difficulties, they often miss out on club sports, music lessons and other hobbies. And their future prospects are bleak – because in Switzerland, not only are starting opportunities unequally distributed, social mobility is hardly guaranteed either: A person growing up poor in Switzerland frequently remains poor throughout their life. Caritas’ goal is to change this.

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Our action against child poverty Caritas Switzerland offers daily practical help for children affected by poverty and their families. Social offers such as the Caritas Market, the Culture Pass, the social and debt counselling services as well as the ‘With Me’ godparents project ease the pressure on the budget, promote a healthy diet and enable participation in society. Moreover, Caritas monitors the poverty policy of the Federal government and the cantons and shows where there is a need for action. It has further strengthened its social policy commitment by creating a new post: The Delegate of the Management for Politics and Public Affairs takes the concerns of disadvantaged children directly to the Federal parliament.

Caritas Switzerland’s Clothing Centre sent 2,031 parcels of clothing to families experiencing poverty and clothed 5,672 people affected by poverty.

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In the ‘With Me’ project of the Regional Caritas Organisations, godparents spent 16,042 hours with disadvantaged children.

In 2017, 2,714 people sought advice by contacting the free Caritas telephone hotline SOS Debt. A further 920 advice sessions took place online.

The commitment to combat child poverty in figures A third of all social welfare recipients are children and young people; in every school class, there is on average one child affected by poverty. These facts and figures are daunting – and yet Switzerland invests little in families by international comparison.

In its Position Paper ‘Overcoming child poverty. A challenge to the government’, Caritas showed what is needed for a sustainable poverty policy: Supplementary benefits for families, better provision of affordable childcare, and access to Early Childhood Development for the children of people experiencing poverty. Caritas stresses that there are already good examples in individual cantons of an investive social policy – for example, supplementary benefits for families in Vaud, or voluntary nursery provision from age 3 in the canton of Ticino. These measures must now be introduced across Switzerland in order to secure the livelihood of families on a low income and to guarantee the same starting chances for all children.

In 21 Caritas Markets across the whole of Switzerland, people affected by poverty bought fruit and vegetables at a value of 2.6 million Swiss francs in 2017. The products at greatly reduced prices enable families and their children to eat healthily despite a small budget, which is essential for the children’s physical development.

Last year, 22,841 children had a Culture Pass and were able to visit the zoo, the swimming pool or the cinema more cheaply and thus participate in community life and socialise.

In 2017, customers bought food and everyday necessities at greatly reduced prices in the Caritas Markets, at a total value of 12,6 million Swiss francs.

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76,000 children live in poverty in Switzerland.

⁄3

1

of all social welfare recipients are children and young people.

50,000

children grow up in working-poor households.

In every school class, there is on average one child affected by poverty.

358 volunteer godparents supported 396 children affected by poverty, in the ‘With Me’ project. This enabled the children to spend their leisure time actively and gave the parents, who have often reached the limits of their capacity, some temporary respite.

7 families affected by poverty with 15 children were able to spend a week’s free holiday in a Sunstar hotel in the past year.

In Switzerland, 22,841 children aged between 1 and 17 had access to sport, culture and education at favourable prices by the end of 2017, thanks to the Culture Pass.

What do child refugees need?

Fleeing alone: A large number of children have to fend for themselves on the perilous escape routes to Europe, either because their parents have sent them on their own, or because they became separated from them along the way. Even after their arrival in safe Switzerland, their future is anything but certain. The path to integration is long and difficult. Caritas Switzerland supports them along the way.

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The diagram shows the number and ages of the child refugees living in Switzerland.

Total Age 18+ (unaccompanied minor on arrival) Age 16 to 17 Age 6 to 15

Number of unaccompanied minors

Our support for child refugees 6,000 5,000

5,276

2016

2017

4,227

4,000 3,000 2,000

1,801 1,313

1,348

2012

2013

1,000 0

In 2008, 1,253 children lived in Switzerland who had fled alone. By 2017, their number had quadrupled. What is the best way to deal with them and what do they need? In its Position Paper ‘Children need security and education’, Caritas Switzerland demanded equal treatment for all children in Switzerland.

Successful integration requires the transfer of norms and values, as well as intensive language support measures. This is the only way for these children to acquire the tools that enable them to become independent. Yet the conditions they encounter in the different cantons vary greatly. That is why Caritas is calling on the federal government and the cantons to move towards the harmonisation of standards of care and accommodation by providing the financial resources – because the future of unaccompanied child refugees must not be dependent on which canton they are assigned to.

The Caritas legal advice service represented 32 child refugees in the asylum process and conducted 212 legal advice sessions in support of child refugees.

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5,333

2014

2015

At the House of Youth in Immensee, Caritas was responsible, on behalf of the canton of Schwyz, for the care and housing of around 40 child refugees. Thanks to a broad provision of educational services, it was possible to give equal support to illiterate children and to those who had already attended a school before fleeing. Caritas funded an additional teaching post in order to meet the special needs of traumatised children. Eleven young people succeeded in moving up to a mainstream class, seven pupils qualified for further opportunities such as work experience, support classes and bridging courses.

In the canton of Fribourg, Caritas supported 18 child refugees. They have attended French lessons appropriate to their level, and five were able to improve their language and mathematics skills in the integration class at the vocational school, as well as learn about the Swiss vocational training model.

In the summer camp organised by youngCaritas, 26 under-age asylum seekers and eight young Swiss people spent a week together in the Flumserberg region.

In the House of Youth, 46 child refugees were appropriately housed and given social-pedagogical support in the past year.

How to combat social isolation?

Anyone who is poor in Switzerland is not only confronted with financial difficulties. Poverty also severely restricts opportunities to participate in social and cultural life. The resulting social isolation has far-reaching consequences.

Caritas Switzerland, together with the Regional Caritas Organisations, offers opportunities for more social participation.

Our support for more social participation Caritas Thurgau

The Regional Caritas Organisations which support the Swiss-wide offer of the Culture Pass.

Caritas of both Basel Caritas Aargau Caritas Neuchâtel

Caritas Zurich

Caritas Solothurn

Caritas St. GallAppenzell

Caritas Caritas Lucerne Bern Caritas Grisons

Caritas Fribourg Caritas Vaud

With a Culture Pass of the Caritas network, people on a tight budget can take advantage of cultural, educational and sports offers at greatly reduced prices. In the last few years, the Regional Caritas Organisations and Caritas Switzerland have worked closely together with the aim of providing this offer not only at the regional level, but throughout Switzerland.

With success: Today, the great majority of all people across Switzerland can apply for a Culture Pass, if they are in receipt of welfare benefits or supplementary benefits to top up Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance or Disability Insurance, or if they live below the poverty threshold without any support. In the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel, this also applies to everyone who is entitled to health insurance premium reductions. Most cantons have a contact point

In 2017, a total of 93,034 people were in possession of a Culture Pass – 7,972 more than in the previous year.

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for the Culture Pass. This gives reductions for attractive regional offers.

93,034 people in Switzerland currently have a Culture Pass. This gives them access, at greatly reduced prices, to 2,900 offers in the areas of culture, sport and education.

A visit to the museum or circus, taking part in a sports camp, or going to an ice hockey match, or even language courses, become affordable for people who would otherwise remain excluded from such activities for financial reasons. With this and other offers such as the Caritas Markets, the ‘With Me’ godparents project and the ‘Bon Lieu’ restaurants, the Swiss-wide Caritas network is making a significant contribution to the fight against poverty and marginalisation.

In 2017, 3,100 people affected by poverty could eat in a ‘Bon Lieu’ restaurant at 75 per cent below the normal price.

The Swiss Museum Pass Foundation donated 10,000 free single entrance tickets to the users of the Culture Pass.

Caritas in figures Balance sheet as at 31 December 2017 Assets Cash Short-term assets with stock market price Receivables Inventories Prepayments and accrued income Fixed assets Total assets

2017 2016 CHF CHF 29,611,828 25,991,658 35,093,380 32,936,691 6,051,966 6,445,251 240,933 313,990 505,465 1,340,364 22,863,159 22,946,369 94,366,731 89,974,323

Liabilities Short-term liabilities Long-term liabilities Fund capital (restricted funds) Organisation capital Total liabilities and equity

3,543,170 5,047,045 66,186,100 19,590,416 94,366,731

Statement of operations 2017 Operating income and operating performance Donations Contributions from third parties Total income from donations and private contributions Contributions from public authorities Net sales from goods and services Total operating income

4,916,771 4,014,724 63,245,250 17,797,578 89,974,323

34,279,724 34,058,826 20,231,457 24,648,880 54,511,181 58,707,706 42,906,696 45,229,018 10,990,847 9,670,228 108,408,724 113,606,952

International cooperation Projects Switzerland Research and policy and other project contributions Information and communication (publishing and education) Direct administrative project support (evaluation, IT, rents etc.)

Total project expenses

48,131,565 40,265,935 2,129,951 2,411,809 3,692,323 96,631,583

52,722,209 41,490,863 900,614 2,477,194 3,174,624 100,765,504

Fundraising and marketing expenses Administrative expenses Total fundraising, marketing and administrative expenses

5,894,592 4,199,487 10,094,079

5,845,921 4,297,696 10,143,617

106,725,662

110,909,121

1,683,062

2,697,831

4,005,176 – 954,549 4,733,689 – 2,940,850 1,792,839

1,490,962 –131,451 4,057,342 – 2,673,588 1,383,754

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

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

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Sources of Caritas income

Private donations/income and public-sector contributions

Own revenue Other organisations International Caritas Network Swiss Solidarity

10.1 7.5 31.6

1.4 9.2

Direct donations

60.4

Federal gvt. other contributions

%

Private donations/ income

%

0.4

Cantons and communes

SDC

13.9

25.3 0.6

Public sector contributions

39.6

Migration and Passport Office Liechtenstein

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.

Use of revenues

Figures in conformity with Zewo guidelines

International cooperation

Projects

45.1

%

3.9 Administrative expenses Fundraising and marketing expenses Direct administrative project support

37.7

Projects Switzerland

5.5 3.5

90,6

%

3,9 Research and policy and other project 2.0 contributions Information and

2.3 communication

5,5 Fundraising and marketing 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.

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In brief Caritas Forum 2017: Poor despite work The topic of the Caritas Forum was: Right to work for a living wage. In Switzerland, approximately 120,000 people are poor despite being in paid work.

Trends in the labour market and future challenges were discussed by guest speakers such as Heiner Flassbeck, former chief economist of UNCTAD, Ueli Mäder, emeritus professor of sociology, and Martin Flügel, head of politics and public affairs at Caritas Switzerland, with more than 200 experts. www.caritas.ch/forum

A heart for people affected by poverty Migros customers collected 2.25 million Swiss francs during the Christmas campaign for people affected by poverty in Switzerland. Migros added another million to the donations and presented Caritas, Heks, Pro Juventute, Winter Aid and Pro Senectute with a cheque for 3.25 million Swiss francs.

The donations will go to the debt and social counselling service and the Culture Pass, among other things.

Prix Caritas 2017 goes to Colombia In 2017, the Prix Caritas 2017 was awarded to the lawyers and human rights activists Luz Estela Romero and Ricardo Esquivia from Colombia. With this award, Caritas Switzerland in Lucerne paid tribute to both for their many years of work to promote peace and the process of reconciliation in Colombian society. www.caritas.ch/prixcaritas

Unbureaucratic help for Bondo Caritas is providing the Grisons municipality of Bondo with an initial contribution of one million Swiss francs from its fundraising campaign. A committee, which includes representatives of the municipality and the canton, is tasked with using the funds where they are most urgently needed. One of the worst rock falls for 130 years struck the community’s territory in August 2017. www.caritas.ch/bondo

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youngCaritas award for ‘Asylex’ The youngCaritas Award 2017 goes to the ‘Asylex’ project: A team of more than 30 volunteers offers free online advice to asylum seekers – around the clock and in different languages. In 2018, the project managers will travel to Colombia with youngCaritas and visit Caritas Switzerland’s projects there. www.youngcaritas.ch

Against female genital mutilation In May, the Internet platform www.maedchenbeschneidung.ch went online.

It offers victims of female genital mutilation and experts such as gynaecologists and midwives advice and information on that topic. The platform is backed by the Network against female genital mutilation in Switzerland, co-launched by Caritas. Around 14,000 women and girls in this country are affected by this inhumane practice or are at risk.

Caritas Publications The title of the 2017 Social Almanac is ‘Right to Work’. The Caritas yearbook on social developments in Switzerland examines current trends in the labour market and explores the potential and limits of professional integration in the working environment. The Development Policy Almanac looks at the connection between climate change and poverty. www.caritas.ch/almanach-eza www.caritas.ch/sozialalmanach

Course in intercultural interpreting A course in ‘Interpreting in legal advice in accelerated asylum processes’ was held for the first time. It prepares intercultural interpreters for their work in giving support and legal advice in the new federal asylum centres. The aim is to ensure fair processes and decisions through successful communication.

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Strong partnerships We thank our many donors for their generous support.

They include: Société de la Loterie de la Suisse Romande; Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen; Gérald Vuilleumier; République et Canton de Genève; Parrocchia cattolica Giornico-Sobrio-Anzonico; Kanton Regula Schenkel, Head Public Affairs, AXA Winterthur: ‘AXA Winterthur acknowledges its social responsibility – amongst other things with a Christmas donation, on behalf of its entire staff, to the Caritas project ‘With Me’. The project brings together disadvantaged children and godparents who give them time and attention.

An important contribution which allows the children to make new relationships and experiences on their journey through life.’

Zürich; Medicor Foundation; Helene Brügger; Glückskette; Urs Felber; Hilti Foundation; Leopold Bachmann Stiftung; Terbival S.A., Courchapoix; JTI Foundation; Commune d’Yverdon-les-Bains; Migros

Genossenschaftsbund, Zürich; Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA); ALDI SUISSE, Schwarzenbach SG; BSK Baumann & Schaufelberger, Basel; Jean-Claude Arnold; Eurolandia S.A., Ponte Tresa; Bio Familia AG, Sachseln; Kanton Luzern; Verena Stünzi; Ville de Vernier; claro Weltladen Visp; Arvind Shah; von Duhn Stiftung; Volken Gartenbau AG, Grengiols; Eva Flury; Ramseier Suisse AG, Sursee;

Heini Hollenweger, private donor: ‘In the poor north of Cambodia, Caritas helps the population to better protect itself against climate-related natural disasters. I support this project because Caritas works with local partners and the population to develop solutions that sustainably improve the situation of the people affected.’

Guatemala-Netz Zürich; Consiglio Parrocchiale Morcote; Albert Caduff Transporte, Cumbel; Metzgerei Burkart, Seon; Pirmin Kramer; Fondation Alby; Gemeinde Altdorf; Architekturbüro Scheitlin & Syfrig, Luzern; Comune di Muzzano; Pfarreien des Lötschentales; Stiftung Movetia; Annamaria Lepori; Renzo 28

und Silvana Rezzonico-Stiftung; Mösching Gipser & Maler AG, Gstaad; Axpo Holding AG, Baden; Stiftung Accentus; Luca Guido Braschler, Manager, ACCENTUS Foundation: ‘We support the project ‘A helping hand’, so that senior citizens are able to live as independently as possible in their own home even when their strength declines. We make a contribution to enabling people affected by poverty or loneliness to maintain their dignity.’

Hug; Gemeinde Spreitenbach; Alessandro Sciarini; Hotel Restaurant Corvatsch, St. Moritz; Arcanusfilm AG, Luzern; Apotheke Paracelsus Einsiedeln; Stadt Adliswil;

Ruth’s Delikatessen GmbH, Allmendingen b. Bern; Hans Huber; Gemeinde Horw; Léonard Imfeld; Lions Club Freiamt; Kanton Graubünden; Zahntechnik Rönicke AG, Stans; Stadt Chur; Commune de Montreux; Fabrice Franzetti; MIHI Foundation; Comune di Collina D’Oro Montagnola; Kirchgemeinde Herz Jesu, Zürich; Danilo Figini; Paolo Vollmeier; Ville de Neuchâtel; Ergoterapia

Leandra Steinmann, volunteer youngCaritas: ‘I have worked as a volunteer leader in the intercultural summer camp of youngCaritas to support young people with or without a refugee background because I wanted to give an enjoyable holiday not just to myself, but also to other people.’

Kayar Cécile, Giubiasco; Rowdeldy Stiftung; Benediktinerkloster Mariastein; Stamparia la Tuatschina SA, Sedrun; Prof. Otto Beisheim-Stiftung; Laboratoires Elveapharma Sàrl Carouge GE; Frutt Lodge & Spa, Werner Arnautović, Head of Strategic Business Management, flexword Translators & Consultants: ‘We are not only proud of the amount we have donated, but are also pleased to have found an organisation in Caritas where we are certain that the funds will be deployed responsibly and will reach the people concerned.’

Melchsee-Frutt; Christine Boccard; Heidi Vogt; Ruth Conrad-Stiftung; Rollomatic SA, Le Landeron; Chartreuse de la Valsainte, Cerniat FR; Ernst Göhner Stiftung;

Farmacia Bozzoreda, Pregassona. They are the partners who make our work on behalf of disadvantaged people possible.

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Organs Mariangela WallimannBornatico

Robert Moser

Elisabeth BaumeSchneider

Max Elmiger

Gisèle Girgis-Musy

Mario Slongo

Teres Steiger-Graf

Erwin Tanner

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 Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Director EESP Lausanne, Les Breuleux JU; Max Elmiger, lic. theol., Director Caritas Zurich, Zurich; Gisèle Girgis-Musy, lic. oec., Leutwil AG (from 1 June 2017); Mario Slongo, Dr. Dr. hc. Chemist/ Meteorologist, Tafers FR; Teres Steiger-Graf, Manager COMUNDO, Lucerne; Erwin Tanner, Dr. iur./lic. theol., General Secretary, Swiss Conference of Catholic Bishops (SBK), Fribourg

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 organisations in 165 countries throughout the world.

At the end of 2017, Caritas Switzerland had 350 employees. This corresponds to 267 full-time equivalent posts. 225 persons, or 64 per cent of employees are women, 68 per cent of all employees work part-time.

Around 190 staff work on hourly pay, for example as interpreters, carers or in the Relief Organisation Representation Service. In addition, more than 210 locally employed staff work for Caritas Switzerland in project countries.

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Additional Steering Committee Members Claudia Babst, Director Caritas Bern, Bern; Urs BrunnerMedici, lic. theol., Responsible for Pastoral Care, Diocese Basel, Solothurn; 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; JeanNoël 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 BL; Iris Utz-Huwiler, President and manager of Accordeos Foundation, Meggen LU; Kurt Zogg, Deacon and President of neighbourhood assistance association Zurich, Zurich (until 31 May 2017)

Hugo Fasel

Bruno Bertschy

Anja Ebnöther

Marianne Hochuli

Hans KrummenacherWüest

Alice Mäder-Wittmer

Odilo Noti

Head Office Caritas Switzerland

Business Audit Committee

Executive Board Director: Hugo Fasel, lic. rer. pol.

Projects Switzerland: Bruno Bertschy, Association Manager VMI International Cooperation: Anja Ebnöther, lic. iur.

Research and Policy: Marianne Hochuli, lic. phil.

Finance and Administration: Hans Krummenacher-Wüest, Business Economist; cert. Public Accountant Human Resources: Alice Mäder-Wittmer, lic. rer. pol.

Communication and Marketing: Dr. Odilo Noti

President: Alois Bissig, Notary and Lawyer, Ennetbürgen NW; Ursula Muther-Guntern, President Caritas Bern, Orpund BE; Markus Köferli, dipl. theol., Head of special spiritual welfare, Synodical Council Zurich, Zurich; Susy Brüschweiler, former President Foundation Council SV Foundation, Blonay VD (until 30 September 2017)

Statutory Auditors BDO AG, Lucerne

Delegate of the Executive Board Dr. Martin Flügel, Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Imprint Cover photo: Mauro Fermariello/Keystone Refugee camp in Uganda Pictures: Angelika Annen, Christine Bärlocher/Ex-Press, Fabian Biasio, Parag Biswas, Caritas Switzerland, Tanja Demarmels/Ex-Press, Freepik.com, Conradin Frei, Kellenberger & Kaminski, Priska Ketterer, Bikash Khadge, Nique Nager, Franca Pedrazzetti, Hosam Salem, Andreas Schwaiger, Urs Siegenthaler, Restaurant Quai4, Alexandra Wey, youngCaritas Editors:

Fabrice Boulé, Stefan Gribi, Odilo Noti, Sabine Schaller

Translation:

Barbara König

Graphic Design: Evelyne Bieri

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Caritas Switzerland Communication and 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

Martin Flügel

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