Updated: March 2009
Switzerland
Overview | World Vision's history in Switzerland | World Vision in Switzerland today
OverviewLocated in central Europe, the Swiss Confederation is a landlocked country that serves as a crossroads between countries in northern and southern Europe. It is bordered by Germany to the north, Austria to the east, Italy to the south, and France to the west and northwest. The small country of Liechtenstein is nested between Switzerland and Austria. The majority of the country is mountainous, with the Juras in the northwest and the Alps in the south. The plateau in between, spotted by hills and lakes, contains the bulk of the country’s population. Mt. Dufourspitze, Switzerland’s highest elevation, is located in the Alps, near the Italian boarder. One of Europe’s largest rivers, the Rhine, originates in Switzerland and runs through the northeastern portion of the country. The climate differs depending on altitude but is generally cold with rain or snow in the winter and humid with occasional showers in the summer. Natural resources include hydropower, timber, and salt. |  |
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| The Swiss originate from four major ethnic groups—German, French, Italian, and Rhaetrans—and each group is represented by an official language. Many Swiss are bilingual, and English has become increasingly common. Other languages include Serbo-Croatian, Albanian, Portuguese, and Spanish. In recent years, Switzerland’s population has significantly increased as foreigners, particularly those from Germany, seek naturalization. Once a thriving Roman province, present-day Switzerland was settled by Germanic tribes before it became part of Charlemagne’s empire in 800. Eventually, the land fell under the rule of the Holy Roman emperors. When this empire diminished in 1291, several leading families created a defensive alliance and signed the charter that began the Swiss Confederation. The confederation achieved independence in 1499, but an official constitution was not established until 1848, following a brief period of civil war. Modeled on the U.S. constitution, this document laid the foundation for a federal government, and amendments made in 1874 extended federal responsibilities. Today, the Swiss government resembles a federal republic, consisting of 26 cantons, each of which is responsible for local government and law enforcement. Though Switzerland’s steady growth in the 19th century placed it among the top industrialized nations, it remained neutral in both World Wars, a position that would continue through the Cold War. Though it still maintains a fair amount of neutrality in world politics and has yet to join the European Union (EU), Switzerland has recently become more involved in the politics of Europe, having joined the United Nations in 2002. Today, Switzerland has a prosperous economy with one of the lowest unemployment rates and one of the most competitive growth rates in Europe. Switzerland also has one of the highest-ranking per capita incomes. The Swiss depend heavily on trade, and more than 50 percent of earnings come from exports, such as machinery, metals, electronics, and chemicals. Most trading occurs with members of the EU, and the Swiss follow EU regulations as they continue to consider entrance. Other important sectors to the Swiss economy include tourism, banking, engineering, and insurance. Switzerland has 13 universities, and approximately one-fourth of adults have achieved a degree of higher education. The Swiss maintain a high standard of living with near 100 percent literacy rates, extensive access to technology, and excellent health care. Back to top World Vision’s history in SwitzerlandIn 1982, under the leadership of the Germany office, World Vision opened an office in Switzerland, with the goal of helping the Swiss reach across borders through participation in child sponsorship. This office became an inter-dependent entity in 1993. Four years later, with the help of free television advertising, the Switzerland office reached double-digit sponsorship growth rates that continued for several years.Back to top World Vision in Switzerland todayCurrently, some 60,000 Swiss sponsor roughly 67,000 children and their families worldwide, and help fund more than 45 community development projects in almost 30 countries. World Vision’s Switzerland office also participates in disaster and emergency response in crisis situations.For more information on World Vision’s office in Switzerland, please contact the United States office. Back to top | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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