Aid organization of the Evangelical Churches in Switzerland

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The Aid Organization of the Evangelical Churches in Switzerland (HEKS) is an aid organization that emerged from the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and is based in Zurich and has the legal form of a foundation.

It was founded in 1946 based on the model of the Catholic Caritas and initially dealt primarily with reconstruction in the countries that had suffered from the Second World War , v. a. through church contacts in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Eastern Europe. From 1949 the HEKS also looked after refugees in Switzerland and Europe and from 1958 became involved in development cooperation outside of Europe. From 1961 onwards, the aid organization was able to fall back on donations from the Bread for Brothers campaign (today Bread for All ).

Principles

The association works for a more humane and just world ( diakonia ). It combats the causes of poverty and gives people access to vital resources such as water, food and education. HEKS defends itself against exploitation and helps the oppressed to organize themselves and claim their rights. The goal is a self-determined life in dignity for all people, regardless of which ethnic group or religion they belong to. The foundation does not send Swiss nationals abroad, but works together with local church and social partner organizations. The cooperation with local partners has the advantage that the projects are close to the needs of the residents and are supported by the population. The aim is independence and independence from outside help. HEKS works with Swiss and foreign aid organizations of a similar focus and importance on an action or program basis .

organization

The office for French-speaking Switzerland is in Lausanne and is called EPER (Entraide Protestante Suisse) . The aid organization operates five regional offices in Switzerland ( Aarau , Basel , Bern , St. Gallen and Zurich). In 2019, it was involved in 248 projects in Switzerland and 32 other countries. HEKS has its own coordination offices in 22 priority countries. HEKS was founded in 1946 by the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches and has been organized as a foundation since 2004 .

In Switzerland, the association employs around 216 people on a monthly basis. HEKS also employs three trainees (commercial association) and five interns. 245 employees work on an hourly basis. The financial expenditures for assistance in 2007 amounted to 56.7 million Swiss francs .

The aid organization has the Swiss ZEWO seal of approval , which is awarded to those institutions whose donations are used unselfishly for the stated purpose. HEKS is a member of ACT (Action by Churches Together), the global alliance of Protestant and Orthodox churches and their related aid organizations under the umbrella of the World Council of Churches . The foundation is also an accredited partner organization of Swiss Solidarity and is a member of the Swiss Climate Alliance .

Focus

Its areas of activity are specified by mandates from the Protestant churches in Switzerland.

Activities abroad

Development cooperation in Africa, Asia and Latin America

The association supports rural communities such as village organizations, women's groups and interest groups. These rural communities are the organizations of those affected themselves. With the support of HEKS partner organizations, these groups define their respective needs and look for solutions on how everyday social and economic life could be improved. The starting point is securing the basic needs of food and shelter. In addition to ensuring adequate and balanced nutrition, the focus is also on access to resources such as land, water and training, agricultural production and the processing and marketing of agricultural and non-agricultural products. Income and earning opportunities in rural areas encourage economic independence in communities. The greatest challenge in international cooperation will remain the fight against poverty for the foreseeable future.

Humanitarian aid

The Association shall, at the foreign dominated, however, the natural disasters , and during or after armed conflicts humanitarian aid with a view to immediate and ongoing improvement of the living conditions of the people affected. HEKS enables help for self-help for economically and socially disadvantaged people as well as for politically oppressed people and, wherever possible, works out sustainable solutions together with the people affected. This partnership-based and sustainable project work strengthens people's self-determination and dignity. The most important target group of HEKS is the poor population groups in rural regions, who are often most severely damaged by disasters and are often neglected by international aid. Emergency aid usually leads to long-term development projects that aim to rebuild infrastructure, agriculture or social facilities. Since a large part of the disasters are caused by armed conflicts, HEKS is involved in peace work and advocates observance of human rights .

Interchurch aid and development aid in Europe

Up until the political change in 1989, the association financed a variety of church and diaconal tasks together with befriended European churches and works - especially in Eastern, Central and Southeastern Europe. The free market economy brought problems: farmers suddenly became independent entrepreneurs, large businesses were closed, and many jobs were lost. Interchurch help is called exchange and is a mutual act of ecumenical fellowship between congregations and churches. Since 1990, the aid organization has been supporting foundations, for example, which enable small businesses to be set up with loans or help people to become independent with further training.

Activities in Switzerland

Help for the socially disadvantaged

The integration of disadvantaged people into society and into working life is one of the major social challenges facing a country. Through its activities, HEKS makes a contribution to the social integration of these population groups and thus fights for social cohesion in Switzerland. With its projects, HEKS advocates that all people in this country have access to social, cultural, political and economic life. HEKS supports these people and gives them the skills they need to be able to participate in social life. HEKS focuses with its projects and programs on:

Refugee work

Most people flee to Switzerland due to armed conflicts in their home country. If HEKS provides emergency aid abroad, the care of recognized refugees in Switzerland is a necessary part of this aid. With legal advice centers in various Swiss cities, HEKS ensures that refugees can get a realistic picture of their situation. Asylum seekers receive legal advice in their procedures and receive help in developing new perspectives. HEKS raises complaints if refugee status is up for discussion , if there are procedural errors or if eviction is unreasonable.

public relation

The relief organization brings the concerns of socially disadvantaged people to the public in Switzerland. HEKS uses the funds available to it carefully, in a targeted and impact-oriented manner and provides transparent information about the origin and use of the funds.

See also

  • Elisabeth Luz , volunteer welfare worker and collector of the "refugee dump" until 1962

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Aid Organization of the Evangelical Churches in Switzerland: Annual Report 2019 , p. 26.
  2. a b c d e f g Text addition according to discussion: Aid Organization of the Evangelical Churches in Switzerland (OTRS ticket number 2008101510034858 of October 27, 2008), accessed on November 15, 2008