SWISS COLOMBIAN FOUNDATION

The Fundación Suizo Colombiana (FSC) is a non-profit NGO founded by the Swiss embassy in Bogotá during the Second World War in 1943 with the support of the ladies of the community in Colombia and was consolidated by taking the legal status of Obra Suiza in 1949.

Its objective is to promote education, food and culture programmes, giving well-being and quality of life to children, adolescents and young people in Colombia who are in conditions of vulnerability.

The Foundation has been one of the vehicles of social responsibility of the Swiss-Colombian community through the mobilisation of its volunteers and the emulation of its values. It works by establishing strategic alliances with community institutions and with others specialising in education and social development.

Our successful projects from 1984 to the present day are:

  • 1984Donation of a laser beam equipment and a closed-circuit television to the Hospital La Misericordia.
  • 1971: Endowment Casa Suiza in S.O.S Aldea de Niños Colombia by sponsoring its 10 children.
  • 1973: Construction of Helvetia Kindergarten, Prado Veraniego neighbourhood in Bogotá.
  • 1990: Construction of the Obra Suiza kindergarten, El Codito neighbourhood in Bogotá.
  • 1999: Reconstruction of kindergartens, libraries and construction of a health centre in Quindío after the earthquake, with the support of the Swiss government and Helvetia College.
  • 2002-2004: Construction of the Community Development Centre in San Carlos de Tibabuyes, Suba, Bogotá.
  • 2015-Present: Educational, sporting and cultural project with young people in the Suba district of Bogotá.

The Fundación Suizo Colombiana together with the Colegio Helvetia de Bogotá (CHB) is carrying out different programmes and projects with the aim of generating a social impact. These activities include:

1

Godfather Plan Programme:

This programme was developed to support the practice of the Compulsory Social Service of students in grades 10, 11 and 12 of the Helvetia School, which complies with the General Law of Education, Law 115 of 1994. The dynamics of this programme consists of students sponsoring 70 children from the community of San Carlos de Tibabuyes on Saturdays, providing support and school reinforcement in basic areas.

In addition to this, they carry out recreational, leisure and sporting activities to create bonds of fraternity.

Pedagogical and recreational outings:

They are an initiative of the Godfather Plan Programme so that the beneficiary children have the opportunity to get to know other cultural, environmental and artistic spaces that allow them to have moments of recreation, coexistence, interaction with other people and healthy fun.

Shared Bread:

With the students of the CHB, this programme was started in 1979 to organise markets that are given for a symbolic value to the families of the Plan Padrino Programme in San Carlos de Tibabuyes. The money raised is invested in the purchase of materials, refreshments or educational outings.

Around 300 markets are delivered annually.

1

Christmas Bonus:

At the end of each year, the parents of the Helvetia School donate a voucher for the purchase of gifts for the sponsored children and the children of the Obra Suiza kindergarten (El Codito neighbourhood).

Wardrobe:

The clothes donated by the school and the parents are collected and taken to the Jardin Obra Suiza where there is a wardrobe, the proceeds of which are used for the kindergarten.

Fundraising activities:

Two important annual activities are carried out with the Helvetia School:

  • Family Bingo
  • Christmas Bazaar

These events bring together Helvetian families, alumni and the Swiss colony interested in supporting the Foundation's projects and programmes.

Other events:

  • Concert
  • Art Auction (Su+Arte)
  • Gastronomic Event

Youth project:

The FSC decided to support some initiatives of youth collectives in the Suba district of Bogotá. These were grouped into a single project called "CLUB DEPORTIVO, CULTURAL Y AMBIENTAL JUVENIL DE LA LOCALIDAD DE SUBA" whose purpose is to express themselves through activities such as graffiti, musical production, productive projects, break dance, physical activity, futsal and urban agriculture.

1