ICYE Switzerland National Profile 2018/2019
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ICYE Switzerland National Profile 2018/2019 Willkommen in der Schweiz Bienvenue en Suisse Benvenuti in Svizzera Beinvegni en Svizra Contents Contents ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1. General information about the country ............................................................................. 4 Geography...................................................................................................................................... 4 Culture ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Swiss history - a brief survey .......................................................................................................... 5 Beginnings .................................................................................................................................. 5 Conversion to Christianity ........................................................................................................... 5 The Confederation’s Foundation ................................................................................................. 5 Completion of the Territory .......................................................................................................... 5 Battle of Marignano ..................................................................................................................... 6 Beginning of Neutrality ................................................................................................................ 6 Napoleonic period ....................................................................................................................... 6 The Swiss Constitution ................................................................................................................ 6 Humanitarian tradition .................................................................................................................... 7 Government .................................................................................................................................... 7 Politics ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Current issues ................................................................................................................................ 7 Economy ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Religion .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Sex Roles ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Good to know for future volunteers in Switzerland:...................................................................... 8 Swiss girls: .................................................................................................................................. 8 Swiss boys: ................................................................................................................................. 8 Recommended literature ................................................................................................................ 9 2. ICYE Switzerland .............................................................................................................. 10 General Remarks ......................................................................................................................... 10 General Assembly ........................................................................................................................ 10 The National Executive Board ...................................................................................................... 10 The Importance of our voluntary Swiss co-workers ....................................................................... 10 The Office ..................................................................................................................................... 10 3. Program ............................................................................................................................ 11 General remarks ........................................................................................................................... 11 Age Limits ................................................................................................................................. 11 Important information ................................................................................................................ 11 The meaning of voluntary work ..................................................................................................... 11 Expectations towards volunteers and employers .......................................................................... 11 Pocket Money Pool ....................................................................................................................... 12 Priority list ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Application procedure ................................................................................................................... 12 4. Camps and other activities during the year.................................................................... 13 Arrival / Introduction camp ............................................................................................................ 13 Introduction- and language courses .............................................................................................. 13 Other program parts ..................................................................................................................... 13 Information about public transportation ......................................................................................... 13 5. Hosting situations ............................................................................................................ 14 2 Host families ................................................................................................................................. 14 Living in the work situation ............................................................................................................ 14 City/country side ........................................................................................................................... 15 Regional placements: Swiss-German or French speaking part? ................................................... 15 6. Visa and registration ........................................................................................................ 16 General remarks ........................................................................................................................... 16 Visa application procedure ........................................................................................................... 16 Residence permit .......................................................................................................................... 16 7. Insurance .......................................................................................................................... 17 9. Some practical information ............................................................................................. 18 10. Value of your pocket money in Switzerland (at least Sfr. 200.- monthly) ..................... 19 3 1. General information about the country Geography Located almost in the heart of Europe, landlocked between Austria, Germany, France, Italy and Lichtenstein, Switzerland covers an area of 41'288km2. The country is divided into three main regions. The southern two thirds of the total area are covered by the Alps, a wide mountain range with altitudes of up to 4'634 m. Although the Alps are the major attraction for millions of tourists who visit Switzerland each year, they are scarcely populated and little industrialised. North of the Alps we find the midlands of Switzerland, with rolling hills, lakes and meadows. Here you find the main concentration of industry and population. The Jura Mountains run in a semicircle around the midlands and can reach an altitude of 1'600 m. Forming more or less our northern border; they cover about 1/6 of our country. Island Schweden Finnland Switzerland Norwegen Estland Lettland D_nemark Litauen Irland Niederlande Gro_ - Wei_ ru _land britannien Polen Deutschland Belgien Ukraine Luxemburg Tschechische Republik Slowakei Moldawien _ sterreich Ungarn Frankreich Slowenien Rum _nien Kroatie n Bosnien Serbien Italien Bulgarien Portugal Spanien Montenegro Make - donien Albanien Griechen - land Culture The total population of Switzerland is of about 8.3 millions. Swiss citizens belong to 4 linguistic groups: (Swiss-) German speaking (63.5 %)* French speaking (22.5 %) Italian speaking (8.1 %) Raeto romantsch speaking (0.5 %) Other linguistic minority groups (5.4%) All national bodies converse officially in three languages: German, French and Italian. * Please note that the spoken language in the German part of Switzerland are German dialects called «Swiss-German».