Practical Geneva
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PRACTICAL GENEVA @CAGIGENEVA PRESENTED BY SYLVIE CHASSAGNADE & CORINNE HUDSON MARCH 18, 2021 INTERNATIONAL WELCOME CENTRE @CagiGeneva PRESENTED BY AMBASSADOR SALMAN BAL, DIRECTOR OF THE CAGI WHO ARE WE ? A non-profit organisation, founded in 1996 by the Swiss Confederation and the Republic and canton of Geneva. The 'one stop shop' facilitating the settlement and the integration of employees of International Geneva and their family members. Assistance to NGOs and support to delegates attending conferences in Geneva. Thanks to the support of public and private entities, CAGI’s services are free of charge. OUR MEMBERS Founding members Associate members Sympathising members CAGI'S SUPPORT AND SERVICES • Newcomers Network Service • Housing Service • Events Service / Cultural Kiosk at UNOG • NGO Service • Delegates Welcome Service • Delegates Information Desk • How to assist spouses/partners NEWSCOMERS NETWORK SERVICE The Newcomers Network Programme for Internationals and their families facilitates integration into Geneva and its region : • Welcome call • Lunchtime-conferences (health, education, housing etc.) • Excursions and events to discover Geneva and the Lemanic region • Insiders' Geneva • Conversation Exchange Programme Contact +41 22 546 14 26 [email protected] HOUSING SERVICE • Support finding accommodation through an online housing platform • VIP Service for Permanent Representatives, Heads of IOs and their Deputies • Settling-in & departure support, proofreading of rental contracts and tenancy law advice • Support Permanent Missions and NGOs in their search for office space Contact +41 22 546 14 17 [email protected] EVENTS & CULTURAL KIOSK AT UNOG • Organisation of informal and themed events, open to all, facilitating gatherings between Internationals and the local community The Cultural Kiosk : • The only point of sale, in the heart of the Palais des Nations, for a variety of events and shows at preferential rates • Informs Internationals on the cultural and tourist offers in Switzerland Contact Cultural Kiosk +41 22 546 14 07 +41 22 917 11 11 [email protected] [email protected] CAGI WEEKLY EMAIL NGO SERVICE • Assistance and support to International nongovernmental organisations (INGO), whether already based in, or interested in establishing an office in Geneva : • Information on the local conditions for INGO activities • Interface between INGO and public authorities • Practical services at facilating day-to-day operations Contact +41 22 546 14 10 [email protected] DELEGATES WELCOME SERVICE A support to delegates attending conferences within the framework of International Geneva : • Pratical and personalised information • Potential subsidy for accommodation (delegates of states and NGOs from developping countries) • Contribution to the development of synergies between delegates and local actors Contact +41 22 546 23 00 [email protected] DELEGATES INFORMATION DESK A support to delegates attending international conferences, trainings and meetings in Geneva : • Guides you within the building to the different conferences • Informs you about the services available • Provides you with practical information about Geneva Contact +41 22 546 14 25 [email protected] SPOUSES / PARTNERS • Meeting with multinationals • CAGI's NGO Recruitment Platform NGO Section • International Dual Career Network: IDCN • Association découvrir – assists qualified migrant women • Fellowship programmes (for exemple: GCSP ) PRATICAL GENEVA Videos • Informing employees and their family members before their arrival Housing & Insurances Health & Medical • How to reach incoming employees of International Geneva? Education & Family life Transport & Mobility PRACTICAL GENEVA Practical Geneva Booklet web information www.cagi.ch/practical-geneva La Pastorale, La Dépendance 106 Route de Ferney 1202 Genève www.cagi.ch @CagiGeneva PRACTICAL GENEVA @CAGIGENEVA PRESENTED BY SYLVIE CHASSAGNADE & CORINNE HUDSON MARCH 18, 2021 SUMMARY 1. TRANSPORT 2. HEALTH 3. PRESCHOOLS - SCHOOLS Public and private 4. BANKS AND PAYMENTS 5. SHOPPING 6. TELECOM 7. LANGUAGES COURSES 8. GENEVA: DO'S AND DON'TS 9. LEISURE 1. TRANSPORT Public and private PUBLIC TRANSPORT All public transport: : 1 ticket - 60 minutes - all 10 zones in Geneva Shuttle boats to cross the lake PUBLIC TRANSPORT + 1st and 2nd class tickets PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNIRESO Mouettes genevoises CFF TPG Léman Express léman pass Noctambus TAXI & RENTING A CAR Taxi Phone • Taxi station or on call • Tel: 022 33 141 33 or 022 320 22 02 (to book in advance) App: TaxiPhone Genève Mobility BIKES & WALKS (LOAN & RENT, BUY, SELL, CYCLE PATHS, MAPS, GET TOGETHERS, BIKES SCHOOL) Genève roule ! velocity Fondation des Parkings Vélostations 3'500 bike points in the Geneva Canton Donkey Republic Geovelo Pro vélo Genève Promenades COACH ALL OVER EUROPE AND SWITZERLAND Next to Cornavin train station Shuttlebuses to the ski resorts Gare Routière PRIVATE TRANSPORT Stick'air Genève CH FR Motorways : yearly tax sticker CHF 40.- TCS & ACS Speed limit: 120 Km/h HIGHLIGHTS • Speed limits: 30/50/80/120 • Legal blood alcohol limit: 50mg/100 ml • Headlights all day long • Pedestrians always have priority • Winter tires (insurance requirement) PARKING Blue Zone (Blue Disk – 1 hour free) White Zone (parking meters or disk – only in villages) Yellow Zone (deliveries / bus / taxis assigned parking spaces) Sticker/ Macaron Fondation des Parkings App Paybyphone – Parking App Waze – GPS / Google Maps TRAFFIC CALL & COMPULSORY CAR EQUIPMENT 163 Traffic and road conditions High Visibility vest 117 Police emergency Warning Triangle 144 Ambulance Child car seat until 12 years old and less than 150 cm 112 Echo live saver tracker 2. HEALTH HEALTH DEDICATED PRESENTATION : AUTUMN 2021 Emergency dial: 144 Permanence in Geneva For light emergency in your neighbourhood Pharma24 HUG 24h/24 7j/7 No appointment necessary Local.ch COVID-19 App SmartHUG Association of doctors of the Canton of Geneva Restrictions, closures & other measures 3. PRESCHOOLS SCHOOLS PRESCHOOLS - SCHOOLS Baby-sitting Public Schools Croix Rouge genevoise: Chaperon rouge Care of children at home (on subscription) To enroll your child at a local state school in Geneva: Phone: 022 304 04 82 Primary education - Phone : 022 546 75 00 Croix Rouge: Garde d'enfants Secondary education - Phone: 022 546 59 Formation de la jeunesse DIP Fondation Pro Juventute Genève Mary Poppins Private Schools AGEP Crèches de dépannage/ Emergency creche BIPE - Phone: 022 418 81 81 Crèche de dépannage 4. BANKS PAYMENTS BANKS AND SERVICES UBS Crédit Suisse Raiffeisen BCGE (Geneva) BCV (Vaud) PostFinance WITHDRAWALS AND CURRENCY EXCHANGE Change Migros Debit and credit cards (no checks) Currency exchange in CHF and EUR PAYMENTS Payment slips (BVR): "bulletin de versement" QR-bill launched in Switzerland on 30 June 2020 • Payment slip at ATMs • Online e-banking • Twint: cashless online payments • At the post office 5. SHOPPING SHOPPING Opening Hours Customs If shopping in France, please be aware of restrictions on importation From 8.30am to 7pm from Monday to Friday of goods (meat 1kg per person, wine 5l, milk/butter1kg, etc.) Saturday closing at 6pm Late evenings: Thursday at 9pm E-Shopping Sunday: station, airport and petrol stations + Coop Smood Farmers' Markets (Marché de Plainpalais and Migros Eat Léman) Manor Deliveroo Local produce / Farmers' Markets Genève Marchés Marchés Ville de Genève Genève Terroir 6. TELECOM TELECOM Mobile Telephones TV, Internet and Radio • Roaming charges outside Switzerland • Serafe : Concession charges Annual tax CHF 335.- Landline telephones and Exceptions for : internet provider: • Permanent missions and their staff • International organizations and their staff • Check for deals: TV, internet, fixed network and mobile phones Practical Manual of the regime of Comparis privileges and immunities and other facilities 7. LANGUAGE COURSES LANGUAGE COURSES Conversation Exchange Programme (BEL) organised by CAGI SOME LANGUAGE SCHOOLS Ecole Club Migros !fage UNIGE ELCF UNOG Language Programme UOG 8. GENEVA DO'S AND DON'TS GENEVA: DO'S AND DON'TS Noise Punctuality • Noise pollution = invasion of privacy • Arriving on time for a meeting is essential • 21 PM to 7 AM, Sundays, Bank Holidays • In doubt Info-Service 022 546 76 00 Bruits voisinage droits et devoirs Garbage – Waste recycling • In Vaud (VD) taxed garbage: white and green Laundry bags 10x 35l : CHF 19.50.- • Common laundry rooms in • Paper, glass, aluminium, large items Apartments : schedules (recycling areas or supermarkets) • Free collect of voluminous waste by the town: except electrical GENEVA: DO'S AND DON'TS Smoking Tips • Not allowed in public places, cafés, • Service is generally included at restaurants restaurants and bars CHF • End of year tips (Christmas period) to concierges, postmen, cleaners (care-takers) Newspapers in the street: available Dogs Taxes, vaccinations • For free (GHI, 20 Minutes) • Allowed on Public Transport according to • Paid newspapers (TDG-Tribune de • Genève; Le Temps; Le Matin) the size (<30 cm = free) 9. LEISURE CULTURE AND VISITS Culture Visits Events at CAGI Geneva Pass • What's on : CAGI Cultural Kiosk Agenda at UNOG (Door C6) • 51 attractions with 1 pass - 30 free activities • Buy online or at Tourism Information Centre (Rue du Mont-Blanc 18) Museums in Geneva 40 private and public museums Musées de Genève Geneva visits with locals • Pass Musées • 1 year = 16 museums for 40CHF.- • Geneva Greeters Look at local newspapers: • Tribune de Genève, Le Temps, 20 Minutes