News & Events

A train journey to a fairer world

Young people from Serbia, Moldova and the Bavarian Youth Council, who are taking part in one of the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation’s international exchange projects, take us on their train journey to a fairer world. We will stop off at various children’s rights along the way.

Painting rainbows again

More than four million Ukrainians have left their homeland since February. Many of them now find themselves in neighbouring Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries. The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation has been running educational projects for disadvantaged children here for 14 years. After the war broke out, we acted quickly to support the refugees.

«Colours of Peace»

As part of the project «Colours of Peace», young people from the Middle East and Switzerland have confronted human rights issues such as identity, freedom (or a lack thereof), and privilege. A Review.

We are supporting refugees in Moldova

The current conflict poses a grave threat to the civilian population in Ukraine. 4 million people have fled their country in search of refuge. The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation has been active in countries bordering Ukraine, especially in Moldova, since 2008. We have recently adapted and stepped up our activities on the ground.

Working together for better education

Ajan Somphet dreams of giving his students in Laos the best possible education to take with them on their journey through life.

Sharing and multiplying knowledge

Project officers from the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation trained teachers in new teaching methods as part of a project in Ethiopia.

«I think it is important to stand up for them»

Maja Mihenovic is the President of the Student's Council at our project school Učitelj Tasa in the Serbian city of Niš.

«Up to seven children come seeking advice every week»

In their role as trusted adults, teachers Jesca Emmanuel and Edmund Rugabumu are the first point of contact for all the children at their primary school in the Bukoba District of Tanzania. In this interview, they talk about child rights abuses, trust and changes.

More power to children

School clubs empower children and boost their confidence. The project run by the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation in the Bukoba District of Tanzania has given students more opportunities to become involved – particularly in relation to child rights and child protection.

Adapting lesson plans despite the coronavirus pandemic

The «I return, learn and stay» project in Honduras is helping children and youths reintegrate after failed attempts emigrate.

The young generation is rocking powerup_radio

Our mobile reporters: they are young and they love radio so much that they are willing to give up their free time for it. Project Officers – Radio Projects Mariel Diez and Samantha Kuster talk about a new project that largely relies on the enthusiasm of the participants. 

Creating an opposite to the digital world

At the symposium for media education in the Pestalozzi Children’s Village, experts held classes focussing on media literacy. In this interview, Florian Karrer, Head of Radio Projects and Co-organizer of the symposium, discusses challenges, dangers and solutions.

Realising that you can do it

Who can say they have helped plan their own radio programme by the age of 12? Tobias can. He is one of nine participants in the Mobile Reporter Programme run by the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation. 
 

Annual report 2019: South‑East Asia

Where political achievements are concerned, expectation and disappointment often go hand in hand. In Laos, a lot of hope has been placed in the development of the education sector initiated by the government, but in Thailand people are disillusioned because the new government has not brought about any changes.

Annual report 2019: South East Europe

The political climate is having a direct impact on the Foundation’s work. While North Macedonia’s strategy of moving towards a united society is in keeping with our project interventions, opaque processes in Serbia and the change of government in Moldova are creating uncertainty.

Annual report 2019: East Africa

Tanzania, Ethiopia and Mozambique ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the early 1990s. To mark its 30th anniversary, activities focussing on this issue took place in each of these countries.

Annual report 2019: Central America

The people of Honduras are not happy. Last year, this discontent prompted thousands of people to take to the streets and demonstrate. The protests were aimed at President Juan Orlando Hernández.

An entire school year group declares war on racism

The Lindenbüel School in Volketswil is breaking new ground: for the first time, an entire year group is addressing the various aspects of peaceful coexistence in the Pestalozzi Children’s Village, thereby sending out a strong message against racism in school life.

Children at the Erlimatt School find out more about radio and rights

From 20th to 30th November 2019, the powerup_radio project run by the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation went on a children’s rights tour with its Livezeit competition. Before it began, the foundation drew lots to decide who would be able to take part in this radio project for free. One of the twelve winners was the Erlimatt School in Pratteln in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. 

A fusion of human and machine

How do robots support people with disabilities? On what ethical basis do robots make decisions? How do you build a robot? These questions will be explored by around 50 children during Digiweek in the Children's Village. Under the motto "Laboratory of the Future", the children will experience robotic assistance systems for disabled people up close and program dance robots.

Friction produces energy

The focus falls on peace, but still there is friction: when young people take part in a discussion at the European Youth Forum Trogen, things can get noisy. Swiss high school student Lea was present this year when more than 140 youths from nine nations discussed the future of Europe. She learned a lot during this week, in part also thanks to the intense discussions.

Recognition of eco-schools

Myanmar’s Ministry of Education has adopted the criteria developed by the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation for Clean&Green Schools on a national scale. In an interview, Programme Director Brigit Burkard explains why this is so important and what could result from it.

«Trust children’s abilities more»

Wendy grew up in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Thanks to a Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation partner organisation, she encountered the concept of child rights early on – an encounter that eventually led her to Switzerland.

Successful workshop in Myanmar/Burma

Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and the Ministry of Education are interested in our work

Learning as equals

Senior Professional Training courses are offered specifically to the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation’s partner organisations abroad. At the beginning of May, 16 employees from eight countries spent a week engaging intensively with the issue of human resources.

Building a better world

The Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation recently visited its two projects in Ethiopia, a country with nine UNESCO world heritage sites.

Targeted support for partner organisations

In Trogen this week, 11 employees of non-governmental organisations from Tanzania, Ethiopia, Honduras, Moldova, Serbia and Myanmar tackled the topic of fundraising.

European Youth Forum Trogen 2018

During a week, 144 young people from nine different countries will meet and discuss the future of Europe.

"Our City, Our Schools"

Our Partnerorganization in Serbia is telling about the first year of the Project "Our City, Our Schools".

See the world through the eyes of 11-year-old Ezekiel

What's it like to live a day in the life of an African boy? Come with us to visit Ezekiel, his grandfather and his school in Tanzania.

Exchanges with peers

Apprentices from the Raiffeisen Schweiz Genossenschaft visited the Children's Village from 17 to 20 October. They took part in an exchange project week with groups from Macedonia and Moldova.

A report on child rights in Guatemala

Marlene Grajeda is the new Education Officer in Guatemala and started working for the Pestalozzi Children's Foundation two months ago. In this interview, she reports on her visit to the United Nations (UN) and what she did there.

Distinction for cultural acceptance in the classroom

Hassayarat Panchaichok was recently distinguished for her project on cultural diversity in schools, a topic that the Thai teacher had worked on at the Children’s Village.

Intercultural teaching methods

Vladimir Gjorgjevski attended the emPower further education course in 2015. What did he achieve with what he learned when he returned to Macedonia? The Foundation asked him – and was amazed by the answer.

UNESCO prize

The former «emPower» student Raisa Nineth Palala Martínez is awarded the first prize for «Exemplary Educational Concepts for Peace» in Guatemala.

Generous donation

Maag Pump Systems AG has donated CHF 10,000 in support of the Children’s Village. Thank you very much!

A shoe for a good cause

Many thanks: Titolo auctioned off an anniversary shoe and donated the proceeds to the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation.

Generous donation from People’s Viennaline

Thank you very much! People’s Viennaline donates CHF 4,000 to the Pestalozzi Children’s Foundation.

Project inspires Education Minister

The El Salvadorian Ministry of Education’s second robot-building competition took place on 25 June 2016, with young people from the Foundation's project among the participants.

Silver medal for Wangden

Wangden Namshi came second in the corporate run’s apprentice category with a time of 0:23:07.5. 

Together for the environment

Kyi Kyi Soe, our country representative in Myanmar/Burma, speaks in Myanmar on World Environment Day.

Special exhibition opens in the Children’s Village

Discover two new exhibition areas in Pestalozzi Children’s Village.

Chernobyl: 30 years on

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl reactor disaster. Children have been invited to the Children’s Village since 1996.

emPower graduate holds speech

Phnom Thano speaks on human rights in Thailand at an international conference in Geneva.

Senior Professional Training at the Children's Village

Monika Veljanoska from Macedonia talks about her experiences at the Children's Village.

A day in the life of the emPower students

The 23 year old Laura Lily Martinez from Honduras talks about her everyday life at the Children's Village.

Vladimir: Our Trainee from Macedonia

Vladimir from Macedonia talks about his time as an emPower student.

Neu im Kinderdorf

Since september 2014, Miriam Zampatti works as Head of International Programmes at the foundation.

Hope for a better future

Yeldis and Shania attend classes, but their school has neither wall nor roof.