Hello, I am still relatively new to this forum and well, to Switzerland as a whole. I followed my wife to Zurich for her job, and I am now unemployed. I am looking for some volunteering opportunities, as a way to help others and to help me accomplish some goals:
1. Improve my German skills- currently at a very elementary level. Any opportunity to speak/interact would help me immensely.
2. Make some social/professional contacts in the Zurich community. My wife and I left all our friends/family back in the States, so we would like to get to know some people in the Zurich area, and I would like to possibly cultivate some professional contacts here (networking is networking).
Again, my German skills are very elementary, but I am willing to help and perform various tasks. Does anybody have any suggestions on where/with whom I should look?
Mods, if I am in the wrong place- apologies. Please redirect me if appropriate.
I'm in the exact situa tion you're in. i've moved to Zurich recently too and am interested in volunteer jobs. My mother in law has provided me with the following links however most links are in German, i'll share them with you anyway
volunteer information evening 3rd october ( i think is the best way to go, attend that event and speak to the right people): http://www.zuerichfreiwillig.ch/
Do things like soup kitchens for the poor or homeless exist here? And are there ways to mentor refugees, particularly kids? I don't know if others have been thinking the same thing, but I would really like to volunteer some of my weekend time with the needy.
I haven't found soup kitchens and the like, but I did end up becoming involved with a local Boy Scouts of America troop in Zurich. In addition to the outdoorsmanship (hiking, camping, etc), they routinely volunteer for community service (food drives, etc) or ecological (we're planning to improve a biotope) projects. I have found it very interesting and rewarding.
I found this through various 'trailing spouse' social events and just asking people what kinds of activities they found themselves involved in. You'll meet some great people this way, and eventually you'll find something that's rewarding and interesting.
I am one of the organizers of a week-long program (October 14-18) called "English Around the World" (Englisch in der Welt) where Swiss kids 9-12 have an opportunity to practice their English with native speakers. It is run in cooperation with the youth department of the city of Waedenswil. I am currently looking for volunteers to help with the sports programs on the afternoons of Oct 14 (rugby),15(badminton) and 18(cricket). No special skills required but if you can play/instruct all the better. There are also opportunities to volunteer every morning that week cooking/serving lunch, helping with the special programs (e.g. visit to pumpkin farm, Skype with a school in England, various games and activities).
I lead other sport programs in summer and spring as part of the "Ferienpass Programm" that may also be of interest. This year we took the kids golfing, played tennis and baseball. I also manage a baseball team in Jona and will be looking for coaches next spring.
I am in Zurich for the following 2 months and have been looking for volunteer work. However, due to my limited time scale and lack of German I am proving not to be very helpful! Unfortunately I am away in England from the 16th to 22nd October, but I would be keen to help you out before and after if you are interested?
Glad to hear from you. Can you help out with the sports programs on Oct 14 and 15th? No German required. If you wish, you can come for the whole day, but the sports programs are only in the afternoon. We have an organization meeting at the Sust Haus on October 1 at 2 pm. If you can attend, you can meet everyone beforehand. Sust Haus is located across the parking lot from the Wädenswil train station next to Bär Sports.
Thanks for your interest. Its a good way to get involved and meet people.
I'd be interested. Do you have a link to an official flyer? My company offers a paid day off for volunteering opportunities so I could likely find a few people that might be interested. We just need some flyer/doc/website that shows our volunteering opportunity.
I am looking for volunteering two weekends a month in the French part to improve my French. As long as I can have some conversations in french that would be good - any ideas?
That sounds great bob, thank you, I will see you on the 1st! Is the Sust Haus easy to find? I am very new to Zurich so still trying to find my way a bit...
The Sust Haus is easy to find. Take the train to Wädenswil (eg., S8, S2) and it is just 100 meters from the station across the parking lot next to Bär Sport.