Swiss Review 2/2018

Swiss Review / March 2018 / No.2 24 This interview was published on swissinfo.ch, the online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Company which is available in ten languages. Do you also live abroad? Add the tag #WeAreSwissAbroad to your photos on Instagram. “I see Switzerland as a palace at the heart of Europe” 25-year-old Eva Witschi wants to “explore the big, wide world” be- fore one day returning to Switzerland to raise a family. She is cur- rently doing just that in London. “I felt as though I had hit a brick wall in Switzerland. I was unable to progress career-wise. In contrast, London afforded me the opportu- nity to work with leading international advertising agencies, some- thing I would never have been able to do in Switzerland. Astonish- ingly the 40-hour working week is shorter than in Switzerland, but you are not paid for overtime. That doesn’t bother me as the expe- rience I’m gaining here is invaluable. London practically brings the whole world together. You can do al- most anything you wish if you know where and how to look. There’s even a farm not far from here, right in the middle of a city with mil- lions of people! You can even stroke the animals. At the weekend you can go to museums, cultural events or parties which you won’t find in Switzerland. On the other hand, life in Switzerland is much safer. That’s probably because it’s much more tranquil, uniform and straightforward. Switzerland is a palace at the heart of Europe. I don’t think people in Switzerland appreciate that. When you move away, you realise how precious it is to grow up in such a secure environment, how lit- tle university fees cost and how short the distances are that you have to cycle or walk. Switzerland is my home, a safe haven where I’ll probably return to in a few years’ time because I want my children to grow up in a pal- ace, too.” THE SWISS ABROAD ON INSTAGRAM OSA news OSA Youth Service and educationsuisse: Help with starting education and training in Switzerland The OSA Youth Service and educationsuisse jointly support young Swiss Abroad in planning and starting their initial education or train- ing in Switzerland through the ‘Springboard’ programme. The advice and approach are tailored to every participant individ- ually. Registration is open to young people who have a place on a course – at a university of applied sciences or a traditional univer- sity – or who have been offered an apprenticeship, as well as to those who have not yet decided on a particular educational path. The staff of educationsuisse are available to answer any questions about education, planning and financial matters, etc. via email, by telephone or at the office inBerne. They advise participants onhow to put their plans into practice and provide them with the best possible support. Living with a host family As soon as the definitive acceptance by the educational institu- tion or training provider has been confirmed, the OSA Youth Ser- vice checks whether a place with a host family is available in the local area. Host family places are currently only available in Ger- man-speaking Switzerland. Participants travel to Switzerland shortly before their education or training begins and can stay with the host family for up to six months. The hosts provide the young people with a room and meals and support them as much as possible when they start their education or training. Regular contact with the staff of the OSA Youth Service and educationsu- isse helps to resolve any problems. It should be noted that appli- cants must be 18 years of age when starting their education or training. Costs and paying for education There is a one-off contribution to expenses of CHF 500 for plan- ning and organising the host family. Food and accommodation with the host family costs CHF 500 a month. Grants are available to participants whose parents are unable to fully meet the educa- tion or training costs. Registration and contact The ‘Springboard’ programme will continue to run during the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 academic years. For information and to apply, please visit info@educationsuisse.ch.