Swiss Review 1/2019

Swiss Review / January 2019 / No.1 25 The original interview was published on swissinfo.ch, the online service of the Swiss Broadcasting Company, which is available in ten languages. Do you live abroad too? Then tag your Instagram photos #WeAreSwissAbroad. “ It’s hard to listen to a Swiss complain ” Professional mountain biker Ariane Lüthi has lived in South Africa for eight years. As a woman, the 35-year-old says she has had to fight harder there than in Switzerland. She thinks that Swiss who have never travelled don’t appreciate how much Switzerland has achieved when it comes to societal issues. My job: I became a professional mountain biker through my ex-hus- band. I’ve been lucky to celebrate some good successes during my career. I will probably never be rich in terms of money, but I love my job. It has enriched my life with beautiful, intense memories which have made me a happier person at the end of the day. My South Africa: Being a mountain biker, the dry and warm weather is a great advantage to clock up the miles without catching a cold. But the biggest difference to Switzerland is probably South Africa’s cultural diversity, which is much greater than at home. There is a reason why South Africa is known as the rainbow nation. My Switzerland: The Swiss are extremely well off. As poverty is pretty rare in Switzerland, people don’t really value what they have. Once you have seen how people can be happy with very little, it’s hard to listen to a Swiss complain. Looking at how wealthy Switzer- land is, I think we should do more to alleviate the great suffering in the world. My heart: When I left Switzerland and got married soon afterwards, I thought I’d probably stay in South Africa. Now that I’m divorced, I’m contemplating Swiss residency again. I miss my Swiss friends, my family, chatting away in Swiss German and the beautiful Alps, which I miss in the South. THE SWISS ABROAD ON INSTAGRAM OSA Youth Service Sport and Adventure Camps With other young Swiss Abroad from around the world participants in this camp experience a summer full of breath-taking excursions, hikes and sporting activities, while making many new friends from around the globe. Over a two- week period, youngsters enjoy a fun-filled atmosphere in their Swiss homeland. A comfortable camp house serves as the base camp, and together we explore the region and Swiss culture. This camp is geared towards young people who would like to engage in sporting activities. Camp locations and dates: Schwende (AI) 13 to 26 July 2019 Sainte-Croix (VD) 27 July to 9 August 2019 Swiss Challenge Over two weeks, participants become acquainted with Switzerland’s diversity, explore the biggest Swiss cities together and experience what it means when four languages meet in one country. The Swiss Challenge is a mix of sightseeing, travelling, mountain hiking, sport and culture. Camp location and dates: throughout Switzerland 13 to 26 July 2019 Outdoor Camp The romance of a campfire, sleeping under the stars and a journey through the Swiss mountain landscape. In the Outdoor Camp, young Swiss Abroad experience an adventure in the magnificent Swiss mountains and learn to live in harmony with nature. Camp dates: 27 July to 9 August 2019 Politics Camp In this sporty camp, the group explores the alpine and political landscape of Switzerland and discusses together the history and major issues of Swiss politics. There are workshops, meetings with politicians, hikes, sightseeing, and overnight stays in hostels and on farms. The final weekend sees the group head motivated and inspired to the Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Montreux. Camp dates: 3 to 18 August 2019 Subsidy The Youth Service has funds available to support participants with limited finan- cial means: www.swisscommunity.org/de/jugend/beitragsreduktion Contact Organisation of the Swiss Abroad OSA, Youth Service, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Bern, Switzerland, Telephone +41 (0)356 61 24 , Fax +41 (0)356 61 01 , Email: youth@aso.ch Details about the offers and the registration form can be found on our website: www.swisscommunity.org/de/jugend/jugendangebote