Just as it has done every year since 1934, the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA) organised summer camps in each of Switzerland’s four language regions this year. The participants, who came from all over the world, were given a glimpse of the cultural and geographical diversity of Switzerland. In spite of weather conditions as varied as the activities, the mood remained sunny. Julia, who comes from France, said: “I had an incredible experience and met some wonderful people I will never forget. We shared unforgettable moments together, like hiking with breathtaking views, and I’ll always treasure these memories.” José, from Spain, added: “My experience was awesome at the Swiss Camp. I made a lot of friends from all around the world and I also enjoyed and learned from the Swiss culture.” Béatrice, from Germany, told us: “At camp, we didn’t just explore other cultures during the international food evening — we also discovered so much about our native country Switzerland itself. On 1 August, we played mini-golf (a Swiss invention), enjoyed fondue and shared an unforgettable last evening together, including writing letters to the friends we made in camp. It’s amazing to connect with people your age from around the world, in places as peaceful as the countryside or as vibrant as Lausanne and Lucerne.” Mariane, from Brazil, concluded: “The Sainte-Croix Swiss Camp was the best experience I’ve ever had in Switzerland. The memories of going on hikes, playing sports, chatting with new friends, making campfires and especially cooking at the international food evening will always have a special place in my heart. It’s amazing to meet people from all around the world, get the chance to be friends with them and learn all about their countries. All of this made the Swiss Camp the best ever!” These camps allowed a large number of young people to make lasting friendships, strengthen their connection with their country of origin and take home some special memories that will last a lifetime. You can find everything organised by the Youth Service here: www.revue.link/youthoffers. Please contact the Youth Service for any additional information. MARIE BLOCH, HEAD OF THE OSA YOUTH SERVICE An unforgettable summer for the young Swiss Abroad Nature, adventures and meeting new people all made up the unique experience that the 2025 OSA summer camps offered young people aged 15–18 in the heart of Switzerland. Youth Service of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad, Alpenstrasse 26, 3006 Berne, Switzerland Email: youth@swisscommunity.org www.swisscommunity.org Tel. +41 31 356 61 25 Between the lakes and the mountains, a visit to Meggenhorn Castle in Lucerne. Photo provided Federal votes The proposals submitted to the people are set by the Federal Council at least four months prior to the voting date. The Federal Council decided at its session on 25 June 2025 to submit the following proposals to the people on 30 November 2025: ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For a civically engaged Switzerland (Civic Duty Initiative)” (FF 2025 2027) ■ Federal Popular Initiative “For a socially just climate policy – financed through fair taxation (Initiative for a Future)” (FF 2025 2026) All information on proposals submitted to the people (voting pamphlets, committees, recommendations by the parliament, Federal Council etc.) can be found at www.admin.ch/abstimmungen or in the Federal Chancellery app “VoteInfo”. Popular initiatives The following federal popular initiative had been launched at the time of going to press (deadline for signatures in brackets): ■ Federal Popular Initiative “Yes to protection against unfair rents (Fair Rent Initiative)” (3 December 2026) The list of pending popular initiatives is available in French, German and Italian at https://www.bk.admin.ch/ > Politische Rechte > Volksinitiativen > Hängige Volksinitiativen SwissCommunity Swiss Review / October 2025 / No.4 30
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