Swiss Volunteers says thank you for over 200,000 hours of volunteer work
Every year on the 5th of December, the "International Volunteers Day" recognises the tireless and valuable work of volunteers for the benefit of society. The nationally active non-profit organisation Swiss Volunteers also takes this day as an opportunity to thank the tens of thousands of registered volunteers in Switzerland for their commitment. In 2019, more than 200,000 volunteer hours have been registered on the Swiss Volunteers platform.
Volunteers make the realisation of many events possible
The NPO Swiss Volunteers has been supporting Swiss sports organisers in the field of volunteering for 15 years. Organisers can access a network of over 60,000 volunteers throughout Switzerland via the volunteer administration platform offered by Swiss Volunteers. In recent years, these volunteers have already contributed over one million volunteer hours - in 2019 alone, 200,000 hours have been registered on the platform to date. This enormous effort makes it possible for many sporting events to take place and to continue. For example, around 8,000 volunteer hours made the Federal Gymnastics Festival in Aarau a complete success. Although the volunteers are not remunerated monetarily for their work, appreciation for their efforts is a matter close to the heart of Swiss Volunteers: Volunteer honours are held in various cities and at selected events to honour the volunteers for their work in front of an audience. Another form of appreciation took place, for example, at Weltklasse Zurich, when a large flag was raised in the audience in honour of the volunteers. Swiss Volunteers also endeavours to give away various prizes throughout the year. For example, in cooperation with gazenergie, a large number of prizes will be raffled off among all active volunteers via the newsletter and social media on the occasion of the 5th of December.
Swiss Volunteer of the Year: Pia Aeschbacher
As part of its appreciation, Swiss Volunteers annually honours the Volunteer of the Year together with its partner gazenergie. All partner events throughout Switzerland were called upon to nominate one of their volunteers who had stood out for their extraordinary achievements. A Swiss Volunteers jury selected three candidates from all the nominations received, who were then put to the volunteers' vote. Pia Aeschbacher from Rupperswil, nominated by the B2Run event series, was chosen by the volunteers with a clear share of 67% of the votes received in the online voting. At the first "Get Together" of Swiss Volunteers on the 5th of December in Ittigen, the hard-working volunteer with 416 volunteer hours so far will be honoured. In addition to a trophy, the 59-year-old will also receive an entrance ticket to a major Swiss sporting event of her choice as well as other non-cash prizes.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Media enquiries to:
Mark Wirz, Managing Director (mark.wirz@swissvolunteers.ch) Marc
Tschirren, Communications (marc.tschirren@swissvolunteers.ch)