18 December 2020
"The more I give, the more I get in return."
Before the pandemic, we often rushed by Surprise magazine vendors at the train station on our way to the SCTO, and occasionally we bought a magazine from them. Now that the pandemic has (greatly) reduced how often we commute to Bern, we sometimes ask ourselves (from our warm and dry workspaces at home): How are these vendors doing? How has this extreme year affected them? How does our donation make a difference in their lives?
Especially nowadays, a self-determined future, job prospects, and social integration cannot be taken for granted – not even in Switzerland. The non-profit organisation Surprise helps disadvantaged people to help themselves, which is what makes the Surprise model sustainable. Exactly how Surprise works was recently explained to us by Roger, a Surprise city guide from Bern, during an online workshop. For Roger, the small, unseen acts of solidarity are what make Surprise so sustainable: "The more I give, the more I get in return."
With our donation to Surprise, the SCTO is advocating for social justice and social diversity. Both of these concepts are basic requirements for promoting the exchange of scientific and cultural ideas and for shaping our future together.
We wish you a relaxing holiday season and all the best for the New Year. And above all, stay healthy!
Your SCTO team
