“Your class commitment impressively shows: together, we can change things!” Viktor Rossi explained to around forty pupils who had gathered in Bern. The two classes – one from Sumiswald (Bern) and one from Windisch (Aargau) – took part in the traditional sale of SWISSAID badges and thus raised money for development cooperation projects in the Global South and for their class fund.
The 8- to 12-year- old students used this meeting to learn more about the role and responsibilities of the Federal Chancellor – a position that is not widely known to the public. Among their numerous questions were: “Did you dream of becoming a Federal Chancellor when you were a child?” or “How many languages do you speak?”. The children learned that Viktor Rossi did not know much about the profession of the Federal Chancellor in his youth. He initially trained as a chef, then turned to teaching, worked as a headteacher, and eventually joined the Federal Chancellery. As for languages, he speaks German, French, Italian, English, and the Bernese dialect, as he revealed with a smile.
SWISSAID's Executive Director Markus Allemann praised the children's enthusiasm and solidarity: “By participating in this action, you build bridges between North and South and lay the foundation for a fairer world. Your commitment is a source of inspiration and hope.” Following the Q&A session, the students visited the Federal Palace, where Fabian Molina, President of SWISSAID and National Councillor (Social Democratic Party, Zürich), told them more about the Swiss political system.
**Solidarity with Tradition**
Since 1948, students from all over Switzerland have participated in the sale of SWISSAID badges. The badges come in various forms – candles in clay pots, carved pencils, soaps, small wooden boxes – and they symbolize solidarity with people in need.
In the year 2025, 230 classes sold SWISSAID badges and raised over 230,000 Swiss Francs. Since the beginning of this tradition of solidarity, more than 1.7 million children have participated, and almost 20 million badges have been produced.
**Contacts:**
Markus Allemann
Executive Director
SWISSAID
Email: m.allemann@swissaid.ch
Tel. 079 833 15 69
Delphine Neyaga
Media
Relations Officer
for Western Switzerland SWISSAID
Email: media@swissaid.ch
Tel. 076 582 76 66