We invite you all to join us in one of the exciting projects for serving the marginalized of the community every 6 months. Every day, nearly 50 associations and social services benefit from the redistribution of items by Partage. Samedi du Partage has over 90 stores participating to collect non perishable items for those in need. STCG will be serving at 8 different stores Friday afternoon and Saturday for 3 shifts on 29 & 30 November. We will be very happy to have you signup on www.ServeTheCityGeneva.ch for a shift or two at one of the stores we are supporting.
We also are helping the BioParc in Bellevue on 16 November. We still offer services for the Soup kitchen near the train station. Other options are also available on the website.
Europe Forum: A Virtual Invitation for our Community
After months of planning and anticipation, the Europe Forum is just days away! For those of you joining us in person, we can’t wait to see you there!
If we won’t see you in Berlin, we would love to see you online for three special Shared Social Concerns sessions on Saturday morning:
Introducing Climate Change Volunteering into your STC Programming
On the morning of Saturday, 19th October from 09.30 CET to 11.15 CET, we will be streaming a live workshop held by Vanya Verschoore, a Just Transition Expert, on Climate Change and Volunteering.
In this session, Vanya will give you insight into the broader story surrounding the ecological crisis. He draws direct connections to the impact on (vulnerable) people in cities. The key question he wants to explore with you is: how can we involve people who are currently not or barely engaged with this topic and give them something practical to do? What kind of projects could we engage them in? What hopeful stories come from people living in poverty, workers in precarious sectors, and from grassroots initiatives?
Vanya will share a talk filled with practical examples and insights on how STC chapters can incorporate climate change initiatives into their programming.
To join this session virtually, you can use this link.
Human Trafficking 101: How Local Communities Can Get Involved in Outreach and Identification
During the same timeslot, 09.30 CET to 11.15 CET on Saturday 19th October, we will also be streaming a workshop on the social concern of human trafficking, led by Sharmila Wijeyakumar, COO of anti-trafficking organization Rahab’s Daughters.
This interactive workshop will introduce the basics of human trafficking, focusing on how local communities can recognize the signs, get involved in outreach efforts, and make a meaningful difference in their neighborhoods. Sharmila will share insights from her work in Paris and discuss best practices for identifying trafficking at a local level.
The session will involve group discussions, case studies, role-playing, and interactive exercises to ensure participants leave empowered and equipped to act. This workshop will empower Serve the City International volunteers with practical tools to identify trafficking and engage in local outreach, drawing from both local experiences and their work in Paris.
To join this session virtually, you can use this link.
Shared Social Concerns Roundtable
Following these trainings, there will be a Shared Social Concerns roundtable from 11.45 to 13.00 CET. This roundtable will have a variety of speakers on the topic of Making a Difference: Building a Bridge from Action to Impact.
To join the roundtable virtually, you can use this link. See you online!
We have a couple of very special programs we are planning to support in September.
Please read on.
1) For the first AFP festival taking place 20-22 September 2024, we request 20-25 STC volunteers working in shifts to kindly help us out throughout the weekend.
The mission of Art For Peace is to contribute to the positive transformation of Geneva as a place of peace and cultural development. By promoting peace through art therapy and leading artivist actions,
Our commitment aims to make a significant contribution to the cultural influence of the city, while creating bridges with local artists and unifying artistic forces to forge a lasting legacy of peace and diversity.
For our side, we need to have the list of volunteers by 19 August with requested information for each person, please: If you think you might be interested please signup now. More information will be available for those registered.. As most of the program will be in French it’s a good opportunity to practice it. Perhaps even invite a French speaking friend. For more details click here …AFP Brochure, & AFP mission..
2) The next very special project is with the BioParc in Bellevue, Geneva. They have been invited to receive 40 animals from a small zoo near Bern and need cages and compounds to be built to house the new animals. A lot of work is planned for the transformation of the new BioParc the coming years. On or about 14 September we plan a special work day to prepare the new cages and enclosures . It will be not only a work day but a training day to allow those who may be able to help (perhaps with friends) work on projects on days of their choosing. Signing up today is not a formal commitment but an indication of how many might be available on Saturday the 14th. This project has a number of special skill sets not previously required. Perhaps operating a rented post hole digger. A truck with the ability to load and unload cages from Bern. Perhaps other skills which may be required.. Sign up if you would like to follow the need for this very special project for the Bioparc. BioParc additions
3) Bioparc Open day is Sunday 22nd of September and they need help between 9-16 for 3 hour slots, to do a variety of jobs, to support the flow of possibly over 1,500 visitors. More information will be shared when you register on the STC website.
Many thanks for your kind offers to support the city we are so fortunate to live in. The Serve the City Team
Partage has a special request for help with food packing on 10 and 16 July. They need upto 7 helpers each day.. They have a target need of 1500 food packages each of those days and could use some help.. (we also may have a spot or 2 on those days for sorting) Would love to see you (and so would Partage)..
