Overview: Currently, more than 1600 people live in Zurich's asylum centers who were forced to leave their homes due to war, terror and persecution - in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Often living alone, in a confined space, in a country foreign to them, the Corona crisis has hit them particularly hard. Christmas gives us the chance to invite refugees with a gift and a welcoming message to participate in our holiday traditions and be part of our community. For this reason, the Zurich Hub has launched the ‘Züri Schenkt’ project. Within Züri Schenkt the Hub has been organizing an annual Christmas campaign for refugees and asylum seekers who have found their new home in Zurich since 2016. In 2020, more than 1600 Christmas gifts and more than CHF 25000 were collected as gifts and donations. As a result, all residents of 12 regufee centers in the Zurich area received a Christmas gift.

Problem Statement: People who have been forced to leave their homes and their countries because of war and terrorism need our support in order to feel at home and welcome in a new city, Zurich.

Target Group: Refugees and asylum seekers in Zurich and citizens who seek an opportunity to support them.

Proposed Solution: The project 'Züri schenkt' together with the The Global Shapers Zurich has been organizing an annual Christmas crowd donation for refugees and asylum seekers in Zurich since 2016. At Christmas we, as citizens of Zurich in our municipalities, have the chance to give refugees and asylum seekers a hand. By making them a small present we could let them participate in our traditions and encourage them to feel as part of our community.

Initiated in 2016 by: Julius & Janina Scheidt, Alex & Yagmur Stöckl

Hub Activities: Annual campaign for collecting, wrapping and distributing Christmas gifts to residents of asylum centers in Zurich. Effectively engage asylum centers and other partners to serve as gift collection points, sponsors, and media support. Effectively engage a team of Global Shapers and volunteers from the city. Maintain an up-to-date website and social media.

Short & Long-Term Goals/Results: Collect and distribute minimum 1000 gifts per year. Support other hubs in creating similar projects in their communities.

Available Metrics: 

For the 2020 edition:

• 1600 people directly benefited by receiving gift packages


• 1000 people reached or mobilized by donating gift packages


• 16 volunteers recruited


• CHF 23,000 raised, incl. in-kind support


• CHF 5,000 spent on the project

Collaborators: 

AOZ – City of Zurich’s asylum organization

Gift collection points:

• Impact Hub


• Barranco


• Kosmos


• Westhive


• Kraftwerk


• 
   Coworking Lounge Tessinerplatz
  


• 
   Stripped Pizza
  

Sponsors:

• Individual donations from Zurich citizens


• Weleda


• No Bullsh!t

Web links:

• https://www.zuerischenkt.ch/?lang=en


• https://www.instagram.com/zuerischenkt/