Strengthening social cohesion

Since its foundation in 1810, the Swiss Society for Common Good (SSCG) has been committed to a cohesive society in Switzerland. In the 19th century, the SSCG contributed to the establishment of public education, health and social welfare systems. In the 20th century, it founded several umbrella organizations of civil society. At the beginning of the 21st century, the SSCG coordinated the initiative to create a national solidarity foundation.

Between 2019 and 2021, the SSCG conducted several workshops with professionals from all regions of the country and all sectors of society to explore future challenges and innovative solutions related to social cohesion. The workshops examined the following sub-areas of societal cohesion: generational relationships; narratives, values, and identities; diversity, pluralism, and inclusion; participation and democracy; gender equity; distributive justice; working in the digitalized world; linguistic diversity; and the relationship between urban, rural, and urban. These workshops provided valuable substantive and formal input as well as project ideas.

The SSCG supports specific areas of social cohesion

• The SSCG organizes special exhibitions and events on the Rütli .
• The SSCG supports individuals and families afflicted by poverty
• The SSCG promotes civil society and voluntary work in Switzerland
• The SSCG programme Job Caddie targets young people with difficulties during and after vocational training
• The SSCG SeitenWechsel programme promotes charitable thinking and action in business
• The SSCG Intergeneration programme provides online information, exchange and networking to promote intergenerational relations
• The SSCG has the Think-and-Do-Tank Pro Futuris for the promotion of social cohesion
• The SSCG promotes central Swiss values with new words for the National Anthem