Swiss African Center S-A-C

Communiqué to the Swiss African Diaspora     Download PDF

Can the African Diaspora achieve respectability in Switzerland?
by Hans Peter Rubi (www.s-a-c.ch)

My answer is YES.
After four years of active committment, I have witnessed many good efforts – but more are necessary. Personally, I would like to step back now and hope to find people with the necessary enthusiasm to continue and improve what we have achieved so far with «Swiss African Center S-A-C».

But first, – who actually is the African Diaspora in Switzerland?
Anyone with African roots living in and visiting Switzerland. Embassy personnel, managers, shop owners, the employed and unemployed, housekeepers and asylum-seekers. Those with Swiss passports or one of the various permits, as well as, the sans-papiers.
Exact numbers are not available. Estimates range to over 66'000 for the Swiss African Diaspora.1 This is not withstanding those that have Swiss citizenship and following generations. For children of mixed heritage, whether their skin be light or dark, their African roots are very important.

According to Rupert Neudeck, “The African Diaspora overall probably constitutes some 100 million people. It is a source of much knowledge and talents.” 2 In the eyes of the average Swiss, basically anyone with dark skin is an „African“, whether they are Afro-Americans, come from the Caribbean or elsewhere. So we are looking at a segment of the Swiss population consisting of over 100'000 facing similar challenges and struggling against the same prejudices – regardless of their country of origin.

And so the question arises, should this group be addressed as one? In the minds of the Swiss, who see them as a single group it makes logical sense. However, for the African Diaspora, the question remains as to whether the diverse cultures and ethnic groups with African roots can productively interact and communicate here in Switzerland in a manner that is to their advantage as a whole.

One of the biggest challenges lies in the fact that these individuals can be found spread across all of the cantons in Switzerland. Contrastingly, support for related integration and education programs is provided by the Swiss government only on a community and cantonal level. This situation leaves a heterogeneous African Diaspora reduced to  skin color and one continent, and so particularly neglected in respect to the other immigrants.

Towards a betterment of the situation, the association Swiss African Center S-A-C was founded in 2007 to assist the African Diaspora in improving their day-to-day situations. S-A-C boasts a solid legal framework, a well-received website and enjoys recognition and acceptance as a non-profit organization in all Swiss cantons. This status, in turn, allows contributors to deduct larger donations from their income tax. Furthermore S-A-C is legally structured to assume the role of an employer of paid employees and volunteers as well.

The Swiss society and democracy is very much based on and guided by various kinds of associations. Within the Swiss African Diaspora, we have found over 100 groups and associations. Although most function more or less, at present, many may have ceased to exist.3 Active networking with the Swiss African Diaspora across language and cultural barriers within Switzerland is a formidable but crucial challenge.

For the first time in Swiss history, there is one person of African heritage in the Swiss National Parliament. This is an important step forward. Ricardo Lumengo, originally from Angola, has reached this goal. This poses a great opportunity for all of the Swiss African Diaspora, regardless of political party interests, country of origin; cultural or personal differences and we should now join efforts to pave the way for Ricardo Lumengo’s reelection next year on october 23rd 2011. This itself constitutes a sign of the growing importance and recognition of the Swiss African Diaspora.

It is important that Lumengo’s winning during the first election should not be reduced to matter of chance, a fluke of mood and circumstances during that campaign period. It follows that; his reelection would be a vital sign of competence for the whole Swiss African Diaspora providing a role model for those also wishing to run for office on community, cantonal or national levels.
In politics, negative press spreads easily and opponents can seize upon any mistakes that one makes. On the other hand, little is publicly known of the Ricardo Lumengo’s actual performance in parliament. Up to now he introduced 30 inputs4 into the parliament. Now is the time to start organizing election efforts for people belonging to the Swiss African Diaspora. Ricardo Lumengo can only to be elected by people eligible to vote in the canton of Bern for his national mandate. In other words, anyone knowing voters in the canton Bern should promote Ricardo Lumengo for reelection to the benefit of the whole Swiss African Diaspora.

Adherence to the principles of self-help and strengthened self-reliance commands respect and recognition in Switzerland.

“Compared with Nigeria, Switzerland is a poor country. Only Switzerland is better managed then Nigeria and therefore most Swiss are doing well and most of the Nigerians have a difficult life.” “Even in the 19th century, Switzerland was the poor-house of Europe, a third world country with little natural resources. But it did not become wealthy because of development aid, but because of a functioning free-market economy and an intact constitutional state.” 5

The formation of the African Diaspora is by definition a brain drain for Africa but can be a brain gain if efforts are organized and improvements mainstreamed. Both Africa and the Swiss African Diaspora need strong institutions and not just engaging personalities.

Volunteering in Switzerland has a status unto itself. It can be considered to be at the very core of the Swiss society with its various associations and clubs. In addition, it is very important for networking and developing personal skills. Whether it be entertainment, sport, social work, politics, craftsmanship, trade and business or for just plain fun, in Switzerland one can always find the association that fits thei fancy. In order to be heard, recognized and respected as a special interest group with in Switzerland, one must organize. Usually this means taking on the legal form of an association managed according to Swiss standards.
A good source for learning how to properly manage associations is the organization Vitamin-B6. It goes without saying that many projects based on excellent ideas have been launched and failed because of personal grandstanding, greed or a lack of management skills. As stakeholders in a modern society, it is only possible to achieve greater goals with a WE approach to problem solving. In this respect, particularly the intelligentia is challenged.

It has been said that during the 60’s collaboration within the Swiss African Diaspora was considerably better. Of course, then the numbers of the “educated” constituted the lion’s share. Now, with growing numbers of asylum seekers and criminal mobility, the intelligentia has increasingly sought to create distance between itself and its own original cultures. Tacitly this has given the wrong people the space to abuse their privileges and besmirch the image of the entire African Diaspora in Switzerland.
The Swiss African Diaspora must face the challenge of improving its situation in general, which also includes responsible action on the part of the African embassies and country representatives residing in Switzerland.

Herewith I would like to appeal to all members of the Swiss African Diaspora to step forward and take on duties and mandates currently managed by the association Swiss African Center
S-A-C.

Please communicate your interest at the latest by the end of November 2010.

H. Peter Rubi
Verein Swiss African Center S-A-C
Founder and Manager
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