“One million stars” against poverty in Switzerland

With the ‘One Million Stars’ campaign on Saturday, Caritas sent a ‘bright sign of solidarity’ for the more than one million people in Switzerland who do not have enough to live on. Seas of light with up to 2,000 candles were lit at approximately 100 locations.

Thousands of candles were lit on the Bundesplatz in Bern, Caritas Bern announced on Saturday evening. According to the organization, around 800 visitors expressed their support for those affected by poverty in Bern. With the events at nightfall, Caritas wanted to make the often invisible poverty visible.

According to the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), 745,000 people in Switzerland suffer from poverty. Almost as many people live at subsistence level, which means that a total of approximately 1,240,000 people do not have enough money to live on. Their income is significantly lower than that of the general population. Families with three or more children are disproportionately affected by poverty.

“The result of poverty is often social isolation. The Christmas season is particularly difficult when there is not enough money for everything,” said Christine Gerstner, events coordinator for the regional Caritas associations, in a statement. “With this campaign across Switzerland, we want to give people the opportunity to take a moment and show their support for those affected,” she continued. (sda)