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Farm work in SwitzerlandWork on Swiss farms in the German and French speaking parts of the countryHow farm jobs startedThe idea to help farmers stems from the nineteentwenties. At that time many intellectuals and young people showed a hostile attitude towards machines and technical progress. Industrialisation and urbanisation provoked a sort of romantic feeling about nature. One way of escaping a uniform, functional and monotonous life in a factory seemed to be agricultural work in the fields and near nature. Students, apprentices and other young people offering a helping hand on a farm were the forerunners of today´s service. From the beginning of the big economical crisis in the thirties placement offices have systematically send helpers to asstist farmers with their agricultural work. During the war young people have helped in the "Harvest Battle" (doubling the agricultural surface). The end of organised, compulsary work in 1946 was the start of today´s voluntary service. Since then 250.000 young people have been placed and four million of work days organised. |
