Who we are
What we do
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Switzerland & Liechtenstein grants the most heartfelt wishes of children aged between 3 and 18 living with a serious medical condition to give them Hope, Strength and Joy.
A child’s life shouldn’t be about illness, hospitals and diagnosis – it should be about wonder, joy and hope.
Sometimes, when you are really not well, your dreams become even more important than ever. At Make-A-Wish we work to make these dreams come true for children who have been robbed of their right to a carefree childhood.
We ensure that every child, in the company of their family, experiences the most magical of moments, because, as the author Cesar Pavese wrote, “We do not remember days, we remember moments”.
Make-A-Wish is all about providing unique and treasured moments to very ill children. Moments which will allow them to forget their illness for a while and provide them with beautiful and cherished memories.
Getting tips from Roger Federer, panning for gold, flying over the Alps in a helicopter, seeing the sea for the first time, meeting a celebrity hero, being a Chef for a day, or meeting a Nobel physicist at Cern; our wishes are unique and, most importantly, magical.
We work closely with doctors and healthcare professionals throughout Switzerland who refer the children to us. We know what wishes do, and this is the driving force behind why we continue to do what we do to reach out to more and more ill children in Switzerland.
WE CAN’T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!
Who we are
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Switzerland and Liechtenstein is a charitable foundation under the supervision of the Federal Department of the Interior. It was established in 2003 to grant the most heartfelt wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. The beneficiaries are children between 3 and 18 who live or receive medical treatment in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Since its inception, the Swiss charity has granted more than 750 wishes.
Legally and financially independent, our foundation is therefore subject to Swiss rules but is also an affiliate of the Make-A-Wish International network. This means that it acts by the guiding principles and use of the Make-A-Wish brand that are given internationally. By the end of 2022, the network had 39 affiliates and a presence in 50 countries. Apart from benefiting from its reputation and certain global partnerships with corporate donors, the great added value of being part of this network is the mutual support between affiliates. For example, when one of our children’s wishes takes place outside our borders, the Make-A-Wish organisation in the country in question will help us to make contact, welcome the family and organise the wish.
Make-A-Wish Switzerland and Liechtenstein is currently based in the canton of Vaud. This is where the operational team has its offices. Volunteer relays are present in the other cantons, so that the foundation is represented throughout the country. In addition to these forces, the Foundation can count on the voluntary support of its Foundation Board, its Medical Committee and its Patrons and Ambassadors.
Make-A-Wish International
In 1980, a little American boy named Chris, who was very ill with leukaemia, dreamed of being a police officer. The granting of his wish served as the inspiration to a special group of volunteers who formed an organization to provide magical experiences for other ill children.
Since that day, the organisation has grown to cover 50 countries and has granted over 500’000 wishes throughout the world thanks to dedicated staff and over 43’000 volunteers.
