Who we are
What we do
Make-A-Wish Switzerland grants life-changing wishes to children with serious illnesses.
A child's life should not be about illness, hospitals and diagnoses but rather about wonder, joy and hope.
Sometimes, when you're really down, your dreams become even more important than ever. At Make-A-Wish, we work to make those dreams come true for children who have been robbed of their right to a carefree childhood.
We make sure that every child, together with his or her family, experiences the most magical of moments, because, as the author Cesar Pavese wrote, “We don’t remember days, we remember moments.”
Make-A-Wish's work is primarily to provide unique and precious moments to very sick children. Moments that will allow them to forget their illness for a while and provide them with wonderful memories.
Receiving advice from Roger Federer, becoming a gold prospector, flying over the Alps in a helicopter, seeing the sea for the first time, meeting your hero, being a chef for a day, or even meeting a Nobel Prize winner in physics at CERN; our wishes are unique and above all magical.
We work closely with doctors and health professionals throughout Switzerland who refer our children to us.
Our goal is also to be able to reach more children in Switzerland and offer them a great moment of happiness in the company of their family.
Who we are
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Switzerland and Liechtenstein is a public utility foundation subject to the supervision of the Federal Department of the Interior. It was created in 2003 with the mission of fulfilling the most cherished wishes of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Its beneficiaries are children living or receiving care in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, aged between 3 and 18. Since its inception, more than 750 wishes have now been granted by the Swiss entity. Our mission thus brings hope and courage to children fighting a serious illness, as well as many moments of happiness that allow them to escape from their difficult daily lives. A wish will always be granted with the child's loved ones and thus all members of their family are beneficiaries.
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 in accordance with the guiding principles and the use of the Make-A-Wish brand that are given internationally. At the end of 2022, the network had 39 affiliates and a presence in 50 countries. The great added value of being part of this network, in addition to benefiting from its reputation and certain global partnerships with donor companies, is the mutual assistance between affiliates. Thus, when the wish of one of our children takes place outside our borders, the Make-A-Wish organization of the country in question will help us with the contacts, the reception of the family and the progress of the wish.
The headquarters of Make-A-Wish Switzerland and Liechtenstein is currently located in the canton of Vaud. This is where the operational team has its offices. Volunteer relays are present in the other cantons, in order to have representation throughout the country. In addition to these driving forces, the foundation can count on the voluntary support of its Foundation Board, its Medical Committee and its Sponsors and Ambassadors.
Make-A-Wish International
In 1980, a little American boy named Chris, suffering from leukemia, dreamed of becoming a police officer. The fulfillment of his wish inspired a group of volunteers to create an organization aimed at providing magical experiences to other sick children.
Since that day, the organization has grown to be represented in 50 countries and has granted more than 500 wishes worldwide thanks to a dedicated staff and more than 000 volunteers.
