As an organization for cooperation and the promotion of peace that was set up in 1963 by individuals from Protestant and pacifist movements, Eirene Suisse has gradually undergone a process of professionalization. From being a volunteer-led movement, it has developed into a charitable structure, with an office of paid employees united by a common mission and common values. As global challenges become increasingly complex, the pace of life is constantly accelerating, and society is becoming more individualistic. Professionalization is an attempt to protect the continuity of activities while trying to meet the increasingly sophisticated efficiency- and quality-requirements of backers.

In Switzerland, this change creates a tension between our paid staff and our volunteers, with everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, but at different speeds. At times, this tension can cause irritation or frustration for some, and a feeling of incomprehension or uselessness for others. To meet this constant challenge and preserve the bond between these two different but complementary contributors, dialog and the exchange of information are essential.

In the South, Eirene Suisse collaborates with local organizations that are working to promote peace in one way or another. These entities and the work that they do rely partly on the commitment of volunteers, citizens who act as links with (and relay information to) their beneficiaries, as well as barometers of civil society. Within their communities, these volunteers play a key role on a daily basis through the creation of a domino effect of peace promotion, whether through prevention or reconciliation – like, for example, in Rwanda. We should give them the time and space they need to play their role. We should also recognize the value of their presence and their work despite the fact that they are unpaid.